Amount of allowance provided to Russian children disclosed
Going Broke: Russian Parents Struggling to Cope with Pocket Money Dilemma
In a recent survey, the financial situation of Russian parents handling their children's pocket money has come under the spotlight. The study, which spanned across 531 settlements, questioned parents of kids aged 7 to 17, with a focus on 1,000 parents for each age group.
Here's a breakdown of the weekly pocket money allocated:- For 7-10 year-olds, an average of 620 rubles per week is doled out.- Teens aged 11-14 receive roughly 930 rubles weekly.- As for 15-17 year-olds, the weekly pocket money jumps to 1,320 rubles.
The spending amount tends to vary based on the age of the children. According to the survey findings, up to 500 rubles, younger schoolchildren get around 71% of the allocation, while those with 500-1000 rubles account for 20%. The average weekly amount comes to 620 rubles. Around 11% of parents pay between 1000-3000 rubles, with 4% handing out 3-5 thousand rubles.
Money doesn't just change hands; parents typically offer it with a dose of motivation. A mere 3-6% of children earn the pocket money, while the rest receive it as a reward. Parental control over expenses seems to decrease as children grow older. When it comes to the younger schoolchildren, 66% of parents keep a rein on their expenses, while for 15-17-year-olds, just 45% do.
The age of the children plays a role in whether they receive pocket money at all. If 20% of parents of 7-10 year-olds skip the pocket money, the percentage for 11-14 year-olds drops to 10%. For 15-17 year-olds, it's surprisingly similar at 11%.
Compared to the 2023 survey, the pocket money amounts have shown a significant change only for 11-14 year-olds, who previously received an average of 750 rubles, but now receive 640 rubles, whereas the groups of 7-10 year-olds and 15-17 year-olds saw a slight decrease to 640 and 1,330 rubles respectively.
While specific data on Russian pocket money allocations for children aged 7–17 is lacking, broader economic trends offer some insight into the constraints parents may be facing:
- Strained Household Budgets: Rising inflation (reaching 10% in early 2025)[4] diminishes purchasing power, resulting in families increasingly focusing on essential expenses over discretionary spending like pocket money. With average family vacation costs hitting 75,000 RUB per person[5], many struggle to afford travel[5].
- Income Increase vs. Inflation: Despite real incomes surpassing 2013 levels by 5% in 2023[1], subsequent inflation and projected 2025 GDP deceleration[4] indicate slowed income growth. This could stagnate or reduce children's allowances in real terms compared to pre-2023 surveys.
- Spending Priorities: Vacation budgets now require between 50,000-300,000 rubles per trip for families[5], indicating cost pressures that might lead parents to cut back on non-essential allocations like pocket money. The shift toward cheaper domestic travel options[5] further underlines financial constraints.
Without direct survey data, these macroeconomic indicators suggest that the trends in pocket money allocations may mirror broader austerity patterns in Russian households, especially given the economic distortions caused by the ongoing conflict[2][4].
- In the light of the survey, it appears that the society is grappling with the average weekly pocket money allocated for children, ranging from 620 rubles for 7-10 year-olds to 1,320 rubles for 15-17 year-olds.
- The lifestyle and family-dynamics of many Russian families might be affected by the pocket money dilemma, as strained household budgets due to inflation and income increases not keeping pace with inflation could lead to a reduction in children's earrings.
- The amount of pocket money a child receives may be linked to home-and-garden expenditures, as some families may allocate less for discretionary spending like pocket money in order to prioritize essential expenses, such as vacation costs which can range between 50,000-300,000 rubles per trip.
- With an increasing number of parents (up to 11%) paying between 1000-3000 rubles, and 4% handing out 3-5 thousand rubles, relationships between parents and children might become strained due to expectations and limitations surrounding the amount of pocket money earned or received.
- As the average weekly pocket money allocation for children aged 7-17 varies based on multiple factors, it is crucial for the society to consider these trends and allocate resources with a thorough understanding of the impact on families, relationships, and children's lives.
