“Can I have this?” she asks her mom. Her mom says she could buy it, but with her pocket money. Dipali happily places the box in her mother’s shopping basket.[break]
Suman Lamichhane, her mom, shares that since Dipali has received double the amount of her usual pocket money, owing to the festive season, she has turned into a carefree spender.
“She usually saves half the amount she gets,” shares the mother, adding, “I think it’s a good thing that she’s learning to save at this early age.” Alongside pocket money, Dipali receives money on regular basis as a gift or a reward on various occasions.
Money given to children as a symbol of gift is not new to our society. In fact, it is expressed in our culture. Be it at festivals, weddings or a puja, money being given in a ritual way has come a long way. And although the practice seems to commence from times immemorial, the sum given has definitely changed.
Birendra Thapa, 48, recalls how the 20 Rupees his mother gave while he was in hostel in India made him the richest boy in the dormitory.
“Imagine 20 Rupees and that was enough to last me the next five months,” he smiles. “Today, my kids won’t even consider that an amount. My daughter, 19, asks for nothing less than a thousand,” he shares. Thapa claims he has never refused his daughter, but seeks clarification on her spending. “It’s not bad as long as you know where the money goes.”
Ritika Shrestha, mother of two girls aged 14 and 16, differs from Thapa. She does not believe in handing cash to her daughters.
“Money can spoil children,” she says. “Money can be very addictive and leads kids to develop habits of lying and even stealing,” she says. For motivation and reward for good behavior, she says she prefers to use a reward-based activity. “I usually take them on a cinema trip or buy them some toys instead of giving hard cash,” she confides.
While different parents have different ways of handling their children’s allowances, kids believe that if not much, a little is definitely required.
“When we have our own money, it encourages us to save and gives us a sense of independence too,” says Anil Joshi, 19. Anil does get a fair share of 2,000 Rupees a month. He saves a few hundred and spends the rest while with friends or for chocolates for his little sister.
For a comprehensive survey, we spoke to a few teenagers about their allowances:
Alisha usually gets around Rs 1,000 a month. The money has no specific usage but most of it is spent at the college canteen. “Snacking in the college cafeteria is a routine,” she says.
Apart from her canteen expenses, she also gets money for transportation.
“For other things like clothes or accessories, I usually get a separate sum,” she smiles. Pocket money is a must, according to her.
Alisha Pradhanang, 19
Ashish gets a fixed sum of 100 Rupees everyday.
“The routine hasn’t changed for the past few years,” he giggles. Apart from that, he gets a few bucks extra if he asks for it. Since he says he is not a very big spender, he saves from the amount he receives. He recently bought a guitar which cost him Rs 15,000
“It took me six months to save the amount,” he confides. “Pocket money is a basic necessity.”
Ashish Bhuju, 17
Senchhelung gets her share whenever she asks for it.
“It’s not like a monthly salary or something. I get it when I ask for it,” she says.
Most of the time, she asks for money when she plans to “hang out with friends.” She likes going to laze around at cafés and enjoys outdoor activities; and for all of these, she requires cool cash.
“I like going on hikes and hosting barbeque get-togethers,” she says. Senchhelung couldn’t do without the money.
Senchhelung Chemjong, 19
To phrase the Motown hit “Money” by Berry Gordy, J and revived by The Beatles – “The best things in life are for free / But you can give it to the birds and bees / But give me money” – it has the constant and assertive refrain: “That’s what I want!”
So it is with today’s kids.
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