The amount of allowance given will vary from family to family depending on such things as family income, standards and attitudes. In general, the amount should enable the child to make choices. If all Susan's allowance money is needed to buy lunch, she may be tempted to skip lunch to buy a book she wanted. On the other hand, allowances need not be so large that mistakes are so costly that families cannot live with the consequences. Families also need to determine how changes in the amount of allowance will be determined.
Some families add to the amount each year after discussing expense needs with the child.
Other families agree to increase the amount up to a certain age, and then gradually decrease the amount to encourage the older teen to take responsibility for earning money. If a family chooses this latter method, it is important that parents explain the possibility of future allowance decreases several years before they occur to prepare the child. Periodic family meetings to discuss how money is generally being spent are helpful in guiding use of allowance money. There will always be occasions when a child will ask for money. Friends may be going to the movies, and the week's allowance is already spent.