Pocket Money

How much pocket money is reasonable for school children nowadays?

When I was a little girl, my father gave me 50 cents and as I grew older - my school pocket money was increased to Rm1. Is RM1 still enough nowadays?

I think RM 1 is still sufficient. There are nasi lemak, mee goreng and the likes- priced at 50 cents - of course the portion is very small - for me , it will only take 3 big table spoons (fat 3 table spoons i mean heheh)

I drop by Er's school a few times during her recess- (actually she begs me to come whenever she knows that I am on leave or MC:)). So I do a little field study (ceh). A cup of drink is 50 cents . Plain Hot dog is also 50cents- hot dog with bread is RM 1. Sandwich is rm 40 cents per slice and so the other cakes and delicacies.

So basically RM 1 is still enough- then if my girl brings water or packed lunch from home (which I prefer as we can guarantee its cleanliness), then 50 cents is even enough.

Er does not like to bring homemade lunch. She does bring sometimes but only to bring it back home untouched. I asked, 'Why don't you eat? and innocently she answers,' eh lupa la ( i forgot). Errr :). 

 

1st day at school already know where to get ice cream

I give her RM 2 each for morning and afternoon school. Because if she buys a plate of rice and a cup of drink, she will require  RM1. And maybe another 50 cents for ice cream for dessert:) - this is a must- I used to give her RM1 and I find out that she buys ice cream or junk food still but not a proper meal and when I ask her why she does not eat rice or noodle- she said, 'if I buy nasi lemak/rice or noodle, then there is no money for my ice cream'- So I make her a deal- I said- you must buy something that makes you full- you must buy a proper meal then only you buy your candy or ice cream- So I give her RM2. Normally she will show me her balance- 50 cents or 70 cents and I ask her to put in her tabung (fund).

It is hard to control what she eats or what she should not eat, because I am not going to be there for her 24 hours- and we do ask her to eat first (before dashing off to school) during breakfast or in between school but sometime she says she is not hungry. The only thing that I can do is to ask her every day and keep reminding her. So Er's pocket money is Rm 4 per day. Net spending is averagely RM 2.50 to RM 3.

Mar wants her share also- I give her RM 50 cent- She does not need any money actually because her kindergarden already provides food and drink during recess. Yet, her school bus is a kedai gula bergerak (mobile shop) - The driver is very clever- menyelam sambil minum air. She sells all kind of junk food and ice cream (remember we used to call it ais krim kampung yang dalam plastik pintal2 kat hujung tu nak makan kena gigit plastic tu:))-

Yes, I do have concern with all the junk food. Actually, I prefer ice creams and chocolate or candy or  sweet than kerepek like O rings, twisties or whatever. Yet all is still categorized as junk food kan? :(

But it makes them smile - I myself have to keep stock of cute little sweets or a packet of kit kat in my handbag as they will come after me just as I got off the car and ask, 'ummi ada beli candy' tak heheh. I do tell them that , 'there are days when  I come home and there will be nothing in my handbag OK'- just to make sure  that they do not expect me to buy on a daily basis :)- kadang -kadang lupa, kadang- kadang tak keluar lunch tak jumpa kedai

PS:
masa I darjah 1, nasi lemak 30 sen :)

makan gula and cekelat memanyak takpa- gigi kena rajin gosok :) (lucky eh anak I:))