Credit crunch even dips into children's pockets

By Talking Heads on Jan 29, 09 12:57 PM in

As the country goes into recession even youngster's pocket money is being swiped away

SCOTLAND finally plunged into recession last week, and not even children's pocket money has survived the credit crunch.

Youngsters are being hit hard by their parents' money worries during the financial crisis, with pocket money slipping to its lowest rate in more than five years.

The average £6 per week allowance has been cut to £4 - the worst cut for youngsters since the last survey back in 2004.

As well as the cash cull, parents are also havingto tighten their belts when it comes to family days out.

Expensive trips to the cinema and the bowling halls are becoming fewer and far between as families are caught up in the financial turmoil facing Britain.

This week, The Glaswegian asked city parents if they are putting a halt to pocket money and family days out. Here's what they had to say.

Travel agent Claire Mulholland, 33, from the south side, said: "I don't give my seven-year-old daughter Rebecca pocket money, but we have been cutting back in general.

"Things like going to the pictures are expensive. We used to go to the cinema more often, but at the moment if s just costing too much."

Housewife Kathleen Girvan, 33, from Partick, said: "I used to give my eight-year-old son Paul s5 per week, but I can't afford that much any longer.

'You find that in times like this you have to cut back on everything. From Christmas presents to doing the weekly shopping, we are having to tighten our belts a fair bit."

Partick housewife Sharon Dalfonso, 37, was with her 11-year-old son Jack and daughter Lea, three.

She said: 'We used to go to the cinema a lot, but when you add up the tickets and the food if s a lot of money for a family of four.

"We have had to cut back on what we spend on the kids, but it's hard as they are involved in so many birthday parties and days out."

Knightswood man Thomas Breslin, 49, said: "I am unemployed at the moment so times are tough all round. My son's eight and IVe had to give him less pocket money these days.

"If s not just that, we've had to cut back on things like family days out. I cant remember the last day out we had as a family. We used to buy my son more PlayStation games, but we can't afford that now."

Scriptwriter Martin Brocklebank, 42, from Partick, said: "IVe just started giving my seven-year-old son Aiden s1 per week, so I won't be taking that off him.

"But in terms of arranging days out or weekends away we've had to cut back, but I would imagine most parents are doing the same thing."

Bearsden housewife Deborah Muncie, 46, was with herfour-year-old son Rory. She said: "We are just trying to watch all our incomings and outgoings, so that affects Rory too.

"We did spend less this Christmas in relation to the yearbefore. We were always going to the cinema too, but it is too expensive when you take in the price of the tickets and all the sweets and drinks."