We’re probably overdue in giving Funsize some pocket money, and indeed in having her take on some chores around the house (those two are somewhat, but not inherently, linked). This raises a number of questions: exactly when, how much, which chores should she take on, and what is the exact relationship between chores and money received? So, all the usual questions parents have dealt with over the decades.
But there’s one new wrinkle that I haven’t seen a good
answer to yet: how to deal with pocket money in a world without cash?
The thing is, I basically don’t use cash any more, to the
extent that it’s a massive pain when I do have to pay for something using it – any
multiple of £10 is fine, of course, since that’s just a trip to an ATM, but
otherwise it’s either contactless, online shopping, bank transfer, or something
like that. And while I am personally very strongly opposed to society getting
rid of cash (which is a whole other rant), I also don’t want to actually have
to use it. Which is a problem if I’m needing to give Funsize regular, small
amounts of cash.
At the same time, she’s also too young for a debit card, and
certainly for a phone (and therefore any pocket money app). Not to mention that
having actual, physical money in different amounts makes the whole thing
tangible in a way that simply waving a card for everything does not.
So I’m frankly a bit stuck.
#20: "Odyssey", by Stephen Fry
