BEING a child in 2017 is costly and it turns out parents are leaving their offspring worse off than two years ago.

This is according to the results of a survery from household brand Dr. Beckmann, which says pocket money for UK children has not increased with inflation.

While inflation is at its highest in more than five years at 3 per cent, the majority of parents (83 per cent) are not shelling out more for pocket money.

Worse still, six in ten children have to earn their cash by completing chores like emptying the dishwasher, tidying their sock-filled room, and washing the family car.

A fifth of parents routinely find extra tasks for their children too.

Gazette:

Exhanging money for chores is normal.

Susan Fermor, spokesperson for Dr. Beckmann, said: “Getting kids to help with household chores to earn their pocket money is commonplace, but our research has revealed tmany children are getting a raw deal.

“Inflation is beginning to increase, but pocket money rates are static in most households, meaning the spending power of our youngest generation is diminished.

“And for those youngsters who opt to save their pocket money, the low interest rates only make the problem worse – if the situation continues we wouldn’t be surprised to see children go on strike."

On average, children receive pocket money from age seven until 18, totalling more than £2,600 over the course of their childhood.

Gazette:

78 per cent of parents pick up the tab for their child’s Netflix account

So where are the best and worst places to live in the UK for pocket money?

The survey revealed children living in the Home Counties and London receive roughly 20 per cent more than the national average.

The top five earning locations per week are:

Buckinghamshire - £6.75

Oxfordshire - £6.70

Cheshire - £6.45

Kent - £6.30

Surrey - £6.15

Meanwhile, children from the south west of England and Scotland are the lowest paid, receiving £4.95 and £4.70 respectively.

Now, on to the lowest five earning locations...

Aryshire - £4.70

Wiltshire - £4.72

Lancashire - £4.85

Devon - £4.90

Aberdeenshire - £4.95

How is all this pocket money spent?

According to Dr. Beckmann - sweets, clothes and computer games - but surprisingly, four in ten kids actually save the majority of it.

But it is not all doom and gloom for children in 2017, aside from the millions of children who receive money without actually earning it, nearly all (95 per cent) parents pay for their child’s mobile contract until they hit 18.

Plus, more than three-quarters (78 per cent) pick up the tab for their child’s Netflix account.

  • Colchester parents, do you increase pocket money as your children get older, or after each tax year perhaps? Have your say below.