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How much allowance (ukelønn) for a 10-year-old?

The recommended allowance for 10-year-olds, chores that fit older children, and how Vipps under 15 changes everything about how kids handle money.

The big transition: Vipps under 15

Ten is often the age where Norwegian children get their first own Vipps account via Vipps under 15 (Vipps being Norway's dominant mobile-payment app, with a dedicated account type for under-15s). This is a big change in how money works for them — from being a balance in an app that the parents control, to being money that is actually theirs in a bank account. Most Norwegian banks offer this through the parents' BankID (the national electronic ID), and it is typically a good time to start transferring allowance directly to the child's own account. The Ukelønn app still works as a bookkeeping tool — it tracks what has been earned and what is to be paid out — while the money itself moves via Vipps. Many families find this transition is the first big step toward the child treating money as real and personal.

Chores that match growing maturity

At age 10, the child can take on substantially more responsibility than two years ago. Making a simple dinner from a recipe, taking full responsibility for a pet including clipping claws and walks, shopping at the store with a list — all of this is within what a mature 10-year-old can manage. The important thing is that the chores reflect that maturity: not "tidy the room", which has been a chore since age 6, but "keep the room to an acceptable standard all week — wash the floor once, vacuum, clean the windows". It develops both skills and self-image. The amount of 50–60 kr a week is enough for the chores to feel worth it.

When purchasing power starts to matter

For the first time, the allowance is big enough that monthly savings goals of 200–250 kr are within reach. That is the sum often needed to buy something real — a small game, good headphones, a 500 kr Lego set (after two months of saving). When the child has saved for something themselves and bought it, an ownership feeling arises that no gift can give. This is the point at which the real long-term habits form. Parents who can tolerate the wait and do not "help" by buying it halfway through give the child a gift that works for life: the awareness that saving actually works.

Chores that fit a 10-year-old

  • Making simple meals from a recipe (meatballs, pasta, omelette)
  • Full pet care — feeding, water, walks, clipping claws
  • Cleaning their own room — vacuuming, dusting, making the bed
  • Buying groceries at the local shop with a list (by arrangement)
  • Looking after a younger sibling briefly (10–30 min, at home)

Savings goals that motivate

  • Bike accessories — helmet, lights, bag (300–800 kr)
  • A contribution toward their own phone (saving toward a family purchase)
  • Sports gear — football, skates, racket (500–1500 kr)

Tips for parents

  • Vipps under 15 (Norway's mobile-payment account for under-15s) opens up at this age. Talk to your bank about how it works for you.
  • When the child gets their own Vipps, allowance becomes more "real". It takes a bit more discipline from you parents to transfer it on time.
  • Introduce "want vs need" explicitly. A new skin for the Switch is a want; new trainers are a need.
  • Consider splitting the allowance into "free spending" and "saving" — for example 20 kr automatically to savings, 30 kr to free use.
  • If the child has already shown good judgement, you can give more responsibility (shopping alone, managing their own commitments).

Frequently asked questions about allowance for 10-year-olds

When is the right time to activate Vipps under 15?
When the child has their own phone and can handle a PIN code safely. For many that is right around the 10th birthday. Talk to your bank — most Norwegian banks offer Vipps under 15 through the parents' BankID, with various limits you can set.
Which bank is best for a 10-year-old?
All the major Norwegian banks have their own children's products (DNB, SpareBank 1, Sbanken and others). Choose the bank YOU already use — because it simplifies transfers and BankID handling. The bank's specific product matters less than it being practical to use.
Should the 10-year-old buy groceries alone?
If the local shop is safe to walk to and you have practised together first — yes, gladly. It is one of the most valuable "real-world" money lessons there is: seeing the prices, calculating, paying, getting change. Start with a short list and a trip together before letting them go alone.