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How much allowance (ukelønn) for a 14-year-old?

The recommended allowance for 14-year-olds, how to balance spending and saving, and which areas of responsibility match established teenage maturity.

The established teenager

By 14, most Norwegian children have settled into being teenagers both psychologically and socially. The friend group is a stable part of their identity, the clothing style is considered, and money is a completely natural part of everyday life. An allowance of 100–150 kr a week is a typical level — but the variation between families is large at this age, and that is OK. What matters is not the absolute amount, but that it is consistent, that it matches what you otherwise cover (clothes, eating out, transport), and that the child knows what is their responsibility to pay for. When those lines are clear, you avoid constant negotiation.

The balance between spending and saving

The most important pedagogical move at age 14 is teaching the child to balance short-term spending against long-term saving. A three-account model works well: one account for daily spending (most of the allowance), one for short-term saving toward a goal 2–4 months away (headphones, a weekend trip), and one for long-term saving (BSU or other goals with a 1+ year horizon). When the child receives allowance, they distribute it between the accounts themselves — for example 70 kr to spending, 30 kr to short-term saving, 20 kr to BSU. It is a lifelong skill they practise, and it does not start by itself at age 18.

Brands, advertising and social pressure

14-year-olds are the target audience for some of the most sophisticated marketing that exists — social media, influencer culture and brand management are aimed straight at their age group. It is a great service to talk openly with them about how this works: how a particular clothing brand can cost 1500 kr more than a near-identical unbranded one; how TikTok trends are designed to create short-term needs; how "FOMO" is a specific emotional button that marketers press deliberately. 14-year-olds are cognitively ready for this conversation, and they are surprisingly receptive — as long as you talk as equals, not as lecturing parents.

Chores that fit a 14-year-old

  • Independent kitchen responsibility — planning, shopping, cooking
  • Bigger maintenance tasks — deep-cleaning the bathroom or kitchen monthly
  • Babysitting for other families (by arrangement)
  • Ironing shirts or other technical laundry tasks
  • Taking responsibility for booking doctor, dentist and other admin appointments

Savings goals that motivate

  • Weekends with friends — accommodation, food, transport (300–1500 kr per trip)
  • Clothes from known brands (varies, but 500–3000 kr per item)
  • Their own bike, skating gear, training equipment (1000–5000 kr)
  • Bigger savings — a first phone upgrade, a first Mac, a BSU deposit

Tips for parents

  • Consider a "three-account model" — spending, short-term saving, long-term saving (BSU). The 14-year-old can handle the complexity.
  • Talk openly about brands, social pressure and how advertising works. 14-year-olds are ready for that conversation.
  • If you have been strict on the amount, consider a moderate increase here — the social economy is real at this age.
  • Do not compare with "what everyone else gets". Every home is unique; that conversation leads nowhere.
  • Start talking about the tax card (frikort) and summer jobs — from next year it is relevant for many.

Frequently asked questions about allowance for 14-year-olds

When should we stop giving allowance?
Not yet. The main rule is: stop when the child has a steady income from a part-time job that covers expected spending. For many that does not happen until age 16–17. Stopping too early removes one of the family's most important tools for talking about money.
How much do we cover as parents vs the child themselves?
Make a clear list. Typically: necessary clothes, food, transport to school/activities, hygiene items = parents. Snacks, cinema, party clothes, gifts for friends = the child. The list itself is the lesson — just writing it down sparks a good conversation.
Brand clothes — should we be strict?
No. Let the 14-year-old choose for themselves within the total amount. If they want a branded item that costs 3x more than an equivalent — that is their choice, and their loss when next month's budget does not stretch. That lesson is worth gold. Strict rules only create secret buying.