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Article by Gina Spampinato

Revealed: The top chores set to keep kids busy this summer

  • Analysis of more than 119,000 families’ pocket money data reveals the top 10 most popular and top 10 highest-paid chores that will keep kids occupied once school’s out
  • Not every child has a summer job, but 46% of parents now financially incentivise chores - empowering kids to earn through the holidays whilst helping tackle the family to-do list
  • Tidying the bedroom was revealed as the most common chore to be completed by kids
  • Toothbrushing also made the top 10, suggesting many kids require incentives to motivate good habits, particularly as routines wane over the holidays
  • The highest-paid chore is cleaning the car, bringing in an average of £2.29
  • The research follows findings earlier this year that kids’ pocket money levels have been rising with inflation thanks to an uptick in extra earning outside a regular allowance

British kids are going to be earning their keep through the summer holidays this year, the latest study of the UK’s youth economy has indicated.

NatWest Rooster Money’s findings have revealed the top chores that are set to keep children occupied and earning their spending money over the break.

The kids’ pocket money app revealed that just under half (46%) of UK parents reward their kids with money for doing chores. With stubborn inflation keeping prices high, families appear to be using household jobs as a means of cushioning kids from the cost of living, empowering them to earn some money even if they’re too young for a job, and putting a decent dent in the household to-do list.

There’s also a suggestion that the ways families define chores and motivate positive behaviour in their children is evolving, with unconventionally monetised tasks such as brushing teeth now firmly in the top 10 most popular paid tasks.

The top kids’ chores set to dominate summer 2023, by frequency completed, are:

  1. Tidying their bedroom
  2. Emptying the dishwasher
  3. Helping with pets
  4. Setting or clearing the table
  5. Helping with laundry
  6. Helping with cooking
  7. Brushing their teeth
  8. Taking the bin out
  9. Vacuuming
  10. Helping with the garden

Meanwhile, the chores that will see parents forking out the most, by average wage per job, are:

  1. Cleaning the car - £2.29
  2. Helping with shopping - £1.08
  3. Vacuuming - £0.97
  4. Helping with the garden - £0.81
  5. Taking the bin out - £0.55
  6. Emptying the dishwasher - £0.49
  7. Tidying their bedroom - £0.47
  8. Helping with cooking - £0.46
  9. Helping with laundry - £0.43
  10. Helping with pets - £0.42
“What I love about this data is it shows how adept children are getting at upping their pocket money. Understandably, fewer parents are now giving a regular allowance, but what we’re consistently seeing is this entrepreneurial streak shining through as kids rise to the challenge and find new ways to maintain their spending power. And from a parental perspective, it’s fantastic to see families encouraging behaviour through positive, practical means, empowering their kids to earn and learn about the value of money at the same time.

“With all that free time stretching ahead, a limited budget and plenty of household jobs to be done, there’s no doubt the summer holidays are a hugely valuable learning opportunity. It really is a win-win for both parents and kids.”

Will Carmichael, CEO of NatWest Rooster Money

The findings come after NatWest Rooster Money’s annual Pocket Money Index revealed in May that kids’ average annual pocket had risen by 11% year-on-year, outpacing CPI. This was despite far fewer parents (57%, down from 65% year-on-year) giving regular allowance, prompting kids to turn not only to chores but side hustles such as babysitting, reselling and tutoring to boost their income – raking in £50.84 each on average.

Editors notes:
Data was collected from user activity on the NatWest Rooster Money pocket money app and prepaid debit card between 1st March 2023 and 31st May 2023. The sample comprised 119,731 families with kids using the app.

The findings follow on from NatWest Rooster Money’s annual Pocket Money Index, an in-depth study of the UK youth economy published in May this year. The full report is available to read here.

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