Hi, may I know if $1 is enough for pocket money for a Primary 1. My colleagues are telling me that canteen food can cost $2! I know it depends on which school my child is in but I am just trying to figure out what is the 'market rate'. Thanks.


Mrs Oh.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/37864/pocket-money-for-primary-1RSS for NodeWed, 06 May 2026 02:18:42 GMTTue, 10 Jul 2012 16:16:14 GMT60For a start, maybe I would strongly recommend visiting the school.


Most schools like my daughters have food priced for the older kids but quite close to the outside market prices which I cannot fault them as these stall normally operate from 6:30am to like 4pm only.

I have been to the school, felt like a GIANT and ate like one…trying out at least 4 stalls…rice, noodles, Muslim stall and drinks stall.

So for my dotter, I gave her $1 for drink (only 3 times a week), $2 for breakfast or snacks before school (I drop her off rather early, before 7am), $2 for daily recess, $2 for after school lunch. I usually pick her up at 3pm other than Thursdays at 4pm.

But I also ensure that she has emergency money of 1x $5 note + 2x $10 note as the school does not allow children to bring in mobile phones or have the mobile phones exposed. So I would not allow her to carry a mobile phone in the bag in silent mode but I do have a cardless mobile in her bag so she can buy a SIM card during times of emergency.

Furthermore, there are no coin public phones in the school, so I have to ensure that she can purchase a phone card or SIM card when she requires one.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/806730https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/806730Fri, 27 Jul 2012 04:50:09 GMTThank you parents for all the info! Very insightful and definitely helpful. I shall check out the school canteen to see how things are priced

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/804683https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/804683Wed, 25 Jul 2012 04:35:06 GMTI give $1/day for my kids during p1-2. Most dishes cost 60-70 cents.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/803481https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/803481Tue, 24 Jul 2012 01:31:47 GMTi give my son $2 per day.

His school selling a small bowl of noodle at $0.60. the rest of the money, he save it. Btw sometimes he can spend $1.00 on rice.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/803467https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/803467Tue, 24 Jul 2012 01:22:27 GMTI think $1 is ok. If there is an urgent thing to buy they can learn to borrow and pay back the next day. That is their introduction to loans and repayment !

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/801793https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/801793Sat, 21 Jul 2012 04:03:36 GMTI give him $2 in coins, but DS (P2 now) usually spends $0.80 to $1.20 depending on what he eats for recess. I top up his wallet daily with new coins, and even on days that I forget, he will have enough.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/801248https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/801248Fri, 20 Jul 2012 09:01:34 GMTI give my son 1.50. He is in p1. Usually he will have some left for saving. He also has 2 for emergency money in his bag, ever since the day he forgot to bring his wallet to school and he borrowed money from his teacher…very thick skin…

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/801094https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/801094Fri, 20 Jul 2012 07:09:39 GMTDS’ school canteen food is quite expensive so we have to give $2 for recess everyday and $4 for days with CCA. Chicken rice can cost up to $1.50 for the larger plate.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/796924https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/796924Sun, 15 Jul 2012 13:57:03 GMTIt depends on how much the school’s canteen food are selling.


I also give my gal $1 for breakfast but that’s for food only coz a bowl of noodle costs $1 and she drinks water from her own bottle.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/796222https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/796222Sat, 14 Jul 2012 04:50:06 GMTWhen my dd was in P1, I also gave her $1. Usually I will check with her what she ate during recess. Don't know about your child but mine ate fishball for 3 months before she was \"adventurous\" enough to try chicken burger for another 3 months ! :faint:


Whenever there is any opportunity to \"visit\" the school canteen (especially during PTM), I will take a look at the stalls and their pricing. usually thru chatting with dd, I will know which stall she likes to patronise and from there estimate the pocket money.

Now that she is P6, I give her $3. $1 extra if she needs to stay back and since P3 , there is always an emergency $2 in her wallet in case she is very hungry that day or need to buy some stationery. Very seldom she uses up the pocket money and she saves quite a bit since .

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/793656https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/793656Wed, 11 Jul 2012 07:19:44 GMTi give my P1 daughter $1 for recess but on days with CCA she’ll be given $2. But there’s another $2 "emergency fund" in her school bag…

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/793608https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/793608Wed, 11 Jul 2012 06:37:18 GMTdepends on how much the school is selling the food.

my P4 uses $1.40-$1.80 every recess, so i give him $1.50. so when he needs to stay back, i'll give him $3.50.
my K2 going to P1 next year is a big eater. i think he'll need maybe $2

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/793592https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/793592Wed, 11 Jul 2012 06:20:45 GMTI give $1 to my p1 dd too. dd has enough to buy food and drink water from her water bottle.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/793205https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/793205Tue, 10 Jul 2012 17:03:54 GMT