News: Press Releases:
Children get in excess of £20 a week pocket money!

17 May 2005

Girls aged between 8 and 12 get more pocket money than boys of the same age group and in some cases in excess of £20 a week, a new survey commissioned by London chartered accountants Blick Rothenberg and carried out by Swapits, the under 18s reward programme and research panel, has revealed.

And the survey also reveals that more pocket money is spent on electronic games than any other item. CD's came a close second with food and drink in third place.

The survey also revealed that point of sale material in shops and peer pressure influence children far more than TV or Internet advertising.

"How children spend their pocket money seems to be a largely unexplored economic sector, which reveals considerable financial potential and some possible surprises for advertisers," said Steven Bruck from top London accountancy firm Blick Rothenberg who commissioned the survey.

The internet-based survey was based on the responses of 570 UK boys and girls aged 8 to 12 and carried out by Swapits, the reward programme for under-18s. The children taking part were rewarded with Swapits, which they could then spend on things they wanted such as games, CDs, iPods and trading cards in safe Swapits auctions at www.swapitshop.com.

PThe CEO of Swapits, Jonathan Attwood said: "The results give a remarkable insight into the way children and 'pre-teens' spend their pocket money and how they are blossoming as consumers and 'influencers'."

Fifty seven percent of children who took part in the survey got less than £5 a week, some 23 per cent got between £5 and £10 a week, but ten per cent got over £20. Contrary to findings about the gender gap, 1% more girls than boys got over £20.

The full report is available from Blick Rothenberg - contact details listed below.

For more information, or to set up an interview, please call David Barzilay +44 (0)20 7544 8980, Lizzie Jordan +44 (0)20 7544 8827 or Steven Bruck +44 (0)20 7544 8970

EDITOR'S NOTE:
Blick Rothenberg's client base includes a wide range of private sector companies in a variety of industries as well as professional firms and charities. This breadth of clientele means that they have practical experience of all accountancy issues ranging from UK tax and audits to acquisitions, disposals of businesses and international taxation. They also provide all-round taxation, accountancy and other financial services to their personal client portfolio.
Blick Rothenberg is authorised & regulated by the Financial Services Authority to carry on investment business.