How Much Pocket Money Per Correct Answer Should I Give?

Published 2026-02-19

If you've decided to reward your child for correct answers in their schoolwork, the obvious question is: how much? Too little and it won't motivate; too much and you'll bankrupt yourself by Wednesday. Here's a practical guide to getting it right.

The Short Answer

For most families, somewhere between 2p and 10p per correct answer works well. It's enough to feel rewarding to a child, but small enough to stay affordable even across lots of questions. Many parents settle around 5p as a sweet spot.

Do the Maths Before You Commit

Here's the bit parents forget: correct answers add up fast. If your child answers 20 questions a day at 10p each, that's £2 a day — £14 a week. At 5p it's £1 a day, and at 2p it's 40p a day. Pick a rate you're comfortable sustaining, because consistency matters more than generosity.

Factors That Affect the Right Amount

Your child's age

Younger children are thrilled by small amounts — 2–5p feels exciting to a six-year-old. Older children (10+) may need slightly more to feel it's worthwhile. Our pocket money by age guide gives broader benchmarks.

How much they practise

If your child does a lot of questions, use a lower per-answer rate. For occasional practice, you can afford to be more generous per answer.

Your budget

Set a weekly ceiling you're happy with, then work backwards to a per-answer rate. There's no shame in keeping it modest — the motivation comes from earning at all, not from the size of the reward.

Why Small Amounts Still Motivate

It feels counterintuitive, but children are motivated by the act of earning far more than by the amount. A run of correct answers each earning 5p delivers repeated hits of "I earned that!" — and that immediate, repeated feedback is what drives motivation, not the total. This is the same principle behind why immediate rewards work for ADHD brains.

Combine Per-Answer Rewards With Bigger Goals

A nice structure: small per-answer amounts for daily motivation, plus occasional milestone bonuses for real achievements (mastering a times table, finishing a spelling list). This keeps everyday practice rewarding while giving your child something bigger to aim for — as covered in linking pocket money to learning milestones.

Let the App Handle the Sums

Counting correct answers and tallying pennies by hand is a chore. The Pocket Money Game lets you set your per-answer rate, then tracks every correct answer and calculates earnings automatically — across spelling, times tables and reading. You stay in control of the amount, and there's a 7-day free trial with no card required so you can find the right rate for your family risk-free.

Try The Pocket Money Game free

Spelling, times tables and reading across the KS1 and KS2 curriculum — and your child earns real pocket money for every correct answer.

7-day free trial. No card required.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I pay my child per correct answer?

Between 2p and 10p per correct answer works well for most families, with around 5p a common sweet spot. It's enough to motivate a child while staying affordable across many questions.

Won't paying per correct answer get expensive?

It can add up, so do the maths first. Twenty answers a day at 10p is £2 daily; at 5p it's £1; at 2p it's 40p. Pick a sustainable rate and set a weekly ceiling.

Do small amounts really motivate children?

Yes. Children are motivated by the act of earning more than the amount. Repeated small rewards for correct answers deliver frequent 'I earned that' moments, which drive motivation more than the total.