Kids' allowance calculator: how much a week?
This allowance calculator suggests a weekly RM range by age, from our starting examples: RM 2 to RM 5 for ages 6 to 8, RM 5 to RM 10 for 9 to 12, and RM 10 to RM 20 for 13 to 17. It also splits the allowance into save, spend and give, and counts the weeks to a goal.
Free, no account, and nothing is sent anywhere. The full reasoning is in the kids' allowance guide.
How much allowance suits your child?
Pick your child's age and situation. The answer changes as you go, and the rule used is shown under the result.
This calculator needs JavaScript. The tables below give the same answers for every age: see the rules and the worked examples.
What rules does this calculator use?
The base ranges come straight from the table in the kids' allowance guide. They are starting examples, not a study, not a survey and not financial advice. Malaysia has no official allowance figures.
| Age | Base example a week | Food at school (canteen) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 5 | No RM example | Start with a family points system |
| 6 to 8 | RM 2 to RM 5 | Canteen money counted separately, not split |
| 9 to 12 | RM 5 to RM 10 | Canteen money counted separately, not split |
| 13 to 17 | RM 10 to RM 20 | Already includes food at school. Not buying food: RM 10 to RM 15 |
| Option | Save | Spend | Give |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced | 40% | 50% | 10% |
| Save more | 60% | 30% | 10% |
| Spend more | 20% | 70% | 10% |
| My own split | You choose | The rest | You choose |
- Amount that is splitThe middle of the range, or the amount you type in yourself.
- RoundingEach share is rounded to 10 sen. The remainder goes to spend so the total is exact.
- Canteen moneyYour daily figure times 5 school days. We do not guess food prices.
- Weeks to goalThe goal divided by the weekly save share, rounded up.
How long does it take a child to save RM 50?
Worked examples with the balanced split and the middle of each range. This is also what the calculator shows if you only change the age.
| Age | Amount | Save 40% | Spend 50% | Give 10% | Weeks to RM 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 to 8 | RM 3.50 | RM 1.40 | RM 1.70 | RM 0.40 | 36 weeks |
| 9 to 12 | RM 7.50 | RM 3.00 | RM 3.70 | RM 0.80 | 17 weeks |
| 13 to 17, buys food | RM 15.00 | RM 6.00 | RM 7.50 | RM 1.50 | 9 weeks |
| 13 to 17, no food | RM 12.50 | RM 5.00 | RM 6.20 | RM 1.30 | 10 weeks |
The exact number matters less than one habit: pay on the same day every week, and split it before your child starts spending.
Want this allowance worked out every week?
In UrusFamily you set the base rate, the effort share and a weekly cap once on the Wallet screen, and it is worked out every week. Your child sees the balance in RM with the save, spend and give shares. There are no payments in the app: the Wallet is a record, and the real money stays with you.
Free on iPhone and Android.
Questions about the allowance calculator
How much weekly allowance suits a primary school child?
As a starting example, RM 2 to RM 5 a week for ages 6 to 8, and RM 5 to RM 10 for ages 9 to 12. That is not a study. Adjust it to what your household can afford and what school costs where you live.
Is canteen money part of the allowance?
For children under 13, the calculator counts canteen money separately because the base example does not include food. For ages 13 to 17, the RM 10 to RM 20 range already includes food at school. If a teenager does not buy food at school, the calculator uses RM 10 to RM 15.
How does the calculator split save, spend and give?
The balanced option is save 40%, spend 50% and give 10%. There are also save more, spend more and your own percentages. Each share is rounded to 10 sen and the remainder goes to spend so the total is exact.
Where do the ranges come from?
From the example table in the UrusFamily kids' allowance guide. Malaysia has no official allowance figures, so these ranges are starting examples, not survey results and not financial advice.
My child is 4 or 5. Should they get an allowance?
Our allowance guide starts at age 6, when a child can count money. For younger children, a family points system can be an easier place to start.
Does this calculator store my information?
No. Every sum runs in your browser. No form is sent, no account is needed and nothing about your child is stored.