French parents 'meanest' in Europe in terms of pocket money to kids
26 Aug 2008, 1555 Hrs

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London, Aug 26 (ANI): When it comes to giving pocket money to kids, French parents are the 'meanest' in Europe, according to a CSA poll.

The survey showed that parents in France hand out just 14 pounds a month to their children aged between six and 15 years - which is considered the lowest as per European standards.

And what's more, less than half do not give any pocket money at all - some 45 per cent - compared to an European average of 71 per cent.

The French figure has dropped six points in a year too, reports the Telegraph.

By comparison, British parents part with 19 pounds per mensem, with the Portuguese being the most generous, giving 47 pounds, according to the survey.

However, it did not take into account how much child benefit parents receive from the French state. These include a "back-to-school" hand-out to help buy stationary and school satchels.

Amid French economic gloom and a national obsession about falling spending power, French parents increasingly demand to know exactly what their children intend to buy with their money.

In fact, for the first time, 15 to 16-year-olds no longer receive a regular amount but only on special occasions, such as Christmas or when they get good grades.

For the French, pocket money is not to let the children buy what they want, but to "teach them how to manage a budget". (ANI)