Do you allow your kids to buy stationery with the pocket money they save? I find that my son (aged 11) comes home with all sort of knick knacks from the school bookstore, instead of eating a proper meal! Should I therefore increase his pocket money? Or limit his shopping sprees at the store?

I think 'limiting' might sound too harsh but I do believe that if he's given more pocket money, he will never learn how to save. Tough love I say! If he spends all of his money on knick knacks, he has to learn that it means he'll starve in school. Obviously I wouldn't advise doing it for an extended period of time, but just enough that he starts to develop a habit or mentality that if there are luxuries he wants to buy, he has to save money for it and not spend it all in one place.