how to use pocket money essay

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How I Spent My Pocket Money (Essay Sample)

Table of Contents

Introduction

If you had your own pocket money, how would you spend it?

This essay focuses on how to spend money, and how to do so wisely. In this piece, we share a person’s experience of being taught to spend money wisely and what he would buy when he was given a regular allowance.

Writing an essay on what you would spend your money on? We can help. Go to EssayBasics.com to learn more about our essay writing services . We can help you express yourself by pairing you with a writer who has some experience in your chosen topic.

How I Spend My Money essay

One of the most exciting events in a young one’s life is when their parents give them an allowance. No matter the amount, an allowance gives us the opportunity to spend on small things that make us happy as a child.

The joy that an allowance brings is more than just the amount itself. It’s really rooted in the experience one gets in choosing how to spend it. First, there’s the anticipation of receiving an allowance. Next, there’s the excitement of thinking about all the things you’ve been wanting to get for yourself. Third, there’s the delight of actually receiving the allowance. Finally, there’s the sheer thrill of choosing what to buy and taking it home.

How and when an allowance is given, and how much is gifted to the child, depends on the guardians’ principles. There are those who provide an allowance for children to buy basic needs. But there are some who might give a little extra to give the child an opportunity to learn how to handle money well.

It must be said that not all children are privileged to have an allowance to spend on themselves. If they come from a poor family, the guardians may not have any extra finances to give. They may save up for this just once in a while.

I am very blessed that my parents gave me an allowance on a regular basis. My allowance has really taught me financial stewardship at a very young age. They also allowed me to make decisions regarding my finances, even if I made mistakes.

Saving Money at a Young Age

While my allowance isn’t a fixed amount, I have since learned that the first thing I should do is set aside a portion of it for savings. I get a third of whatever amount I get and earmark it for saving.

To make sure that I won’t be tempted to use it, my mom helped me open a bank account where I deposit the money. They opened a time deposit account, which means I cannot just withdraw from it anytime. Whenever I hesitated to go to the bank, my dad would remind me that my small deposits would turn into one big bulk of cash that could someday be used for a rainy day, or for strategic investments.

How I Spend Money with Whatever is Left

With what’s left of my allowance, I usually buy books. These are mainly documentary magazines, which I read during my leisure time. It is actually one of my hobbies. I have made it a personal tradition to always purchase a documentary magazine each time I get my regular allowance. I particularly enjoy news magazines and feature magazines. I am a lover of general knowledge. I love knowing about everything, how and why things are the way they are – whether about nature, politics, science, or geography. It is always a first on my list of hobbies.

The other bit of my regular allowance goes towards the purchase of snacks. I love yogurt and ice cream. The refrigerator at home always has a shelf specifically reserved for my yogurts.

The remainder of my allowance goes towards others. These include my family and friends. I try to buy them something nice as a way of thanking them for taking good care of me.

I also go out of the way to purchase some gifts for my siblings as well as my parents. I want to gift them with simple things, even if they were the ones who gave me my allowance. Doing this for them gives me so much satisfaction since I love making them happy. After all, what is life without happy family and friends?

Regular allowances taught me how to make wise spending decisions. I know how to handle and spend my cash, whatever amount it might be. Therefore, I am confident that when I start handling larger amounts of money in the future, I won’t be as overwhelmed. I will make it a point to remember the financial lessons I’ve learned as a child. I hope to also be able to teach others who to use their money wisely.

Short Essay About What You Would Spend Your Money On

Did you grow up being taught about the value of saving money? If you were like me, your mom and dad probably gave you a regular allowance. They also probably gave you free rein to use your money in whatever way.

Growing up, I deposited regular amounts into my savings account the moment my allowance was handed to me. I did not want to be tempted to splurge on all the food I was craving for while holding all of my money. Personally, apart from fast food, I enjoyed treating myself to books. In fact, I made it a regular tradition to purchase a book every time I got my allowance.

I remember being taught how to make a personal budget out of my allowance. Exactly how much money was given to me didn’t matter as much as the main principle they passed on: save money. They didn’t care if I used the rest of my allowance on junk food or other types of impulse buying. All that mattered to them was whether or not I set aside a portion to put in a savings account. And so I did.

How To Write An Essay About Money

There are so many ways to write a piece about finances. It depends on the lens you are viewing the topic from. Are you an adult looking back at your childhood and remembering important lessons learned? Are you a financial expert looking to give some advice on how to maximize your cash? Are you a student wanting to teach people how to set aside an amount in case of an emergency? Are you a parent who discovered creative hacks in your finances to make ends meet? Find your angle and work it.

How To Spend Money Wisely As A Teenager

When you are young and still living under your guardians’ roof, thinking about contingencies or other things you may be needing to buy before your next allowance comes may not come naturally to you. It is so important to learn how to handle your personal finances even at that age because that sets the direction of your spending in the future. When you start getting a monthly income, the weight of the responsibility is even greater as you start to live independently. Even as a teenager, learn to set financial goals and think of the long game. Even if you have to put money inside a piggy bank to avoid temptation, do so. Track your expenses and make adjustments according to your level of contentment. Learn the art of investing from an expert. Finally, don’t shop ’till you drop. It’s a trap.

Essay on Pocket Money Advantages and Disadvantages

Students are often asked to write an essay on Pocket Money Advantages and Disadvantages in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Pocket Money Advantages and Disadvantages

Introduction.

Pocket money is a small amount of money given to children by their parents. It’s an effective tool to teach kids about financial responsibility.

Pocket money can teach children to manage money from an early age. They learn to save, spend wisely, and understand the value of money.

Disadvantages

However, pocket money can also lead to bad habits. If not monitored, kids might spend it all at once or buy unnecessary things, thus not learning proper money management.

250 Words Essay on Pocket Money Advantages and Disadvantages

The concept of pocket money.

Pocket money is a widely accepted practice where parents give a certain amount of money to their children for their personal expenses. It is seen as a tool for teaching financial responsibility and independence.

Advantages of Pocket Money

Pocket money can be a significant tool in a child’s understanding of financial management. It teaches them the value of money, how to budget, and the importance of saving. It can also help them understand the difference between needs and wants, and the consequences of impulsive spending. Furthermore, it can foster a sense of independence and responsibility, as they learn to manage their own finances.

Disadvantages of Pocket Money

On the flip side, pocket money can also have its drawbacks. If not monitored, it can lead to a sense of entitlement or promote materialistic attitudes. It might also lead to poor spending habits if children are not guided properly. In extreme cases, it could even lead to financial recklessness, as some children might assume that money is easily available.

Striking a Balance

The key to leveraging the benefits of pocket money lies in striking a balance. Parents should provide guidance and establish rules about spending and saving. They can use this as an opportunity to teach their children about the importance of charitable giving.

In conclusion, while pocket money has its pros and cons, it is an effective tool for teaching financial responsibility if used judiciously. The advantages can significantly outweigh the disadvantages with the right guidance and rules in place.

500 Words Essay on Pocket Money Advantages and Disadvantages

Pocket money, often a child’s first encounter with financial responsibility, is a topic of great debate. While some view it as an essential tool for teaching financial literacy, others perceive it as potentially leading to financial recklessness. As college students, understanding the pros and cons of pocket money can provide valuable insights into personal financial management.

The first significant advantage of pocket money is that it fosters financial literacy at an early age. By managing a fixed amount of money, children learn the value of money, budgeting, and prioritizing needs over wants. This early exposure to money management can be instrumental in developing sound financial habits, which are crucial in adulthood.

Pocket money also promotes a sense of independence and responsibility. Being entrusted with their own money, children learn to make decisions about spending and saving. This autonomy can boost their confidence and decision-making abilities.

Furthermore, pocket money can be used as a tool to incentivize good behavior or performance. It can serve as a reward system, encouraging children to complete chores, excel in academics, or engage in other positive behaviors.

Despite the benefits, pocket money is not without its drawbacks. One potential issue is that it can lead to a sense of entitlement. If children are given money without any conditions, they may develop the expectation of always receiving money, leading to a lack of appreciation for hard work and the value of money.

Another concern is the potential for financial mismanagement. Without proper guidance, children may spend their money impulsively, leading to poor financial habits. This could potentially carry over into adulthood, leading to financial difficulties.

Additionally, pocket money can create social disparities among peers. Children who receive larger amounts may feel superior, while those who receive less may feel inferior. This can lead to social issues, such as bullying or feelings of inadequacy.

In conclusion, pocket money can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can foster financial literacy, independence, and responsibility. On the other hand, it can lead to a sense of entitlement, financial mismanagement, and social disparities. The key lies in how it’s implemented. Parents and educators should use pocket money as a tool for teaching financial responsibility, coupling it with appropriate guidance and realistic expectations. As college students, reflecting on our experiences with pocket money can provide valuable insights into our own financial behaviors and attitudes, enabling us to make more informed financial decisions in the future.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Essay on Pocket Money in English For Students & Children

We are Sharing an Essay on Pocket Money in English for students. In this article, we have tried our best to provide a Short Pocket Money Essay for Class 6,7,8,9,10,11,12 in 100, 200 words.

Essay on Pocket Money in English For Students

When money is always pocketed, what is ‘Pocket money? It normally refers to a small currency that can take care of small needs. Pocket money is a term usually associated with introducing children to ‘financial literacy. It is the first step towards inculcating the habit of savings and planning for a financial need. Usually, parents give small allowances to their children for doing a job or a monthly/weekly allowance to take care of their personal petty expenses. While some children spend all that is given to them, a few save a part of this allowance. This saving is aimed at buying something that they yearn for but is too large for the regular allowance to procure.

Parents encourage this habit of saving. It also teaches valuable lessons to children on saving as a habit for life and also gives them the idea that money does sometimes run out. Today most children expect pocket money, as they see peers spending at will. The amount offered as pocket money varies according to the will of the parents. Responsible parents keep this large enough to take care of their children’s lesser needs but small enough to keep them from becoming indisciplined.

# composition | article | Paragraph on Pocket Money

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Essay on “Pocket Money” for Kids and Students, English, Paragraph, Speech for Class 8, 9, 10, 12, College and Competitive Exams.

Pocket Money

There is nothing so thrilling as the jingle of coins in one’s pocket or the feel of crisp notes –money which belongs entirely to oneself to do as we please with it. I strongly feel that our parents should give us pocket money; If children don’t get a monthly or weekly allowance how will they learn to handle their finances?  Moreover, when they see others spending lavishly they may be tempted to steal some money!

Oh how I long for pocket money! If you ever see me staring out of the window absently during the Maths period, you will know that I am thinking of all the wonderful things I would do with my pocket money if my parents ever gave it. First of all, I would buy that lovely teddy bear I saw in the shop the other day. Then I would make sure that my friends received birthday cards from me regularly. At present, my mother gives me money for this ‘useless’ luxury only after she has asked me at least a dozen questions! The rest of my money, if there was any remaining, would be spent on sweets and ice-cream.

You see how simple my desires are. I wish somebody would convince my parents that if I had some money of my own, I would not, as they seem to think, fall into all kinds of evil ways.

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Pocket Money Essay on Short Words Write in English

  Pocket Money : Pocket Money In the present society, the general standards of living of people have increased. This has also given the rise in trend and the need of giving pocket money to children. Pocket money is the amount of money that the parents give to their children for spending that amount as per their need and wish. The liberty to spend that amount and make a decision on how and what it should be spent is given entirely to the children.

Pocket Money Short an Essay Paragraph 

The quantity of pocket money each youngster receives is determined on their socioeconomic status. It is up to the parents to determine the amount of money they want to provide their children and when they should begin this practise. Children can benefit from pocket money in a variety of ways. However, before giving money to youngsters, it is important to assess whether they are capable of making proper use of it.

When it comes to pocket money, there are two points of view. Some individuals believe that by providing children pocket money, they will become opulent. Others believe that allowing kids to spend money will instil in them a sense of financial responsibility and budgeting. As a result, pocket money has both positive and negative aspects.

Pocket money is given to children for their personal use, mostly for buying stationery, toys, snacks, etc. Through receiving a fixed amount of Pocket money, children understand the value of money and learn to budget their expenditure.

Essay Paragraph Pocket Money 

This also develops self control and a sense of how much effort is to be done to earn money. This encourages a habit of saving money. Many children efficiently make use of the Pocket money. It will give children a certain freedom to select what they want, make them aware of the rules of the equivalent exchange.

They will also learn to make their decisions on their own. 1 Though the advantages of pocket money are many, parents should encourage the habit of using Pocket money wisely. It is the responsibility of the parents to guide the children initially on spending their pocket money.

A part of the pocket money should always be used for a noble cause like donation or helping others. This will further inspire the children to give back to society. Some children also help their needy classmates out of their Pocket money. Thus, it is good to have Pocket money if it is used appropriately.

On the other hand, there are disadvantages also of Pocket money. Young children do not know how to use pocket money appropriately. They possibly spend all the money to buy expensive merchandise that they like, and then run short of money.

Pocket Money : The children also assume that Pocket money is given to them to support their unreasonable demands and provide them a luxurious life . Such conditions will make children become more and more prodigal. They tend to become reckless and extravagant.

Since adults do not supervise the procedure of shopping , children could probably buy something that is not suitable for their age, such as adult magazines. Children wrongly assume that pocket money is their right and do not understand the value of money.

As they easily get the money, they do not understand the effort required to earn the money. With the power of money, children get involved in unhealthy practices which are morally and socially unacceptable like drugs, crimes, etc.

Judging these two viewpoints above mentioned, it is the responsibility of parents that they should give their children a limited amount of pocket money. There are some preconditions, which the children and parents need to follow.

These can include things like: the quantity of pocket money must be limited ; parents should teach their children how to manage their money and what is appropriate for them; and parents should accompany their children to purchase expensive items.

Pocket money will not hurt their children if these conditions are met. As a result, deciding whether or not to give pocket money is a delicate subject. By using the power of pocket money, parents and children must decide together on the alternative that leads to healthy thinking and healthy actions.

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Short Essay on Pocket Money and Its Significance

Category: Essays and Paragraphs On October 13, 2018 By Aparna

Pocket money is the money that parents give to their children when they young. Pocket money helps children to learn about money management, and slowly, they get to know about the importance of money in their lives.

Significance of Pocket money: Pocket money carries huge significance in every child’s or every person’s life. Pocket money eventually helps children to learn about spending and saving money in the right manner, which is also called money management.

Pocket money leaves a beautiful smile on the faces of children which nothing else can provide at that age unless a relative has offered some sweets or money to him/her. And parents are usually pleased to provide pocket money to their children to see the beautiful smile on their faces.

Parents should also make sure that they give pocket money to their children, which is sufficient for them to survive for a week or even for a day. Extra money given to your children would always make them spend money carelessly, and this will be difficult to control when they become adults.

Many parents make a deal with their children like making them clean their rooms or clean the mess that they have created, and then only, they offer their children their pocket money. In this way, children also learn the importance of staying in a clean atmosphere.

As a parent, one should always make sure that he/she is giving sufficient pocket money to the children as children should never be borrowing money from their friends in the school or colony. Borrowing is not a good habit, and it never will be. In extreme cases, borrowed money involves interest due to which, one needs to pay an extra amount of money than he/she has borrowed from someone.

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The pros and cons of pocket money

22nd September 2020

by: Team Starling

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This week, Money Explained tackles the topic of pocket money, exploring the benefits and possible pitfalls. Our series looks at the money basics for everyone in the household, breaking it down into bitesize chunks.

Giving your children pocket money can be a great way to get them thinking about finances from an early age.

There are two general ways people give pocket money - either a regular allowance that is agreed upon and given each week no matter what, or money that’s conditional on the child doing certain jobs around the house like helping with the washing-up, hoovering, dusting the living room or a spot of gardening.

Pros and cons of pocket money

Many adults say that as kids get older and more independent, the act of giving pocket money can be a real conversation starter that can lead to lots of enlightening conversations. Other benefits of giving your kids pocket money include:

• Learning the value of money - by having their own cash, they can begin to see how much things are worth, and can decide whether to spend or save it.
• Allowing them to develop a healthy relationship with money – this is an important life skill.
• Helping to build their independence – by giving them some responsibility for their money.
• Discovering that money is something you work for - assuming they earn it by doing chores.
• Teaching that money you have can only be spent once - for example, if your child buys a new video game today, they won’t then be able to buy lego next week with the same money. Once you spend the money, it’s gone. This can help to start learning on how to budget and how to choose between buying different things.

Research has shown that money habits form early, as young as seven, and giving pocket money can really help to boost your child’s understanding of how money works .

It’s worth being aware of some possible negatives to giving pocket money as well:

• Your child could start to expect money for nothing - if you don’t peg their pocket money to work or tasks accomplished.
• It can create envy - if your child earns more or less than their friends.

Ways of giving pocket money

One option is to give your children cash for their pocket money, which you can then encourage them to look after and keep safe.

However, you might not always want to give them cash at all, especially with the current concerns around physical contact.

An alternative to cash is to make use of Starling Kite , a debit card for young people aged 6 - 15. It’s like a bank account, but as the adult, you get better control and visibility. Starling Kite is managed through our app, and you can load on pocket money in an instant. As the adult, you can also check and control specific activities such as cash withdrawals or online payments, and set daily spend limits. A Kite card comes ready blocked for merchants that aren’t age appropriate, including pubs and betting agents. Real-time notifications let you know exactly how they are spending.

Another useful thing about the Starling Kite option is the security. With Kite, if there’s ever a scare about the card being lost or stolen, you can lock / unlock the card with just a tap, in the app.

How much pocket money should I give?

This is a big question that we’ll look at in a future Money Explained article - ultimately it will come down to how much you can afford and how much you think your child should get, but we’ll explore factors you can use to help you decide.

You could also ask friends how much they give their kids, and encourage your children to chat to their friends about how much they’ve been able to save. Talking openly about money isn’t something that comes naturally to some people, but it’s really helpful for your children to learn that money isn’t a taboo topic.

Read the other articles in our Money Explained series :

Sharing and giving

Saving up for something special

Money: Needs vs wants

Teaching kids how to stay safe with money

How children learn about money

Different ways to pay

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Pocket Money should be given to children. To what extent do you agree or disagree.

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10 Simple Ways To Manage Your Money Better

Being good with money is about more than just making ends meet. Don't worry that you're not a math whiz; great math skills aren't really necessary - you just need to know basic addition and subtraction.

Life is much easier when you have good financial skills . How you spend your money impacts your credit score and the amount of debt you end up carrying. If you’re struggling with money management issues such a living paycheck to paycheck despite making more than enough money, then here are some tips to improve your financial habits.

When you’re faced with a spending decision, especially a large purchase decision, don’t just assume you can afford something. Confirm that you can actually afford it and that you haven’t already committed those funds to another expense.

That means using your budget and the balance in your checking and savings accounts to decide whether you can afford a purchase. Remember that just because the money is there doesn't mean you can make the purchase. You have also to consider the bills and expenses you'll have to pay before your next payday.

How To Manage Your Money Better

• Have a budget : Many people don’t budget because they don’t want to go through what they think will be a boring process of listing out expenses, adding up numbers, and making sure everything lines up. If you’re bad with money, you don’t have room for excuses with budgeting. If all it takes to get your spending on track is a few hours working a budget each month, why wouldn’t you do it? Instead of focusing on the process of creating a budget, focus on the value that budgeting will bring to your life.
• Use the budget: Your budget is useless if you make it then let it collect dust in a folder tucked away in your bookshelf or file cabinet. Refer to it often throughout the month to help guide your spending decisions. Update it as you pay bills and spend on other monthly expenses. At any given time during the month, you should have an idea of how much money you’re able to spend, considering any expenses you have left to pay.
• Give yourself a limit for unbudgeted spending : A critical part of your budget is the net income or the amount of money left after you subtract your expenses from your income. If you have any money left over, you can use it for fun and entertainment, but only up to a certain amount. You can’t go crazy with this money, especially if it’s not a lot and it has to last the entire month. Before you make any big purchases, make sure it won’t interfere with anything else you have planned.
• Track your spending: Small purchases here and there add up quickly, and before you know it, you’ve overspent your budget. Start tracking your spending to discover places where you may be unknowingly overspending. Save your receipts and write your purchases in a spending journal, categorizing them so you can identify areas where you have a hard time keeping your spending in check.
• Don’t commit to any new recurring monthly bills : Just because your income and credit qualify you for a certain loan, doesn’t mean you should take it. Many people naively think the bank wouldn’t approve them for a credit card or loan they can’t afford. The bank only knows your income, as you’ve reported, and the debt obligations included on your credit report , not any other obligations that could prevent you from making your payments on time. It’s up to you to decide whether a monthly payment is affordable based on your income and other monthly obligations.
• Make sure you’re paying the best prices : You can make the most of your money comparison shopping, ensuring that you’re paying the lowest prices for products and services. Look for discounts, coupons, and cheaper alternatives whenever you can.
• Save up for big purchases : The ability to delay gratification will go a long way in helping you be better with money. When you put off large purchases, rather than sacrificing more important essentials or putting the purchase on a credit card, you give yourself time to evaluate whether the purchase is necessary and even more time to compare prices. By saving up rather than using credit, you avoid paying interest on the purchase. And if you save rather than skipping bills or obligations, well, you don’t have to deal with the many consequences of missing those bills .
• Limit your credit card purchases : Credit cards are a bad spender's worst enemy. When you run out of cash, you simply turn to your credit cards without considering whether you can afford to pay the balance. Resist the urge to use your credit cards for purchases you can’t afford, especially on items you don’t really need.
• Contribute to savings regularly : Depositing money into a savings account each month can help you build healthy financial habits. You can even set it up so the money is automatically transferred from your checking account to your savings account. That way, you don’t have to remember to make the transfer.
• Being good with money takes practice :​ In the beginning, you may not be used to planning ahead and putting off purchases until you can afford them. The more you make these habits part of your daily life, the easier it is to manage your money, and the better off your finances will be.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is money management important.

Without money management, personal finances are a bit of a mystery. This can lead to overspending and living paycheck-to-paycheck. Money management can help you have a better handle on your income and spending so you can make decisions that improve your financial status.

How do you improve money management?

You can improve your money management by regularly evaluating what you're doing with money and making changes that make sense for you. For example, if you don't have a budget, you could start by developing one. If you have a budget, you could track your spending and see how it lines up with your budget. Once you have an idea of your income and spending, you could choose to increase your savings, pay off debt, or start investing based on your financial goals.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. " Budgeting: How to Create a Budget and Stick With It ."

Consumer.gov. " Making a Budget ."

FiftyThirtyTwenty.com. " Income + Financial Stability in America ."

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. " Spending Tracker ."

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. " Bill Calendar: Know What You Owe and When It's Due ."

WSFS Bank. " 5 Ways to Save for a Big Purchase ."

Discover. " Six Tips On How To Stay Out of Debt ."

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. " Looking for An Easy Way to Save Money? Make It Automatic ."

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How to Earn Pocket Money

Last Updated: February 28, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Jessie Davidson . Jessie Davidson is a Child Care Specialist and the CEO and Founder of BabysitPro, which provides online courses for current and aspiring babysitters. Jessie has over 20 years of childcare experience and specializes in best practices for sitters of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and grade-schoolers. BabysitPro’s courses are unique and age-specific so babysitters can learn detailed information relevant to the children they babysit. Jessie holds a BA in French Studies from Wheaton College and an MA in Visual Anthropology from The University of Southern California. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 215,580 times.

Though it may not be possible to get a proper job just yet, there are still ways for you to earn some spending money while helping your family and community. With a little creative thinking, you can find the perfect money making opportunity for you. Here's how to look to parents, neighbors, and friends not for handouts, but for opportunity.

Earning Money From Your Parents

• Negotiate a fair amount of money for the work that you do. Don't expect them to pay you $/£20 for nothing. They may expect you to complete a few more household chores since they are paying you regularly.
• Think about how you will justify this allowance. Why do you need it? Why do you deserve it? Be prepared to give your parents good reasons if asked.
• Common tasks that parents pay their children allowance to complete include: cleaning your room, emptying and loading the dishwasher, vacuuming, washing and folding laundry, and dusting. [1] X Research source

• If your parents send you into a store to pick up a few items, ask them if you can have the change. If they expect the money back, ask them can you keep the coins. Pennies, pounds and other coins quickly add up.

Earning Money from Your Community

• Taking care of lawns. You can mow them, rake leaves, clean up debris, and shovel snow. Charge different prices based on the size of the yard and the size of the job. Remember, always be fair and reasonable. [2] X Research source
• Pet walking and pet sitting. Offer to walk dogs for your neighbors, or feed their cats or dogs when they go out of town. If you pet sit, you can charge by the day. Just make sure you like animals because pet sitting can get a little dirty.
• Dog washing. Wash dogs for your neighbors, and even brush them afterwards.
• Washing cars. Wash the outsides of cars, and even clean the insides, too. If you get a few friends together, you can hold a community car wash.
• Spray painting numbers on curbs. This could help emergency vehicles find homes if the numbers are not obvious on the house or mailbox. All you'd need is a couple of cans of spray paint and a number stencil.

• Think of reasons why you are qualified for babysitting. Most parents will want to know that you are responsible and have worked with children before. If possible, put together references of people you have babysat for before, or family members who have watched you babysit younger cousins during family events.
• Make sure you are prepared for babysitting. It is not an easy job, but a huge responsibility. You are responsible for the safety and well-being of the child while they are under your care. If you're not comfortable with that, find an alternate job.

• You might want to use your computer to print up fliers or business cards to distribute around the community. On the flier or business card, describe who you are, what you are offering to do, and how to contact you.
• Go door to door to introduce yourself. When you first start a business, you need to promote it. In addition to fliers, try going around to the houses in your neighborhood to introduce yourself. People might be more willing to hire you if they see your face and meet. [3] X Research source
• Don't be discouraged if people say no.

Making Money Other Ways

• Get your parents to help you sell it on eBay or Craigslist. You can sell everything from clothes to toys on there.
• Sell it at school if its allowed. Your peers will be into similar things and just because you are finished with something does not mean that someone else wont want it. [4] X Research source
• Take your clothes and shoes to a consignment shop. Consignment shops pay money for quality, second-hand items. Some consignment shops will even take toys. Make sure the items are in good quality so you get the best price.
• Sell your old video games and video game systems back to gaming stores. Or try selling them on eBay or Amazon.
• Have a yard sale. This might not be easy since your parents will have to do a lot of work, but maybe you can convince them to share some of the profits from their sales if you do a lot of the organizing work. [5] X Research source

• Offer your musical services for a fee at local events. Play the piano at a reception, play the guitar at a wedding, or play the violin at a local festival.

• If you're good at drawing and painting, think about painting faces at birthday parties and other events for a small fee. [6] X Research source

Expert Q&A

• Be patient when you're trying to find work, as it can take a while. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2
• Make a budget. Prioritize things you want to buy so you don't spend your money on unnecessary things. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 1

• These may not be the quickest ways of earning money, but if you're persistent, spend wisely and save even more than you spend, you'll be on the way to financial responsibility. Thanks Helpful 221 Not Helpful 42

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/parenting/news-on-parenting-282965.html
• ↑ http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf437665.tip.html
• ↑ http://www.eruptingmind.com/how-to-make-money-for-kids-teens/
• ↑ https://makemoneyas.com/how-to-earn-money-as-a-kid
• ↑ http://www.themint.org/kids/ways-kids-can-earn-money.html
• ↑ http://www.howtomakemoneyasakid.com/ways-to-make-money-as-a-kid/
• ↑ http://howkidscanearnmoney.com/blog/

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Essay on Money for Students and Children

500+ words essay on money.

Money is an essential need to survive in the world. In today’s world, almost everything is possible with money. Moreover, you can fulfill any of your dreams by spending money. As a result, people work hard to earn it. Our parents work hard to fulfill our dreams .

Furthermore various businessmen , entrepreneurs have startup businesses to earn profits. They have made use of their skills and intelligence in getting an upper hand in earning. Also, the employee sector works day and night to complete their tasks given to them. But still, there are many people who take shortcuts to success and get involved in corruption.

Black Money

Black money is the money that people earn with corruption . For your information corruption involves the misuse of the power of high posts. For instance, it involves taking bribes, extra money for free services, etc. Corruption is the main cause of the lack of proper growth of the country .

Moreover, money that people having authority earns misusing their powers is black money. Furthermore, these earnings do not have proper documentation. As a result, the people who earn this do not pay income tax . Which is a great offense and the person who does this can be behind bars.

Money Laundering

In simple terms, money laundering is converting black money into white money. Also, this is another illegal offense. Furthermore, money laundering also encourages various crimes. Because it is the only way criminal can use their money from illegal sources. Money laundering is a crime, and the people who practice it are liable to go to jail.

Therefore the Government is taking various preventive measures to abolish money laundering. The government is linking bank accounts to AADHAR Card. To get all the transaction detail of each bank account. As a result, the government comes to know if any transaction is from an illegal source .

Also, every bank account has its own KYC (Know your Customer) this separates different categories of income of people. Businessmen are in the high-risk category. Then comes the people who are on a high post they are in the medium-risk category. Further, the last category is of the Employee sector they are at the lowest risk.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

White Money

White money is the money that people earn through legal sources. Moreover, it is the money on which the people have already paid the tax. The employee sector of any company always has white money income.

Because the tax is already levied on their income. Therefore the safest way to earn money is in the employment sector. But your income will be limited here. As a result, many people take a different path and choose entrepreneurship. This helps them in starting their own company and make profitable incomes .

Every person in this world works hard to earn money. People try different methods and set of skills to increase their incomes. But it is always not about earning money, it’s about saving and spending it. People should spend money wisely. Moreover, things should always be bought by judging their worth. Because money is not precious but the efforts you make for it are.

Q1. What is Black Money?

A1. Black money is the money that people earn through illegal ways. It is strictly prohibited in our country. And the people who have it can go to jail.

Q2. What is the difference between Black money and White money?

A2. The difference between black money and white money is, Black money comes from illegal earnings. But white money comes from legal sources with taxation levied on it.

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Advantages and disadvantages of giving pocket money

Pocket money, should parents develop this habit at the tender age.

We only remember the daily arguments we would do with our parents that would be no less than an experienced legal professional for increasing our daily allowance. This daily allowance has the popular name "pocket money".

Pocket money is given to a child so that he may have some enjoyments of his choice within that amount of money. Very rightly pocket money gives a child a lesson of budget control. Keeping all expenses within a prescribed budget is a difficult task for a matured grown up as well as and so developing such awareness at a tender age is absolutely necessary. A person learns to get expertise from his mistakes. Budget control is a similar task. After exceeding ones predetermined budget couple of times a person would learn to keep the same within the budget. Similarly a child to taking his pocket money as his predetermined budget would learn to control his expenses. When a child is given his pocket money for the first time he would extravagantly spend the entire amount in short time. But gradually with passage of time with parental guidance, advice and scolding he would not only learn to keep his expenses within budget but also learn to save. And so parental supervision in a child's pocket money is extremely important.

The disadvantage behind giving a child, freedom in his expenses is he may opt for wrong things and it is also related to the company he keeps. Suppose a child has a bad company of friends and with his allowances he may go for smoking, drinking and other immoral activities out of curiosity with his friends.so, parental supervision and guidance is utmost necessary. Parents should give reasonable amount if allowance and only sometime little more as an appraisal for his child's performances in his academics or extracurricular activities. Pocket money can act as a motivational factor that is an extra remuneration to him for is brilliant performance in studies, sports, cultural activities etc. but the amount should not be abnormally high.

Again, a child lacks matured psychology that is he may not be able to understand the complexities of the society. Among his acquaintances he may find people coming from various classes, backgrounds and tastes. He may be under the proper guidance of his parents but some others may be not. He may have friends who receive abnormally high allowances and may be able to afford and enjoy things that this child is unable to. This creates a big problem. The child develops a grudge over his parents and suffers from low self-esteem. He may also adopt unfair means like stealing, bullying other children in order to raise his standard. A parent should also keep an eye on whether such situation has arisen and should not be rude with the child and explain to him the circumstances in a way that the child would understand as his judgmental power is not as justified as an adult. A parent should help him choose right friends. A parent also should help his child to learn his necessities as in order to get child of an out of budget product he may start saving by avoiding his necessities. In recent news we find a boy selling his kidney for an i-phone which his parents are unable to afford. Psychological counseling is required for a child in every step.

Thus as a conclusion it can be derived from the above analysis the lesson of "budget control" at a tender age will help a child to be expertise in the task only when he is under a close supervision of responsible parents who would suggest him ideas of budget control in his way. And no doubt such a practice from childhood will help him develop his own skills in the matter that would be immensely helpful for him in his future even when he would pass through adverse financial conditions.

So I sincerely feel that the parents should only provide a small emergency fund to their children so that they are left with a small window to peep into their ward's life and counsel him about what is right and what is wrong.

Sayantika Banerjee

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10 Lines on “Pocket Money” Complete Essay, Speech for Class 8, 9, 10 and 12 Students.

10 lines on “pocket money”.

1. There is nothing as thrilling as the jingle of coins in one’s pocket or the feel of crisp notes -money that belongs entirely to oneself to do as we please with it.

2. I strongly feel that our parents should give us pocket money.

3. If children don’t get a monthly or weekly allowance how will they learn to handle their finances?

4. Moreover, when they see others spending lavishly they may be tempted to steal some money!

5. Oh how I long for pocket money! If you ever see me staring out of the window absently during the Maths period, you will know that I am thinking of all the wonderful things I would do with my pocket money if my parents ever gave it.

6. First of all I would buy that lovely Teddy Bear I saw in the shop the other day.

7. Then I would make sure that my friends received birthday cards from me regularly.

8. At present, my mother gives me money for this “useless” luxury only after she has asked me at least a dozen questions!

9. The rest of my money, if there was any remaining, would be spent on sweets and ice cream.

10. You see how simple my desires are. I wish somebody would convince my parents that if I had some money of my own, I would not, as they seem to think, fall into all kinds of evil ways.

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Guest Essay

I Thought the Bragg Case Against Trump Was a Legal Embarrassment. Now I Think It’s a Historic Mistake.

By Jed Handelsman Shugerman

Mr. Shugerman is a law professor at Boston University.

About a year ago, when Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, indicted former President Donald Trump, I was critical of the case and called it an embarrassment. I thought an array of legal problems would and should lead to long delays in federal courts.

After listening to Monday’s opening statement by prosecutors, I still think the district attorney has made a historic mistake. Their vague allegation about “a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election” has me more concerned than ever about their unprecedented use of state law and their persistent avoidance of specifying an election crime or a valid theory of fraud.

To recap: Mr. Trump is accused in the case of falsifying business records. Those are misdemeanor charges. To elevate it to a criminal case, Mr. Bragg and his team have pointed to potential violations of federal election law and state tax fraud. They also cite state election law, but state statutory definitions of “public office” seem to limit those statutes to state and local races.

Both the misdemeanor and felony charges require that the defendant made the false record with “intent to defraud.” A year ago, I wondered how entirely internal business records (the daily ledger, pay stubs and invoices) could be the basis of any fraud if they are not shared with anyone outside the business. I suggested that the real fraud was Mr. Trump’s filing an (allegedly) false report to the Federal Election Commission, and that only federal prosecutors had jurisdiction over that filing.

A recent conversation with Jeffrey Cohen, a friend, Boston College law professor and former prosecutor, made me think that the case could turn out to be more legitimate than I had originally thought. The reason has to do with those allegedly falsified business records: Most of them were entered in early 2017, generally before Mr. Trump filed his Federal Election Commission report that summer. Mr. Trump may have foreseen an investigation into his campaign, leading to its financial records. He may have falsely recorded these internal records before the F.E.C. filing as consciously part of the same fraud: to create a consistent paper trail and to hide intent to violate federal election laws, or defraud the F.E.C.

In short: It’s not the crime; it’s the cover-up.

Looking at the case in this way might address concerns about state jurisdiction. In this scenario, Mr. Trump arguably intended to deceive state investigators, too. State investigators could find these inconsistencies and alert federal agencies. Prosecutors could argue that New York State agencies have an interest in detecting conspiracies to defraud federal entities; they might also have a plausible answer to significant questions about whether New York State has jurisdiction or whether this stretch of a state business filing law is pre-empted by federal law.

However, this explanation is a novel interpretation with many significant legal problems. And none of the Manhattan district attorney’s filings or today’s opening statement even hint at this approach.

Instead of a theory of defrauding state regulators, Mr. Bragg has adopted a weak theory of “election interference,” and Justice Juan Merchan described the case , in his summary of it during jury selection, as an allegation of falsifying business records “to conceal an agreement with others to unlawfully influence the 2016 election.”

As a reality check: It is legal for a candidate to pay for a nondisclosure agreement. Hush money is unseemly, but it is legal. The election law scholar Richard Hasen rightly observed , “Calling it election interference actually cheapens the term and undermines the deadly serious charges in the real election interference cases.”

In Monday’s opening argument, the prosecutor Matthew Colangelo still evaded specifics about what was illegal about influencing an election, but then he claimed , “It was election fraud, pure and simple.” None of the relevant state or federal statutes refer to filing violations as fraud. Calling it “election fraud” is a legal and strategic mistake, exaggerating the case and setting up the jury with high expectations that the prosecutors cannot meet.

The most accurate description of this criminal case is a federal campaign finance filing violation. Without a federal violation (which the state election statute is tethered to), Mr. Bragg cannot upgrade the misdemeanor counts into felonies. Moreover, it is unclear how this case would even fulfill the misdemeanor requirement of “intent to defraud” without the federal crime.

In stretching jurisdiction and trying a federal crime in state court, the Manhattan district attorney is now pushing untested legal interpretations and applications. I see three red flags raising concerns about selective prosecution upon appeal.

First, I could find no previous case of any state prosecutor relying on the Federal Election Campaign Act either as a direct crime or a predicate crime. Whether state prosecutors have avoided doing so as a matter of law, norms or lack of expertise, this novel attempt is a sign of overreach.

Second, Mr. Trump’s lawyers argued that the New York statute requires that the predicate (underlying) crime must also be a New York crime, not a crime in another jurisdiction. The district attorney responded with judicial precedents only about other criminal statutes, not the statute in this case. In the end, the prosecutors could not cite a single judicial interpretation of this particular statute supporting their use of the statute (a plea deal and a single jury instruction do not count).

Third, no New York precedent has allowed an interpretation of defrauding the general public. Legal experts have noted that such a broad “election interference” theory is unprecedented, and a conviction based on it may not survive a state appeal.

Mr. Trump’s legal team also undercut itself for its decisions in the past year: His lawyers essentially put all of their eggs in the meritless basket of seeking to move the trial to federal court, instead of seeking a federal injunction to stop the trial entirely. If they had raised the issues of selective or vindictive prosecution and a mix of jurisdictional, pre-emption and constitutional claims, they could have delayed the trial past Election Day, even if they lost at each federal stage.

Another reason a federal crime has wound up in state court is that President Biden’s Justice Department bent over backward not to reopen this valid case or appoint a special counsel. Mr. Trump has tried to blame Mr. Biden for this prosecution as the real “election interference.” The Biden administration’s extra restraint belies this allegation and deserves more credit.

Eight years after the alleged crime itself, it is reasonable to ask if this is more about Manhattan politics than New York law. This case should serve as a cautionary tale about broader prosecutorial abuses in America — and promote bipartisan reforms of our partisan prosecutorial system.

Nevertheless, prosecutors should have some latitude to develop their case during trial, and maybe they will be more careful and precise about the underlying crime, fraud and the jurisdictional questions. Mr. Trump has received sufficient notice of the charges, and he can raise his arguments on appeal. One important principle of “ our Federalism ,” in the Supreme Court’s terms, is abstention , that federal courts should generally allow state trials to proceed first and wait to hear challenges later.

This case is still an embarrassment, in terms of prosecutorial ethics and apparent selectivity. Nevertheless, each side should have its day in court. If convicted, Mr. Trump can fight many other days — and perhaps win — in appellate courts. But if Monday’s opening is a preview of exaggerated allegations, imprecise legal theories and persistently unaddressed problems, the prosecutors might not win a conviction at all.

Jed Handelsman Shugerman (@jedshug) is a law professor at Boston University.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

The GOP’s Pro-Russia Caucus Lost. Now Ukraine Has to Win.

Once U.S. money starts flowing again, the dynamics of the war will change.

It’s not too late, because it’s never too late. No outcomes are ever preordained, nothing is ever over, and you can always affect what happens tomorrow by making the right choices today. The U.S. Congress is finally making one of those right choices. Soon, American weapons and ammunition will once again start flowing to Ukraine.

But delays do have a price. By dawdling for so many months, by heading down the blind alley of border reform before turning back, congressional Republicans who blocked weapons and ammunition for Ukraine did an enormous amount of damage, some of it irreparable. Over the past six months, Ukraine lost territory, lives, and infrastructure. If Ukraine had not been deprived of air defense, the city of Kharkiv might still have most of its power plants. People who have died in the near-daily bombardment of Odesa might still be alive. Ukrainian soldiers who spent weeks at the front lines rationing ammunition might not be so demoralized.

David Frum: Trump deflates

The delay has changed American politics too. Only a minority of House Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson, joined most Democrats to approve $60 billion in aid yesterday. What is now clearly a pro-Russia Republican caucus has consolidated inside Congress. The lesson is clear: Anyone who seeks to manipulate the foreign policy of the United States, whether the tin-pot autocrat in Hungary or the Communist Party of China, now knows that a carefully designed propaganda campaign, when targeted at the right people, can succeed well beyond what anyone once thought possible. From the first days of the 2022 Russian invasion, President Vladimir Putin has been trying to conquer Ukraine through psychological games as well as military force. He needed to persuade Americans, Europeans, and above all Ukrainians that victory was impossible, that the only alternative was surrender, and that the Ukrainian state would disappear in due course.

Plenty of Americans and Europeans, though not so many Ukrainians, supported this view. Pro-Russia influencers—Tucker Carlson, J. D. Vance, David Sacks—backed up by an army of pro-Russia trolls on X and other social-media platforms, helped feed the narrative of failure and convinced a minority in Congress to block aid for Ukraine. It’s instructive to trace the path of a social-media post that falsely claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky owns two yachts, how it traveled up the food chain late last year, from the keyboard of a propagandist through the echo chamber created by trolls and into the brains of American lawmakers. According to Senator Thom Tillis , a Republican from North Carolina, some of his colleagues worried out loud, during debates about military aid to Ukraine, that “people will buy yachts with this money.” They had read the false stories and believed they were true.

But with the passage of this aid bill, Russia’s demoralization campaign has suffered a severe setback. This is also a setback for the Russian war effort, and not only because the Ukrainians will now have more ammunition. Suddenly the Russian military and Russian society are once again faced with the prospect of a very long war. Ukraine, backed by the combined military and economic forces of the United States and the European Union, is a much different opponent than Ukraine isolated and alone.

Read: The war is not going well for Ukraine

That doesn’t mean that the Russians will quickly give up: Putin and the propagandists who support him on state television have repeatedly stated that their goal is not to gain a bit of extra territory but to control all of Ukraine. They don’t want to swap land for peace. They want to occupy Kharkiv, Odesa, Kyiv, and more. Now, while their goals become harder to reach, is a good moment for the democratic countries backing Ukraine to recalibrate our strategy too.

Once the aid package becomes law this week, the psychological advantage will once again be on our side. Let’s use it. As Johnson himself recommended, the Biden administration should immediately pressure European allies to release the $300 billion in Russian assets that they jointly hold and send it to Ukraine. There are excellent legal and moral arguments for doing so—the money can legitimately be considered a form of reparations. This shift would also make clear to the Kremlin that it has no path back to what used to be called “normal” relations, and that the price Russia is paying for its colonial war will only continue to grow.

This is also a good moment for both Europeans and Americans to take the sanctions and export-control regimes imposed on Russia more seriously. If NATO were running a true economic-pressure campaign, thousands of people would be involved, with banks of screens at a central command center and constantly updated intelligence. Instead, the task has been left to a smattering of people across different agencies in different countries who may or may not be aware of what others are doing.

As American aid resumes, the Ukrainians should be actively encouraged to pursue the asymmetric warfare that they do best. The air and naval drone campaign that pushed the Black Sea Fleet away from their coastline, the raids on Russian gas and oil facilities thousands of miles from Ukraine, the recruitment of Russian soldiers, in Russia, to join pro-Ukraine Russian units fighting on the border—we need more of this, not less. The Biden administration should also heed Johnson’s suggestion that the United States supply more and better long-range weapons so that Ukrainians can hit Russian missile launchers before the missiles reach Ukraine. If the U.S. had done so in the autumn of 2022, when Ukraine was taking back territory, the world might look a lot different today.

This war will be over only when the Russians no longer want to fight—and they will stop fighting when they realize they cannot win. Now it is our turn to convince them, as well as our own pro-Russia caucus, that their invasion will fail. The best way to do that is to believe it ourselves.

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Gender pay gap in U.S. hasn’t changed much in two decades

The gender gap in pay has remained relatively stable in the United States over the past 20 years or so. In 2022, women earned an average of 82% of what men earned, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of median hourly earnings of both full- and part-time workers. These results are similar to where the pay gap stood in 2002, when women earned 80% as much as men.

As has long been the case, the wage gap is smaller for workers ages 25 to 34 than for all workers 16 and older. In 2022, women ages 25 to 34 earned an average of 92 cents for every dollar earned by a man in the same age group – an 8-cent gap. By comparison, the gender pay gap among workers of all ages that year was 18 cents.

While the gender pay gap has not changed much in the last two decades, it has narrowed considerably when looking at the longer term, both among all workers ages 16 and older and among those ages 25 to 34. The estimated 18-cent gender pay gap among all workers in 2022 was down from 35 cents in 1982. And the 8-cent gap among workers ages 25 to 34 in 2022 was down from a 26-cent gap four decades earlier.

The gender pay gap measures the difference in median hourly earnings between men and women who work full or part time in the United States. Pew Research Center’s estimate of the pay gap is based on an analysis of Current Population Survey (CPS) monthly outgoing rotation group files ( IPUMS ) from January 1982 to December 2022, combined to create annual files. To understand how we calculate the gender pay gap, read our 2013 post, “How Pew Research Center measured the gender pay gap.”

The COVID-19 outbreak affected data collection efforts by the U.S. government in its surveys, especially in 2020 and 2021, limiting in-person data collection and affecting response rates. It is possible that some measures of economic outcomes and how they vary across demographic groups are affected by these changes in data collection.

In addition to findings about the gender wage gap, this analysis includes information from a Pew Research Center survey about the perceived reasons for the pay gap, as well as the pressures and career goals of U.S. men and women. The survey was conducted among 5,098 adults and includes a subset of questions asked only for 2,048 adults who are employed part time or full time, from Oct. 10-16, 2022. Everyone who took part is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATP’s methodology .

Here are the questions used in this analysis, along with responses, and its methodology .

The  U.S. Census Bureau has also analyzed the gender pay gap, though its analysis looks only at full-time workers (as opposed to full- and part-time workers). In 2021, full-time, year-round working women earned 84% of what their male counterparts earned, on average, according to the Census Bureau’s most recent analysis.

Much of the gender pay gap has been explained by measurable factors such as educational attainment, occupational segregation and work experience. The narrowing of the gap over the long term is attributable in large part to gains women have made in each of these dimensions.

Related: The Enduring Grip of the Gender Pay Gap

Even though women have increased their presence in higher-paying jobs traditionally dominated by men, such as professional and managerial positions, women as a whole continue to be overrepresented in lower-paying occupations relative to their share of the workforce. This may contribute to gender differences in pay.

Other factors that are difficult to measure, including gender discrimination, may also contribute to the ongoing wage discrepancy.

Perceived reasons for the gender wage gap

When asked about the factors that may play a role in the gender wage gap, half of U.S. adults point to women being treated differently by employers as a major reason, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in October 2022. Smaller shares point to women making different choices about how to balance work and family (42%) and working in jobs that pay less (34%).

There are some notable differences between men and women in views of what’s behind the gender wage gap. Women are much more likely than men (61% vs. 37%) to say a major reason for the gap is that employers treat women differently. And while 45% of women say a major factor is that women make different choices about how to balance work and family, men are slightly less likely to hold that view (40% say this).

Parents with children younger than 18 in the household are more likely than those who don’t have young kids at home (48% vs. 40%) to say a major reason for the pay gap is the choices that women make about how to balance family and work. On this question, differences by parental status are evident among both men and women.

Views about reasons for the gender wage gap also differ by party. About two-thirds of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (68%) say a major factor behind wage differences is that employers treat women differently, but far fewer Republicans and Republican leaners (30%) say the same. Conversely, Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say women’s choices about how to balance family and work (50% vs. 36%) and their tendency to work in jobs that pay less (39% vs. 30%) are major reasons why women earn less than men.

Democratic and Republican women are more likely than their male counterparts in the same party to say a major reason for the gender wage gap is that employers treat women differently. About three-quarters of Democratic women (76%) say this, compared with 59% of Democratic men. And while 43% of Republican women say unequal treatment by employers is a major reason for the gender wage gap, just 18% of GOP men share that view.

Pressures facing working women and men

Family caregiving responsibilities bring different pressures for working women and men, and research has shown that being a mother can reduce women’s earnings , while fatherhood can increase men’s earnings .

Employed women and men are about equally likely to say they feel a great deal of pressure to support their family financially and to be successful in their jobs and careers, according to the Center’s October survey. But women, and particularly working mothers, are more likely than men to say they feel a great deal of pressure to focus on responsibilities at home.

About half of employed women (48%) report feeling a great deal of pressure to focus on their responsibilities at home, compared with 35% of employed men. Among working mothers with children younger than 18 in the household, two-thirds (67%) say the same, compared with 45% of working dads.

When it comes to supporting their family financially, similar shares of working moms and dads (57% vs. 62%) report they feel a great deal of pressure, but this is driven mainly by the large share of unmarried working mothers who say they feel a great deal of pressure in this regard (77%). Among those who are married, working dads are far more likely than working moms (60% vs. 43%) to say they feel a great deal of pressure to support their family financially. (There were not enough unmarried working fathers in the sample to analyze separately.)

About four-in-ten working parents say they feel a great deal of pressure to be successful at their job or career. These findings don’t differ by gender.

Gender differences in job roles, aspirations

Overall, a quarter of employed U.S. adults say they are currently the boss or one of the top managers where they work, according to the Center’s survey. Another 33% say they are not currently the boss but would like to be in the future, while 41% are not and do not aspire to be the boss or one of the top managers.

Men are more likely than women to be a boss or a top manager where they work (28% vs. 21%). This is especially the case among employed fathers, 35% of whom say they are the boss or one of the top managers where they work. (The varying attitudes between fathers and men without children at least partly reflect differences in marital status and educational attainment between the two groups.)

In addition to being less likely than men to say they are currently the boss or a top manager at work, women are also more likely to say they wouldn’t want to be in this type of position in the future. More than four-in-ten employed women (46%) say this, compared with 37% of men. Similar shares of men (35%) and women (31%) say they are not currently the boss but would like to be one day. These patterns are similar among parents.

Note: This is an update of a post originally published on March 22, 2019. Anna Brown and former Pew Research Center writer/editor Amanda Barroso contributed to an earlier version of this analysis. Here are the questions used in this analysis, along with responses, and its methodology .

What is the gender wage gap in your metropolitan area? Find out with our pay gap calculator

• Gender & Work
• Gender Equality & Discrimination
• Gender Pay Gap
• Gender Roles

Carolina Aragão is a research associate focusing on social and demographic trends at Pew Research Center

Women have gained ground in the nation’s highest-paying occupations, but still lag behind men

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