An inflation correction for pocket money? The NIBUD (National Institute for Budget Information) investigated how much pocket money students receive today, broken down by age group. The findings show that the average amount has risen by 29% since 2020—outpacing official inflation. Read on to see how much teens were getting on average in 2025.
NIBUD Study: Fewer Students Receiving Pocket Money #
The National Institute for Budget Information (NIBUD), in collaboration with ABN AMRO, studied how students manage their finances. The research looked at spending habits as well as the sources of their income. It found that 85% of students receive pocket money from their parents.
This is a slight decrease from 2020, when the figure was 89%. Older students, in particular, are less likely to receive pocket money (70%) and more likely to earn income from a part-time job (73%) compared to their younger peers.
Pocket Money Rose Faster Than Inflation #
However, students are now receiving significantly more pocket money than in 2020. In 2025, the average monthly amount was €40. This figure is somewhat skewed by extreme outliers. The median—a more realistic average excluding extremes—was €25.
In 2020, the average pocket money was €31, with a median of €22. This means the average pocket money has increased by 29% over the past five years, slightly outpacing the 22% inflation rate during the same period.
How Much Pocket Money Did Students Get in 2025? #
The table below shows exactly how much pocket money students received in 2025, broken down by age.
| Age Group | Average | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 years | €31 | €22 | €20–€22 |
| 13 years | €30 | €22 | €20–€25 |
| 14 years | €42 | €26 | €25–€32 |
| 15 years | €40 | €26 | €25–€35 |
| 16 years | €53 | €30 | €25–€43 |
| 17 years | €53 | €30 | €25–€40 |
| 18 years | €66 | €43 | €40–€50 |
| Overall average: | €40 | €25 | €22–€30 |
Clothing Allowance #
Some students also received a clothing allowance in 2025. This applied to about 30% of students, a significant drop from 2020, when roughly half received one. Students who got a clothing allowance received an average of €72 per month, with a median of €50. Despite this, these students reported slightly more frequent money shortages than in previous years.
Saving #
Despite experiencing money shortages more often, most students (79%) indicated that they save. This is a slight decrease from 2020, when the figure was 81%. Notably, students in 2025 are saving more methodically. In 2020, 31% of students saved a fixed amount monthly, a figure that rose to 36% in 2025. Additionally, 45% now use a savings account, up from just 31% in 2020.
Purchasing crypto is age-restricted in the Netherlands, so students generally do not. However, recent research from Rabo Research indicates that young adults are investing more frequently, and over a third of young investors now own crypto.
Inflation and Students #
It appears students’ incomes have not been untouched by inflation. The figures suggest that in most households, parents are protecting their children and generously compensating for the loss of purchasing power. However, some households have apparently had to tighten their belts to the point of cutting pocket money or clothing allowances entirely. Furthermore, students today seem to face money shortages slightly more often and are saving more systematically.