One of my grandsons who is 15 gets given his family allowance into his bank monthly on the understanding that he pays for all his own clothes and covers the greatest majority of any school trips that he wants to go on. He gets help with school uniform and his violin lessons, county orchestra and folk band subscriptions paid for but he has to pay for the violin, case and extras. Last year he paid for his trip to St Petersburg on a school music exchange (£300) and was given pocket money for trip as presents at Christmas.  He also paid to go to a week's course in the summer holidays (£300 again) last year.  He and a friend go busking periodically at weekends to help cover their expenses. As they are good they make good money - upwards of £20 each for two hours after bus fares and that's a quiet day.  It doesn't half teach frugal that.