How to create a weekly allowance for a child
A weekly allowance in KiddyCash is a recurring transfer that runs automatically every week, moving money from your family wallet into a chosen child’s spendable bucket — the balance your child can use directly for purchases or savings goals. Once you set it up, KiddyCash handles the transfer without you having to remember each week.
This guide walks you through creating a weekly allowance from scratch. If you need a different frequency, see how to create a monthly allowance for a child, or if you just want to send money once, check out how to create a one-off allowance for a child.
Before you start
Make sure you have:
- A verified KiddyCash family account (KYC completed)
- At least one child profile added to your family
- Sufficient balance in your family wallet — for example, if you’re setting up a KES 500 weekly allowance, ensure your wallet holds enough to cover the first disbursement
If your family wallet is empty, top it up first via M-Pesa or your linked bank account before continuing.
Steps to create a weekly allowance
-
Open the KiddyCash app and sign in with your parent account credentials.
-
Go to your family dashboard. Tap the Family tab at the bottom of the screen. You’ll see your family name and a list of your children’s profiles.
-
Select the child you want to set up an allowance for. Tap their name or avatar to open their profile.
-
Tap “Allowances” in the child’s profile menu. This section shows all active and past allowances for that child.
-
Create a new allowance. Tap the ”+ New Allowance” button — or go directly to the allowance creation screen at kiddy.cash/family/kiddy/account/allowance/create.
-
Choose the frequency. On the allowance creation form, select Weekly from the frequency options. You’ll then be asked to choose which day of the week the transfer should run — for example, every Monday morning before school.
-
Enter the allowance amount. Type in the amount in KES (or your local currency if different). For many families in Nairobi and across Kenya, amounts between KES 200 and KES 1,000 per week are common starting points — but set whatever fits your household budget.
-
Choose the destination bucket. Select Spendable to put the money directly into your child’s spending balance. You can also split across Save or Give buckets if you want to build those habits from day one.
-
Set a start date. Pick the date you want the first transfer to go out. The allowance will repeat on the same day each week from that point forward.
-
Add an optional note. You can include a short message your child will see alongside each transfer — something like “Your weekly pocket money — use it wisely!”
-
Review and confirm. Check the summary screen: child’s name, amount, frequency, start date, and source wallet. Tap Confirm to activate the allowance.
Once confirmed, KiddyCash will automatically disburse the allowance every week. You’ll receive a notification each time a transfer completes, and your child will see the new balance in their wallet immediately.
Tips
- If your family wallet runs low, KiddyCash will pause the allowance and notify you — top up via M-Pesa to resume.
- You can edit or pause a weekly allowance at any time from the Allowances section of your child’s profile.
- Pairing allowances with goals and badges helps children stay motivated. Research shows that schools play a bigger role in financial literacy than most parents realise — and that families and schools working together tend to produce the best outcomes for kids.