Issue date: May 2, 1999
USA WEEKEND, in partnership with Channel One, the in-classroom news program, surveyed students last fall on Teens & Money for this Special Teen Report. 193,224 students in grades 6-12 took the survey in the magazine, online and through Channel One. 8 in 10 consider themselves "middle-income."
The non-scientific survey is one of the largest of its kind. Here
are the results.
1. Where does most of your spending money come from? (pick
one)
Part-time job 26%
Asking my parents for it when I need it 25%
Allowance from my parents 22%
Household chores, like yardwork 11%
Baby sitting 10%
Gifts 6%
2. What's your weekly allowance?
Zero - get no allowance 45%
Less than $5 5%
$5-$9.99 16%
$10-$14.99 13%
$15-$19.99 4%
$20 or more 17%
3. Are you paid for household chores?
Yes 42%
No 48%
I don't do chores 10%
3a. If yes, do you think you are paid enough for your work?
Yes 75%
No 25%
4. About how much money is in your wallet or pocket right now?
Zero - carrying no money 19%
Less than $10 34%
$10-$19.99 16%
$20-$29.99 10%
$30-$39.99 5%
$40-$49.99 4%
$50 or more 12%
5. In general, I ...
Have enough money 64%
Never have enough money 36%
6. When it comes to spending, saving and budgeting money, I
consider myself:
An expert 14%
Fairly smart 68%
Not very smart 12%
Clueless 6%
7. I've learned a lot about money matters from: (check any
that apply)
A parent 77%
School 20%
A sibling or other relative 18%
Books, magazines or Web sites 8%
Advertisements and commercials 6%
I haven't really learned anything 7%
8. Who has the most control over your money?
My parents 21%
Me 75%
I don't really have any money 4%
9. In the past week, I've: (check any that apply) Yes No
Spent at least $20 at stores 45% 55%
Bought something on Internet 3% 97%
Asked my parents for cash 61% 39%
Bought a CD 25% 75%
Gone to a movie 34% 66%
Bought a coffee drink 19% 81%
Set aside money for savings 63% 37%
10. What are you saving for right now? (check any that apply)
A car or car-related items 31%
Nothing in particular; I'm just saving 29%
College 27%
An item of clothing 19%
CDs or CD player 15%
Trip/vacation 6%
A computer or software 6%
I'm not saving 8%
11. If you date, have you gone out with someone from a family:
Much richer than yours: Yes 48%
No 52%
Much poorer than yours: Yes 33%
No 67%
I don't date 30%
11a. If yes (richer), did it create conflicts?
Yes, a lot 1%
Yes, some 13%
No 86%
11b. If yes (poorer), did it create conflicts?
Yes, a lot 2%
Yes, some 16%
No 82%
12. Who should pay for what? Teens, Parents, Both
Clothes and shoes 9% 36% 55%
Movies, CDs, etc. 74% 7% 19%
Eating out w/o parents 38% 46% 16%
Car expenses 23% 25% 52%
College 5% 30% 65%
13. Have you ever started your own business?
Yes 20%
No 80%
14. Do you think money is very important when it comes to: Yes,
No
Being happy 33% 67%
Making friends 8% 92%
Finding someone to marry 19% 81%
Looking good 48% 52%
Choosing a job 60% 40%
Getting a good education 74% 26%
Succeeding in life 63% 37%
15. I have a good idea how much ... (check any that apply)
A pair of brand-name sneakers costs 76%
A new car costs 72%
My parents earn 69%
My family spends a week on groceries 64%
A year's tuition at a state college costs 39%
My teachers earn 29%
16. What do you think is the annual salary of the president
of the United States?
$50,000 6%
$100,000 13%
$200,000 [the correct answer] 33%
$500,000 24%
$1 million 24%
17. By the time you're 30, about how much do you expect to
earn a year?
$25,000 6%
$50,000 19%
$75,000 16%
$100,000 9%
More than $100,000 17%
I have no idea 33%
18. When I'm my parents' age, I think that financially I'll
be:
Better off than they are now 52%
Not as well off as they are now 4%
About the same 44%
19. Do you worry about your family's finances?
Yes, a lot 12%
Yes, at times 46%
Not really 42%
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