Find answers to common questions below. If you need more help, scroll to the bottom to get in touch.
Getting started
How do I set up my first child?
When you open AllowanceKit for the first time, the onboarding wizard guides you through it. Enter your child's name, pick a colour, set the allowance amount and schedule, then configure the bucket split. The whole process takes under 60 seconds. You can add more children later from the parent dashboard.
How do I add another child?
Tap "+ Add child" on the parent dashboard (top right on iPhone, bottom of the sidebar on iPad). You'll go through the same quick setup flow: name, colour, allowance, buckets.
Can I change the allowance amount or schedule later?
Yes. Tap on a child's card to open their detail view, then tap the edit button to change their allowance amount, frequency, or deposit day. Changes take effect from the next scheduled deposit.
Buckets
What are buckets?
Buckets divide your child's allowance into separate categories. The defaults are Save, Spend, and Give, but you can rename them, add new ones, or remove them. Each bucket has its own balance, and every allowance deposit is automatically split across buckets according to the percentages you set.
Is there a limit on the number of buckets?
No. You can create as many buckets as your family needs. Some families use just Save and Spend. Others add Holiday, College, Charity, or anything else. The percentages must add up to 100%.
What happens to existing balances if I change the bucket percentages?
Existing balances stay as they are. The new percentages only apply to future allowance deposits. We don't retroactively redistribute money between buckets.
Kid mode
How does kid mode work?
Kid mode is a simplified, read-only view where children can see their balances and transaction history but can't edit anything. There are two ways to use it:
On a shared device: Tap "Kid Mode" on the parent dashboard. A picker shows all children's names (without balances). Each child taps their name, enters their passcode if one is set, and sees their own view.
On the child's own device: Go to Settings > Child Codes > [Child's name] > Generate invite code. Give this code to your child. When they enter it on their device, the app locks to their view permanently. No picker, no passcode needed.
Can siblings see each other's balances?
On shared devices, balances are hidden on the picker screen. If you set a 4-digit passcode for each child (in Settings), they'll need to enter it to see their own balance. On separate devices, each child only has access to their own data. Siblings can't see each other's information at all.
My child forgot their passcode. How do I reset it?
On the passcode screen, tap "Forgot code? Ask a parent." This prompts for the parent PIN, which bypasses the child's code. You can then change or remove their code in Settings > Child Codes.
How do I get back to parent mode?
Tap the lock icon, then enter your 4-digit parent PIN (or use Face ID / Touch ID if enabled). This takes you back to the full parent dashboard.
Syncing and sharing
How does syncing work between my devices?
If you're signed into the same iCloud account on multiple devices (e.g. your iPhone and iPad), AllowanceKit syncs automatically via iCloud. Changes you make on one device appear on the other within seconds. No setup needed.
How do I share with my child's device?
Go to Settings > Child Codes > [Child's name] > Generate invite code. This creates a code like "EMMA-7294". Give this code to your child (verbally, via text, etc.). On their device, they open AllowanceKit, tap "I have an invite code" on the welcome screen, and enter the code. Their device will be permanently locked to their read-only view.
Can both parents manage allowances?
Yes, if both parents are signed into the same iCloud account, both devices will have full parent access with automatic sync.
I switched phones. Where's my data?
As long as you're signed into the same iCloud account, your data will sync to your new device automatically when you install AllowanceKit. Nothing is lost.
Allowance and transactions
I didn't open the app for a few weeks. Did my child miss their allowance?
No. AllowanceKit has a smart catch-up feature. When you open the app, it calculates all missed deposits and adds them with the correct historical dates. Your child's balance will always be accurate regardless of how often you open the app.
How do I log a purchase my child made?
Tap the + button on the child's detail view, switch to "Log spend," enter the amount, choose which bucket to deduct from, and optionally add a note (e.g. "Lego set"). The balance updates instantly.
Can my child's balance go negative?
By default, no. The app will prevent a spend that exceeds the bucket balance. If your family wants to allow borrowing against future allowances, you can enable negative balances in Settings.
Does AllowanceKit handle real money or connect to a bank?
No. AllowanceKit is a tracking tool, not a bank or payment service. It keeps a virtual ledger of how much your child has earned and spent. The actual money stays with you (in cash, a bank account, or however your family handles it).
Still need help?
We're a small team and we read every email. Send us a note and we'll get back to you as quickly as we can.