For the most part I have to pay for what I want to buy. For example, I spent about $50 on books last weekend at the mall, and my mom didn't help me out. The exceptions are clothes in August before school starts & holidays. However, I get an allowance of $10 a week during the summer, with about $5 a day when I have to babysit my brother. The same goes during the school year, except I get an extra $15 a week for lunch money ($3 a day for lunch). I don't have to spend my lunch money though. I can pack my lunch or just not eat. So then it's about $25 a week.
It works out well for me though. If I didn't get my allowance, I still wouldn't get money to go to the mall just because I ask for it, or get my mom to buy me stuff just because I see it and want it. So I get more on this system, and my parent's say it teaches me responsibility. As in, if I spend it all, then I can't buy anything until I save up again. Or, if I spend my lunch money for the week ahead, then I have to pack my lunch everyday or just not eat.
I'm trying to save up my money for a trip to Japan the spring of my sophmore year. So I have about a year and half to save up $5000. And I'm too young to get a job. I dunno how that's gonna happen. =/