Do your kids get an allowance? - Page 2

gopher02 · 04-24-2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellytime

I have read all sorts of books and articles on the "best" way to handle allowance. There are pros and cons to each way.

I finally settled on the following and it has worked for us for about 2 years now:

My two oldest each have the opportunity to earn $2.00 per week. (It used to be $4.00 but dh made me lower it.) However, when they get into trouble they lose a "point" which equals 25 cents. I put a dot on our simple chart, by their name. It is easy to remember if we were out somewhere, as soon as we get home I'll put a dot on the chart. It's on the fridge.

On Sunday evening, we count the dots and do the math. Most weeks my boys earn $1.00 to $1.50.

BTW they can also earn "bonus" points for doing extraordinarily helpful or nice things. When I see one child helping another with clean up, or if he runs and grabs a "boo boo" ice pack when someone is hurt I add a "star" to the chart. It equals a quarter at the end of the week.

I have liked having the allowance tied into their behavior. It gives me leverage if they are acting up, I simply say, "You're about to lose a point..." and they shape up fast. And, dh didn't just want to give them money each week, free and clear, with no accountability for how they behaved.

When the kids receive birthday money we will often deposit some into their savings accounts. If their allowance was higher I would have them put a portion into savings. We may do this in the future, but at this time, they aren't really earning enough IMO.

I think this is a great idea! How old are you kids? My ds is 5 and does not get an allowance, but I would like to start something. He already cleans his room and toy room, brings his dishes to the sink, etc.

kikisian · 04-25-2007, 06:06 AM

When we were still young enough to get pocket money, we had to do the necessary house hold chores that made it for an easier living - ie, tidy room, take plates to kitchen - that kind of stuff, however we were paid for doing our other chores - washing dishes, cleaning bathrooms, vacuming. However if we did not do the necessary ones or if we did not do our other chores there was no pocket money for that week.

Margieboz_n_boyz · 04-25-2007, 09:10 AM

My kids (4 & 5) just started getting allowance two or three weeks ago. My DH doesn't believe that they should be paid for doing their chores around the house. I'm backing him on that. I hope that someday they will be the willing helpers that Oregano has.

Anyway, for good behavior and doing what they are asked they get .25 a day. They have piggy banks with 4 compartments (spend, save, donate, invest) and they have to split up their money each week. On Sunday we empty out the donate and that's their offering for church. The save is for something big (bike, etc) and we have agreed that if they can save half we'll cover the other half. The spend is theirs to do with as they please....Saturday's we usually spend the morning at garage sales and that's their money. They've learned that there's more money for bigger things if they keep it a week or two. It has cut down on the begging, though. Anyway, it's what works for us.

brensmom · 04-26-2007, 08:36 AM

our kids are almost 3 6(next week) and 6 months we have not started allowance and do not know if we will. neither dh or i got allowance as children and we turned out just fine and mom and dad helped us out with things. we have not had a serious discussion yet about it. and oldest ds has not asked either.

our kids even the almost 3 put there dishes in the sink after dinner and are required to pick up their bedroom before bed it has just been part of the routine since they have been old enough they put the clothes in the laundry basket and they put their clothes away after i have folded.(they don't have to be perfectly neetly put away just on their shelf). so they do chores as part of everyday life and i don't have to ask so i don't know what we would give allowance for?

Cookie2 · 04-26-2007, 11:38 AM

I've already raised 4 kids so I've had some experience with how allowance works out in the long run. I'm a step-mom. When the kids lived with us, they got allowance. When they lived with their bio-mom, they didn't.

Some of the kids were highly motivated to earn money and save it. Some could care less and they were perfectly willing to lose their allowance if they didn't do a chore. Tying the allowance to their chores didn't work at all. Some of the kids only wanted to do extra chores when they suddenly realized they needed more for something coming up and they hadn't been saving. I made it a rule that we wouldn't pay a kid for a chore that we wouldn't pay an outside service to do.

My philosophy about allowance is ... as a family member we have an obligation to contribute to the workload and we have the privilege to benefit from the rewards. Our combined financial assets are one of the benefits we all enjoy.

With that in mind, my DD, age 5, does get an allowance. She started getting allowance in kindergarten which is when they start teaching about money and the relative value. She gets 25 cents for every year of age ($1.25) and gets paid on the same day that daddy's paycheck comes.

While DD does get an allowance, she also has chores she must do - but the two aren't associated. If she wants to get more money she has to find a way to get it without getting it from me. For instance, this summer she will be selling some of her toys at a garage sale AND will be selling cold soft drinks, too. As she gets older she can hire out her services to neighbors for pet sitting, house sitting, weeding, delivery service, babysitting, etc. The kids are allowed to work as teenagers as long as they keep their grades up. Regular paid employment usually starts around the same time that they have to pay for the privelege to drive.

MandaRenee · 04-26-2007, 02:14 PM

That's a good point Cookie2. When I was a kid I would rather be broke than do some of the chores!