I definitely say yes. Our daughter is on commission. We are trying to teach her that in order to get money, you have to work. No work, no money. Work= Money. We pay her by age, for example, this year she is 9, so if she does all of the chores on her chart for the week, she gets $9. Next year we'll add another dollar and another chore on the weekly chart.

We just recently implemented this and the change in her is just amazing. She gets super chipper when doing her chores. She enjoys being responsible and knowing she's helping the family. Be sure to keep the chores age appropriate, though!

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You could also argue that many chores are things they should be doing anyway.

Does anyone make their kids pay for all expenses above room and board? My mom did this for us after she got divorced. Gave us a certain amount and we had to pay for Everything- field trips, clothes etc.

When I was in high school, my dad gave me money twice a year for clothes and toiletries, etc. He still paid for any school related expenses (and room and board, of course), but I had to learn how to budget for my personal stuff.

I put no. My kids get a dollar week based on their ages 7 & 5. We do not base it on chores because we are giving them an allowance so that they learn money management, not to understand what it's like to work for their money (that will come later with actual jobs in High School). They do earn extra money if they want by helping me with laundry or dinner or whatever else I come up with. That being said, I do find that allowance is a big motivator for my son (we have always had a hard time disciplining him--struggled with time outs, spankings) so we have started subtracting money from his allowance if he misbehaves beyond the point of time outs working.

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Megan

My kids all signed a contract as to what they need to do to get an allowance. Even my 4 yr old did.

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~Happiness is a large family~

We do allowances a bit backwards at our house. The boys have a set amount coming to them each week, but if chores do not get done, some of that gets withheld, and given to the person (usually parent) who had to do the chore.

I never got an allowance, and was never taught how to handle money. As an adult, I learned a lot the hard way. My parents (judging from the poor financial position they are in at retirement) didn't have the skills to teach us.

I'm hoping to do better with my sons.

No. Ds doesn't have 'chores', I ask him to do something for me and he is expected to do it. He has things he ordinarily does: feed the cat, help unload dishwasher, pick up his things, help Us pick up Our things, clean toilets (he loves this), set the table, make his bed, and whatever else we ask him to do, he is expected to do.

Ds doesn't get an allowance yet, he is 6, and he doesn't ask for much if anything. When he gets one, it will be to learn how to handle money, which we are already teaching him. The odd dollar he gets here and there he puts in his piggy bank and he also has an 'investments' can that he puts his change in.

Coming from a Montessori background, I want ds to learn that work is not JUST to earn money. I hate the idea of him thinking of slogging away as an adult just to get the Almighty Dollar. I realize it's idealistic, but what a concept: work is something that I can *enjoy* and the process and finished product is more the reward than Just the dollar amount.

I am not sure how I feel on this topic. Part of me says yes kids need to understand work=money, but they also need to know that working is just part of being in the family. With that said...this is what I do with my son, he is almost 5, and I started this when he was 4 years old:

He gets one dollar a week in allowance. This will increase a dollar each year so when he turns 5 he will get 2 dollars a week. It is not necessarily tied to a chore but if I ask him to do something (say pick up your toys) and he doesn't do it, I will pick them up and charge him a quarter for doing it. I give him his allowance in quarters because he must save 25 %, give 25%, and keep 50% for himself. If he has to pay me it comes out of his spending money, of course

I also have a magnet star chart for jobs that he does. Some of his daily/weekly jobs include feed cats, sort laundry, sweep kitchen, pick up toys, help with dishes, set table etc. He gets a star for each job that he does. Then he uses the stars for stuff like computer time, candy, movies, etc.

yes...mine do chores for their allowances...want extra money? do extra jobs( both of mine are saving up for nintendo DS )..even spring cleaning they help for the money $1 a chore....they learn to equate work with money...its been that way sine they were 6 years old( ds is 13 and the dd is almost 11)...they can choose not to do them then no money at all...their choice...never had an argument yet....they gladly help out...

No, I don't think so. "Chores" should be done b/c it's their house also and everyone has to pitch in and help maintain it. I think they can earn money other ways. Dave Ramsey has a good Jr Money set that I plan to use for my kids in another year or so.

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A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.-Eleanor Roosevelt