Allowance?

Question

My kids are 7 and 9 and we have never done allowance. I feel they do things like clean their room etc. as a part of our family and we all work together to make things run smoothly. When they want something they have to save half of it and we pay the other half within reason. They do this with birthday money or working for their grandparents.

My oldest really wants an allowance and has no problem with earning it with chores or good behavior. And my youngest would of course like it as well. They do wonderful in school and are very good kids, my youngest a bit stubborn but for the most part very well behaved.

I just have a problem with paying them to behave or do normal (age appropriate of course) household work. And also do not feel they should just get the money every week. I do see their point as well wanting to save up for things.

So what do you think, do any of you just give your kids an allowance and tell them it is not for chores or how do you work it.

Answer 1

hmm my mom doesn't pay me for chores and has never done so i think you should pay them in things other than money becuz my mom says that my prize is a roof over my head and food to eat but i hate that so i would do things like once every two weeks take them to a movie or out for ice cream if they've done good

Answer 2

well I put money into my children's bank accounts and count that as allowance, if they want to spend it let them, when they don't have any money to buy a new toy because they all ready spent it they will learn a lesson on keeping money

Answer 3

I think giving an allowance is a great way for your kids to learn how to save and spend. It's a great way for you to impart some good financial skills on them. Like budgeting, saving for short and long term goals, donating money to charties, etc. I think that if you start young teaching and training them the differences between the wants and the needs and how to wisly use the money they recieve will only benefit them as they grow into teens and eventually adults.

I would ask them what types of chores they think they should be paid for and how much. I remember my first allowance started when I was in about 1st grade, and I just asked for 35 cents a week to clear the dinner table every night.

Regardless of what you come up with for them to do and how much, definetly think of how it will help them in the long wrong managing money.

Answer 4

You make the allowance a special thing, not doing the normal housework they should do, but the extra things that they will do around the house. I always got an allowance, but it wasn't because I picked up my bedroom, or put my dish away, it was for washing the car, picking up the garage, doing the dishes when not asked, etc.

Answer 5

I don't believe in giving children allowances because I don't think it is necessary for me to pay them to live under my roof and to eat the food I provide or to wear the clothing I provide for them.  They are given money on birthdays and at Winter Solctice/Christmas, their needs are very well tended to.  If they want "extra" money they know to avail themselves to the neighborhood doing yard work, helping elderly neighbors, walking dogs, being "mother's helpers" .

Answer 6

I had this dillema with my daughter.  She's 10.  Here is what I did.  She has chores and needs to keep her room clean and clean up after herself as usual but if she wants to make some money she can do jobs around the house that are not usually her job to do.  For example she can vacum the living room for $2 or clean the bathroom for $4 and so on.  It does help her volunteer to help me out beyond her regular chores.  We have an agreement that she only gets paid if she volunteers to do something herself and all of her regular chores are done.  If I have to ask her to do something she does not get paid for it.