Giving kids allowance?

Question

I do NOT want to give my two sons allowance. I am REALLY against it. I do not think I should have to pay them to help me. I have 2 sisters, and the 3 of us never got paid. I do remember asking a handful of times, but it never really bothered me to not get paid. However, this is really bothering my oldest son. They are 9 and 11. I am not even somewhat leaning to saying "yes," but please give me your opinions.

Answer 1

I have a 6  and 4 year old.... they get an allowence for doing simple things like feeding the dog ,cleaning their rooms, putting things in the recycling bins and making their beds. They each get $5 a week. They save up for something they really want and even my youngest knows if they spend it on something else they need to wait even longer before they can get what they origanly wanted. I think it teaches them how to be responsible with money. I know you don't think you should pay them for doing things they should be doing anyway,but it will help them in the long run.

Answer 2

My dad doesn't give me an allowance. He's a Colonel in the USAF and he doesn't believe in giving kids money for helping out. If I need something- actually NEED- then I have a bank account that he contributes to every month. I'm only ever allowed to access it with his permission until I'm 18. My lil sis Grace also has a fund but she's five- no five year old really needs much. If I want money for something like going to the movies or shopping then I ask for it and he'll give me some but only a certain amount of times a month.

That works better. Good luck with your kids.

Answer 3

I don't give my kids an allowance.  They are 15, 11 and 6.  My 15 year old goes out with her friends on fridays and of course needs money.  My agreement with her is that she can go out on Friday and I will giver her the money that she needs (last night they went to dinner) but Saturday night she has to stay home so my husband and I can go out.  So technically, all she is getting is baby sitting money a day in advance.  I don't think my kids should be paid for doing chores.  No one is paying me to do the cooking and the laundry.  All I ask of them is to pick up their rooms and their own mess and help with a few other things (someone vacuums, someone empties the dish washer etc).  My kids have a heck of a lot more than I did when I was little (there were 7 of us) and my goal is to never make them feel deprived, so I give them a lot, without handing them cash. If I was going to give them an allowance, then they would have had to pay for their Wii, ipods and phones themselves.  I think they realize this when other kids tell them they are trying to "save up" for something.  If there is ssomethingthey want that I am not willing to buy, then they save their gift money (birthdays and christmas).

Answer 4

My girls don't get an allowance, I don't believe in paying my children to live under the roof I provide for them or to eat the food I put on the table.  But then I don't expect my girls to to the housework, yes they have to pick up after themselves, and tidy their own bedroom, but if I want a housekeeper I'll hire one.  

Answer 5

Well, I think that allowance is not so much about paying them for helping you but rather to teach them how to manage money. See by giving them the money you trusting them with the responsibility that comes with it. If you do not teach your kids about money when their young than when they get older than won't know what to with it, either blow it or save to much and not enjoy it.. either way its about teaching them about the concept of money, not that your paying them for their chores. At least that is the way that I look at it. At pay them by their age in the amount of dollars. So pay your eleven yo, eleven dollars or week or a month whichever and the than the 9 yo nine dollars a week or month. But this is just my opinion.. I give my 3 yo daughter 3 dollars a week, and she saves half and then use the other half to get things that she wants or do things that she wants, like ride rides at the grocery store or something... but I understand how you feel, about not wanting to because they should just wanted to help you to help you but I think that you should give them money sometime to teach them about it.. Just change how you view it and it may be easier..You want your children to be good with money when they get older right??

Answer 6

One thing about allowance is it teaches them to manage their own money.  They are then capable and responsible for saving and budgeting for things they want.  It is never too early to learn about good money management.  My kids have to put 10% in long term savings and 10% in tithing and get to spend the rest.  When they run out they can't buy anything until they save up for it.  It really makes them think about those purchases.  Of course, we still buy their clothes and food and necessities.

Answer 7

If you don't want to give them allowance that is fine. Just give them cash when they want to go out or buy something. It would probably be cheaper to give allowance though.... and allowance doesn't have to be for "helping out". Helping out is part of being a family. It is usually to teach a kid to budget.

Answer 8

My parents used to give me an allowance so I could afford to get things on my own without having to ask them for money all the time. I had to earn the money by doing chores, I didn't feel like I was getting paid besides I didn't get much back then, like a couple of dollars a day. I usually ended up spending it on snacks at school or at the 7-11 or market back when candy was 5-25 cents. If I wanted something special I would have to save up the money which taught me how to be responsible with my money. No one says you have to pay your sons allowance, I don't know many parents that do that anymore.

Answer 9

We received an allowance just for breathing.  Mind you, we got $3 a week when friends were making up to $20!  An allowance is not for helping out around the house.  You have to do chores no matter what.  If you go above and beyond, maybe a few bucks is ok

For us, it was more about money management.

If you give them money to do social activities (movies), why not cut that out and do a small weekly allowance, so they have to save up for special things like movies?

Answer 10

I'm not much for 'giving' kids an allowance.  I believe in helping them learn how money works by earning, saving and spending responsibly.  I would give them money for doing chores around the house.  For young kids those chores might be putting up toys or making the bed,etc. As they get older the chores increase in complexity and number.  But, the money reward increases as well.  I don't see how they can learn the value of money if you just hand it to them for doing nothing except breathing air.Don't forget the other side which is teaching them how to save, spend and give money.  Of course, you need to make sure you finances are in order before teaching them.  No matter what you tell them, monkey see monkey do.