What do you think about kids allowances?

Question

I never got an allowance, but I got money whenever I needed it. But a friend of my son (who is 7 and my son is 6) gets an allowance of like $5. And gets a dollar deducted if he doesn't behave or do the chores he is supposed to. What do you think? I'm not sure yet.

Answer 1

I'd say the best way to give allowances is to give half their age.

So your 6 year old could get 3 dollars a week now, and as he gets older and needs more money for things, it slowly increases with his age.

Answer 2

Here is the best thing to do. Since he is six give him $3.00 a week. When he is seven give him $3.50 and so forth. Do not ever deduct money for bad behavior either just ground him or give him a time out. (It is wrong to give time outs past the age of 9).

Answer 3

my daughter and step son come with me every weekend to clean my office. I give them each $5 every time. But, I only get paid for cleaning once a month, so they only get paid once a month. At the end of every month, they each get  $20. $10 has to go into the bank & they can spend the other $10. Home chores are required, so this is a way for them to earn money, but it also teaches them patience b/c they have to "wait for a paycheck"

Answer 4

I didn't get an allowance till I was 8....now I am almost 15 I get $40 a month...until I get a job....it really isn't an allowance...it is based off how I do in school and how well I behave....lol...if u think that 40 a month is a lot...that is only like 10 a week

Answer 5

keepitsi is right. Why should you pay them to be good! this is not a good example.

Answer 6

When I was 4ish I never got allowance but when i turned 11 I got $56 a month as I did a job but my parents gave  me $10 a month allowance! Don't give it to kids under the age of 7 and also making them do chores such as washing dishes tidying room are a great way of sensibilty!

Answer 7

I don't give my kids allowances.    They all have household chores to do, because it's THEIR house too, and they should be expected to help keep it in good shape.

However, I do pay them for certain chores that are not part of their regular jobs.   For example,  my oldest daughter mows the lawn, for $25.00 a pop.  If she didn't do it, I would have to pay another neighborhood teen to do it, and that's how much they would get.  I would just as soon pay her, because she does a better job.  She uses the money to buy her own school clothes.

My oldest two kids do their own laundry.  If I'm super-busy, I pay my 12-year-old a dollar a load to do MY laundry, and her little sister's laundry.   She gets to have some money in her pocket this way, and the laundry doesn't pile up when I'm busy.

My six-year-old scoops the kitty litter, at $.25 a pop.  She saved up enough money to buy a new outfit for her American Girl Doll!

Answer 8

My brother and I, growing up, had a chart of chores. Each chore was worth a certain about of money, depending on how difficult it was. (1$ for sweeping the floor, 5$ for cleaning all the downstairs windows, that sort of thing) We were paid for what we did.  We had regular chores as well- we could choose to do these when we needed money.

I like the way my parents did it, and I like the way your friend is doing it as well. Giving a child money whenever they need it teaches them that money comes from a never-ending source, and they don't need to be responsible with it, because they don't earn it.

I'd say give all of your children an allowance, even the 4 year old. Teach them to use wallets or purses to carry their money. Next time your 4 year old cries for a toy or a candy bar in a store, you can tell them they can get it- if they have enough money for it. It would be a good way to teach them the value of money and things early!

Answer 9

I think six is too young for an allowance. Maybe when he gets be eight give him an allowance. I give my kids however much money as their age. For example: My 13 year old gets 13 dollars a week and my 10 year old gets ten. Then 3 dollars a week go to the charity of their choice and the rest goes to them.

Answer 10

sounds like a good parent! great job to her!

Answer 11

I think five dollars a week is way too much money for an elementary schooler--I didn't get a fixed allowance until I was in high school. Before that, I was payed on case-by-case basis every time I helped with something. If you think your son should get a fixed allowance, start at two or three dollars per week, then increase the amount as he gets older. I also disagree with the penalty thing--there are ways to punish a child aside from taking away spending money.

Answer 12

Sounds perfectly fair!  Teaches responsibility.

Answer 13

A child should get an allowance when they are old enough to understand what they are getting it for. An allowance can teach kids to have a good work ethic from a very young age, but a child has to do chores in order to earn the allowance or it will teach them that money grows on trees. Maybe less people would be in debt right now if they understood the value of money. It is so important to make sure your child has a good worth ethic so they can contribute to society, and it will also help them with attendance in school.

Answer 14

allowance is a wonderful thing. Give it alot of thought about how much you can budget out giving them for your four year old he should learn saving right now so i would start off with five dollars a week and do the thing your friend does deduct money if they do wrong it teaches good behavior gets rewarded and it shows them responsibility. your six and seven year old they should get 10 dollars and when they get to age ten try upping it to fifteen. also sit down with the older ones and talk to them about saving its a huge lesson that needs to be learned early. well good luck

Answer 15

I feel allowances are wrong.  Everyone helps out at home and is part of a team. A child might get the attitude that they will only do things if they get paid.

Instead, have a goal.  Pay attention to positive behavior and comment on it and decide what it takes to "earn" the goal! Like going to the movies or to a game or something that does cost money, but can be enjoyed as a group---family time, even if just two people!! It doesn't have to always cost money though.  Perhaps, staying up a half hour later on a Friday night or something that means alot to your child that doesn't happen often.  The world is full of too many people who think they are entitled to just about anything.  Kids today have it rough and we have to get back to basics, starting with the really young ones! Good luck.

Answer 16

That is exactly what I do, my daughter is 6.  She likes to buy her snacks at school instead of packing them, so she uses her allowence.....if she doesnt have enough because of bad behavior or whatever, she has to pack one.  She is doing really well with this and I get her bed made more often :)