|
|
Post by cath4k on Apr 25, 2016 16:39:11 GMT
Do you give an allowance to your kids? If so, how old are your kids and how much do you give? Do you expect anything in return - in other words, do they earn it or is it just spending money you give them? Is the money just fun money or are they expected to buy some of their necessities with the money?
I have four kids and our method worked great with our first three kids, but I am wondering if we need to change it up for the fourth.
Thanks! |
|
|
|
Post by kellybelly77 on Apr 25, 2016 16:45:12 GMT
My oldest 2 are 14 and 11. They each get $10 a week. Up until recently they were required to put half of that in their savings account. But we have cut back on what we are buying them (to help reduce the amount of crap we have at home) so they are now using their allowance to buy their own treats, I tunes, makeup, etc. So we don't require them to save half, but they still do okay with saving. The money is theirs to spend. I may chime in with "well that's an unnecessary purchase" but they are free to use it how they want. And honestly, with tween girls, most of their purchases are silly! Lots of makeup and lip gloss.  |
|
|
|
Post by krc11 on Apr 25, 2016 16:46:40 GMT
When my kids were growing up, they were expected to do their chores and I gave them some small amount for just spending money. Not a lot but enough to let them buy an ice cream or trinket if they wanted to. Chores were, depending on age, keeping their room picked up, keeping the shared areas (including bathroom) picked up, laundry done (started at around 7-8), dishes and school work completed timely. I did not buy them every toy, clothing item, etc. when we were out. When they got a little older (I think elementary school age), I had additional chores they could do to earn money over their allowance. But these were real work chores for real money. The ones that wanted money in their pocket, did some extra chores. The ones that didn't care, didn't. But all normal chores, school work and laundry had to be done first. This worked all the way up to when they could get a real job. At which time, their basic chores still had to be kept up.
My theory is they need to contribute to the household and not be paid. Allowance was for them to learn budgeting and needs-vs-wants. Extra paid jobs was to build work ethic. Seemed to work reasonably well for my kids.
|
|
AmandaA
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,502 
|
Post by AmandaA on Apr 25, 2016 16:57:07 GMT
We are just entering into this territory with our 5 year old, so I am curious to hear everyone's replies. When DH and I discussed it, we agreed that there are certain "tasks" or responsibilities that are just part of being a good member of the family (like keeping their toys picked up and helping clean up after meals). But we are experimenting with earning money for doing special jobs or things to help out around the house. So far the pay is just in quarters and he knows exactly how many quarters he has to earn to equal the Disney app he had been begging for me to download to my iPad for him to play. We'll see if his interest wanes once he earns the thing he has been so excited about.
|
|
|
|
Post by littlemama on Apr 25, 2016 16:57:13 GMT
Do you give an allowance to your kids? If so, how old are your kids and how much do you give? Do you expect anything in return - in other words, do they earn it or is it just spending money you give them? Is the money just fun money or are they expected to buy some of their necessities with the money?
I have four kids and our method worked great with our first three kids, but I am wondering if we need to change it up for the fourth.
Thanks! Why do you feel that you need to change a method that has been successful so far? |
|
|
|
Post by cath4k on Apr 25, 2016 17:46:46 GMT
Do you give an allowance to your kids? If so, how old are your kids and how much do you give? Do you expect anything in return - in other words, do they earn it or is it just spending money you give them? Is the money just fun money or are they expected to buy some of their necessities with the money?
I have four kids and our method worked great with our first three kids, but I am wondering if we need to change it up for the fourth.
Thanks! Why do you feel that you need to change a method that has been successful so far? Because my fourth is a completely different person. |
|
|
|
Post by bianca42 on Apr 25, 2016 17:54:12 GMT
My kids get $5 a week (6 and 11). It's with the understanding that if they don't do their chores I can choose not to give them their allowance...but it's not tied directly to the allowance.
I did recently increase the 11 year old to $7 a week if he agreed to scoop the litterbox every day. But, that's because I HATE scooping the litterbox and it's worth it to pay him $2 a week to do it. LOL
|
|
|
|
Post by littlemama on Apr 25, 2016 18:22:29 GMT
Why do you feel that you need to change a method that has been successful so far? Because my fourth is a completely different person. Fair enough! I figured changing the rules now might lead any or all of them to claim bias! (I only have the one kid, so I don't ever have to deal with that!)
DS was expected to do chores as a member of the family. He received an allowance to teach him how to handle money. We didn't really tie them together.
|
|
iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,275
|
Post by iowgirl on Apr 25, 2016 19:02:47 GMT
No allowance for doing the things that are expected of them in daily life. I am not going to pay them to make their bed, hang up their laundry, clear the table and do the dishes. That's life. No one is going to pay you when you are out on your own to do this....
But.. we are able to "hire" our kids to work on the farm. They do get paid for this. They have to keep a log book of their hours and what they did while working those hours. When they were little, about age 8, they got paid $5/hour for picking rocks, and other light work. As they got older, they got paid more, but had to work harder and had more responsibility.
By age 14 they were getting $10/hour. They get about $18-20/hour now, but since they are in college they are not home that much to work. They are always glad to pick up some hours though. Only one will be home for the summer and he will make some major money, since he will work 12 hour days or longer, depending on what is going on. We work 7 days a week too - but, as long as it is not a super busy time like planting time -it is no problem to us for them to take an afternoon or day off and have fun.
|
|
|
|
Post by cath4k on Apr 25, 2016 19:59:29 GMT
Because my fourth is a completely different person. Fair enough! I figured changing the rules now might lead any or all of them to claim bias! (I only have the one kid, so I don't ever have to deal with that!)
DS was expected to do chores as a member of the family. He received an allowance to teach him how to handle money. We didn't really tie them together.
What worked well for everyone else was no allowance. They had basic age-appropriate expectations as contributing members of the family, but all their needs were paid for. They also got money for a reasonable amount of social/fun activities (movies with friends, bowling, etc.) They also always had the opportunity to work for us for a fair wage. The more money they wanted, the more they could work. The older two got jobs when they were old enough. They were expected to save and give off all money earned (not gift money) until they were 18. They left home with thousands of dollars saved and a good habit of saving and giving that they continue as adults. They learned to manage the spending portion of their money well.
My youngest is autistic (very high functioning) and has OCD. The 24 yo and 20 yo won't worry about comparing with him. They know why we have to do things differently with him. The third child is only a year and a half older than the youngest and he will get the same deal as his brother. I am considering giving an allowance. I think the opportunity to get a small amount of money weekly will work better for him than only having to work for it. But maybe we won't cover the cost of the social/fun stuff the way we have until now. When he wants something, he can get obsessed about it and then expects me to give him a ridiculous amount of work in a day so he can earn all the money at once. I am also considering making it a bit like a reward system because we really need something to motivate him on the basics (brushing teeth, getting dressed, going to bed, etc.) I am trying to figure out how to make that fair for the older one who is NOT special needs. The youngest can struggle with reward-based systems though and they have been known to backfire with him.
Anyway, even though it is a unique situation we have here, I thought hearing what others do could give me some new ideas.
|
|
|
|
Post by jeremysgirl on Apr 25, 2016 20:07:06 GMT
Since I work full time and go to school, I have very little time for cleaning. I have been paying my almost 16 year old DD to do most of the household chores. My son, cleans one bathroom and takes the garbage out daily. He also sweeps the hardwood floors. I give him $10 per week. He's almost 15. My DD cleans the other bathroom, mops all the floors that get mopped, cleans the cat boxes daily, feeds and waters the cats, cleans up the kitchen including loading and unloading the dishwasher. I pay her $20 per week. I appreciate all the help my kids have been giving me the past three years. I pay for very little extra spending. I make them save and buy their own stuff, except school clothes (which I buy for DS when he grows and at the beginning of the school year I give both my kids money for school clothes. ) I also pay for sports stuff. But any movies, extras, cosmetics, etc. I don't buy for them.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 18:13:48 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2016 20:15:11 GMT
Grandpa gives them some spending money, but nothing from us. If they need money, we give it to them or if it's something expensive they want to buy, they can dip into their savings accounts. We pay their tuition (college and private) which is already a stretch for us.
|
|
|
|
Post by cmpeter on Apr 25, 2016 21:49:02 GMT
We don't tie allowance to chores. They do chores because they are part of the family and we all do chores. We pay $1 a week per year of age. My 15 year old gets $15 a week. We don't specify how much she had to save now, we did when she was younger. She's a saver though. Its mostly fun money for her, she uses it for iTunes, mostly. She's been on a funky colored lipstick kick lately and pays for that out of her allowance. I will pay for the basics, but if you want a third tube of blue matte lipstick, you are on your own. :-)
|
|
janroe
Shy Member
Posts: 41
|
Post by janroe on Apr 25, 2016 22:51:46 GMT
My kids are grown but I did see the best idea on Pinterest. They had a bulletin board with chores and a dollar amount attached (actual money). That way each kid can decide just how much they earn.
Maybe I will suggest it for my grandkids someday.
|
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Apr 25, 2016 23:00:18 GMT
When my kids were younger, they could earn up to $5 per week. They got a dollar for each day they completed everything on their list (check off system) up to $5. If they didn't do something one day, they lost a dollar that they had earned. It worked for my boys quite well. They were responsible for all personal hygiene, their own laundry (including washing sheets and towels), homework in the backpack in the car the night before school, yard work, vacuuming, emptying the dishwasher when needed, cleaning up after meals, making their lunch for school, etc. I know they did more than most of their friends, but we started when they were young so they didn't know that most kids didn't have as many chores.
ETA: This was their fun money. They contributed a lot to the running of the house, so I was pretty lenient with what they did with the money. Currently one of my boys is a spender and the other is a huge $ hoarder.
|
|
|
|
Post by brina on Apr 26, 2016 0:59:57 GMT
We pay $1/week/year of age. Our kids are 16 and 13 and we started them each on allowance at age 3. 10% goes to charity. We have a bank that we use to accumulate the money and a couple of times a year they discuss where to donate the money and we do. 20% goes to savings. This is long term savings that they are not allowed to touch for anything. They each have a bank to hold this and we take it to deposit into their savings accounts once per year along with the birthday checks they get from their aunt. 70% is theirs to do with as they please. I do not buy treats when we are out shopping, I do not pay when they are going to movies or to get ice cream with friends.
Chores - they keep their rooms clean and do their own laundry. They feed the dogs, walk them and pick up after them. They load and unload the dishwasher. They make their own lunches to take to school (I pay for lunch 2x per week)
Each of the kids has their own way of managing the 70% - all have some form of short-term savings for when they want to buy something that one weeks' allowance will not cover. They are also responsible for buying birthday gifts for each other and for their father and me.
|
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 26, 2016 1:24:32 GMT
We are just entering into this territory with our 5 year old, so I am curious to hear everyone's replies. When DH and I discussed it, we agreed that there are certain "tasks" or responsibilities that are just part of being a good member of the family (like keeping their toys picked up and helping clean up after meals). But we are experimenting with earning money for doing special jobs or things to help out around the house. So far the pay is just in quarters and he knows exactly how many quarters he has to earn to equal the Disney app he had been begging for me to download to my iPad for him to play. We'll see if his interest wanes once he earns the thing he has been so excited about. This is how we have been handling it with our 5 year old as well. I don't get paid to do the family's laundry or clean the house, DH doesn't get paid to plow snow or mow the grass. There are tasks that you have to do because you're a part of this family and we all have to work together. We also don't buy her a lot of stuff on a whim just because. She gets plenty on her birthday, at Christmas and a few things from the Easter bunny from us and others and she usually ends up with cash to spend on some of the things she wants too. For the occasional things she asks for, she is happy to put forth some effort to earn extra money. When she was four, she did a lot of little chores over the course of a few months to earn money to buy a used 6 volt Jeep from my BFF's neighbor and I think it was a great lesson for her about earning and saving up for something. Now that she's getting a little older and is able to do more, we'll probably come up with some additional chores she can opt to do for pay and put them on "chore sticks." On one end of the stick I'll write a task and on the other end will be what we're willing to pay her to do it. Smaller/easier tasks will have a lower value, larger/harder tasks will be worth more. After she does the task, she can give us the stick so we can check her work. After we check the job, the stick goes in the pay jar and at the end of the week she will get paid for the jobs she did that week. She will be completely in control of how much extra money she ends up with for all the random little things she wants. |
|
