Anonymous
04/24/2025 12:58
Subject: Chores for money
Anonymous wrote:Boys are 7 and 10. Their normal chores are:
- making their beds
- setting & clearing the table
- taking the trash out weekly
- watering the plants
- keeping their rooms tidy
Here is what they earn for outside the norm chores.
Declutter & Organize a Closet – $10
Sort clothes, toys, or household items into keep/donate/trash piles.
Deep Clean Kitchen Cabinets & Drawers – $3 / cabinet
Wipe inside and organize neatly.
Clean Out & Organize the Refrigerator – $10
Remove old food, wipe shelves, and organize.
Pantry Organization – $5
Check expiration dates, group similar items, and wipe down shelves.
Clean & Organize Bookshelves or Game Shelves – $5 / bookshelf / game cabinets
Dust and arrange books/games neatly.
Wipe Baseboards, Light Switches, and Door Handles – $10 / hr
Use a mild cleaner and cloth.
Wipe Down Walls & Doors – $10 / hr
Remove fingerprints, marks, and dust buildup.
Plan & Prepare a Simple Meal for the Family – $10
Pick a recipe, prep, and cook.
Prepare School Lunches for the Day – $2.50 / lunch
Portion snacks and meals in advance.
Fold & Put Away Laundry for the Whole Family – $3 / load
Not just his own!
Wash Windows (Inside & Out) – $2 / window
Use a spray bottle and microfiber cloth.
Wash the Car – $5 (with help)
Rinse, soap, scrub, and dry.
Clean & Organize the Garage – $10
Sweep, organize tools, declutter shelves.
Sweep & Tidy the Porch – $5
Remove leaves and dirt. Spray down. Remove trash.
Gardening with Mom – $10 / hr
Plant as needed. Pull weeds. Trim plants.
This is great - thank you! My parents used to pay me to mow the lawn, rake leaves, plant bulbs, wash cars etc. I jumped on every opportunity for it because I loved buying clothes and my parents also had me pay for part of my expensive sport equipment and accessories. My sister rarely did extra bc she didn't have things she wanted more money for. We live in an urban area so all the big jobs I got paid for aren't options for my kids....your list is super helpful
Anonymous
04/24/2025 12:55
Subject: Chores for money
Anonymous wrote:PP 11:32 - At elementary, they don’t go out on their own, they only occasionaly ask for any snacks or candy and their lunch are all packed. So why need pocket money?
Well my kids constantly want....
pokemon cards
a new craft or new craft supplies
trinkets when traveling or at the zoo or museum or really anywhere with a gift shop
new stuffies
etc etc
I got tired of them asking me to buy stuff. Now they can decide what they want to prioritize buying and live with that decision. I no longer buy them random things (i still buy clothes, books, restock our basic craft stuff) other than bdays and xmas. If they want something they can use their allowance. If they want more than their allowance, they can take on extra tasks. Its been wonderful to be taken out of the constant stream of asking for things.
They're 6 and 7.
Anonymous
04/24/2025 11:58
Subject: Chores for money
Boys are 7 and 10. Their normal chores are:
- making their beds
- setting & clearing the table
- taking the trash out weekly
- watering the plants
- keeping their rooms tidy
Here is what they earn for outside the norm chores.
Declutter & Organize a Closet – $10
Sort clothes, toys, or household items into keep/donate/trash piles.
Deep Clean Kitchen Cabinets & Drawers – $3 / cabinet
Wipe inside and organize neatly.
Clean Out & Organize the Refrigerator – $10
Remove old food, wipe shelves, and organize.
Pantry Organization – $5
Check expiration dates, group similar items, and wipe down shelves.
Clean & Organize Bookshelves or Game Shelves – $5 / bookshelf / game cabinets
Dust and arrange books/games neatly.
Wipe Baseboards, Light Switches, and Door Handles – $10 / hr
Use a mild cleaner and cloth.
Wipe Down Walls & Doors – $10 / hr
Remove fingerprints, marks, and dust buildup.
Plan & Prepare a Simple Meal for the Family – $10
Pick a recipe, prep, and cook.
Prepare School Lunches for the Day – $2.50 / lunch
Portion snacks and meals in advance.
Fold & Put Away Laundry for the Whole Family – $3 / load
Not just his own!
Wash Windows (Inside & Out) – $2 / window
Use a spray bottle and microfiber cloth.
Wash the Car – $5 (with help)
Rinse, soap, scrub, and dry.
Clean & Organize the Garage – $10
Sweep, organize tools, declutter shelves.
Sweep & Tidy the Porch – $5
Remove leaves and dirt. Spray down. Remove trash.
Gardening with Mom – $10 / hr
Plant as needed. Pull weeds. Trim plants.
- making their beds
- setting & clearing the table
- taking the trash out weekly
- watering the plants
- keeping their rooms tidy
Here is what they earn for outside the norm chores.
Declutter & Organize a Closet – $10
Sort clothes, toys, or household items into keep/donate/trash piles.
Deep Clean Kitchen Cabinets & Drawers – $3 / cabinet
Wipe inside and organize neatly.
Clean Out & Organize the Refrigerator – $10
Remove old food, wipe shelves, and organize.
Pantry Organization – $5
Check expiration dates, group similar items, and wipe down shelves.
Clean & Organize Bookshelves or Game Shelves – $5 / bookshelf / game cabinets
Dust and arrange books/games neatly.
Wipe Baseboards, Light Switches, and Door Handles – $10 / hr
Use a mild cleaner and cloth.
Wipe Down Walls & Doors – $10 / hr
Remove fingerprints, marks, and dust buildup.
Plan & Prepare a Simple Meal for the Family – $10
Pick a recipe, prep, and cook.
Prepare School Lunches for the Day – $2.50 / lunch
Portion snacks and meals in advance.
Fold & Put Away Laundry for the Whole Family – $3 / load
Not just his own!
Wash Windows (Inside & Out) – $2 / window
Use a spray bottle and microfiber cloth.
Wash the Car – $5 (with help)
Rinse, soap, scrub, and dry.
Clean & Organize the Garage – $10
Sweep, organize tools, declutter shelves.
Sweep & Tidy the Porch – $5
Remove leaves and dirt. Spray down. Remove trash.
Gardening with Mom – $10 / hr
Plant as needed. Pull weeds. Trim plants.
Anonymous
04/24/2025 11:33
Subject: Chores for money
PP 11:32 - At elementary, they don’t go out on their own, they only occasionaly ask for any snacks or candy and their lunch are all packed. So why need pocket money?
Anonymous
04/24/2025 11:32
Subject: Chores for money
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No chores for money.
Chores = being a part of the family
Weekly Allowance = being part of the family
It's not a good idea- we did try paying for chores once and DS started to think that anything he did around the house was a transaction. It taught the wrong values.
What are the right values? Because I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t go to work if you didn’t get paid for it.
We had a variant of this.
Chores (dishes, laundry, clean beds, carry groceries, unload the car, vaccum) - all not paid.
Projects though we didn’t give a little pocket money (eg. Help cut wood to build a shelf, dig up all the flowers and replant them from A to B, assemble furniture, paint the walls especially those high up near the skylight, change light bulbs in difficult areas eg. Ceiling lights)
Anonymous
04/16/2025 16:10
Subject: Chores for money
Actually based on more googling it seems clear you can’t put money for chores into a Roth. So sounds like we’ll have to just give her an allowance or not pay. That’s too bad because she’s doing things above and beyond normal chores that we would otherwise pay someone for.
Anonymous
04/16/2025 16:04
Subject: Chores for money
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We pay for chores because it’s the only way to put money into a Roth account for our children.
This is not the only way, but it sure is the complicated way to do it.
Please tell me the less complicated ways to do this for a young child! I’m just following my husband here but seems like based on my own minimal research they have to have earned income.
Anonymous
04/15/2025 21:18
Subject: Chores for money
Anonymous wrote:No chores for money.
Chores = being a part of the family
Weekly Allowance = being part of the family
It's not a good idea- we did try paying for chores once and DS started to think that anything he did around the house was a transaction. It taught the wrong values.
We do this also. Chores because all who live here contribute and allowance to learn how to handle money.
Anonymous
04/15/2025 20:25
Subject: Chores for money
I don't know what the right answer is, and likely there is not one.
But, I set up the Acorn App and debit card for my DD at age 11. We pay her .50 cents to $1.00 for some chores, homework and fitness items. She gets a small allowance ($2.00) per week without the extras. Some things she has to do without being paid extra.
She can then use her Debit card to buy things she likes and when she spends it all, she is out of money. And must wait/ earn more.
I am 100% positive there is no right answer for everyone. But, that is what we have been working on.
But, I set up the Acorn App and debit card for my DD at age 11. We pay her .50 cents to $1.00 for some chores, homework and fitness items. She gets a small allowance ($2.00) per week without the extras. Some things she has to do without being paid extra.
She can then use her Debit card to buy things she likes and when she spends it all, she is out of money. And must wait/ earn more.
I am 100% positive there is no right answer for everyone. But, that is what we have been working on.
Anonymous
04/15/2025 18:10
Subject: Chores for money
I don't pay for habitual chores, which gives me more leverage to bribe/pay for one-time extra work. We paid my teen son to dig large holes to replant some trees. I pay my other teen to learn and perform extra violin pieces to put together a recording for her Grandma. But dusting, vacuuming, feeding pets, etc? No, they help me out when I need the help.
Anonymous
04/15/2025 18:01
Subject: Chores for money
Anonymous wrote:If you have a system for your kids to earn money by helping more around the house - what are the extra chores they can do and how much do those chores pay?
Seems like few people pay for chores. I don't. Are you trying to teach them something? Maybe we can think of something else for them. How old are they?
Anonymous
04/15/2025 17:49
Subject: Chores for money
Anonymous wrote:We pay for chores because it’s the only way to put money into a Roth account for our children.
This is not the only way, but it sure is the complicated way to do it.