Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not tie allowance to chores. You do chores because you're a member of the family and everyone contributes. You get allowance to learn how to handle money responsibly.

Same here. He's got his regular chores like we all do, and he's expected to help with the periodic chores (generally outdoor stuff).

My 9 year old son has to:
Hang up backpack, coat, put shoes away.
Pick up toys.
Set table and clear table.
He's now doing his own laundry (with my supervision).
Weeding, raking, snow shoveling as needed.
Help with trash and recycling.

I've taught him to do things like vacuum, clean toilets and bathrooms in general, as well as wipe down countertops, and wash floors. But we have a cleaning service, so he doesn't have to help with those things on a regular basis.

I've taught him to Spackle holes in walls, sand, and paint. He's helped me put furniture together so he gets the idea. He's helped me repair deck planks, hang bird feeders, do very minor plumbing fixes (and I mean minor) etc. Whenever I've got to do some minor repair around the house, he's with me to learn.

He gets $10 a week allowance. Not tied to chores. He has to save 20% of it. The savings can only be used for special purchases, like a big toy he really wants, or christmas presents for cousins. But we talk about what happens if he uses all his savings at a time, how long it takes to rebuild, etc.

wow, this is great! My sister's 2 kids do zero chores regularly, at 6th and 9th grade. if she pleads with them they will carry clean laundry upstairs. if they are in the mood they will set a table or maybe clear it off.

We weren't raised like this, not sure why she is doing this. the kids are brats.

I'm the PP. I can't take too much credit here. My kid actually likes to do all this stuff (well more so the yard work and house repairs). He is naturally good at working. Maybe the only thing I did right was start young.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not tie allowance to chores. You do chores because you're a member of the family and everyone contributes. You get allowance to learn how to handle money responsibly.

+1 When we were trying to figure this out, what really swayed me was reading somewhere that if you tie the allowance to chores, what happens when child is old enough to have other sources of money. Are they allowed to just stop doing chores because they don't want the money? No, of course not.

+1

I have 7 and 5 yr old girls. They do all of the above things, but I wouldn't even call them chores.
I can see offering benefits / rewards for a unique chore, like helping with a special clean-up or project.
I don't get paid to keep up the house, but I think a reward system is fair. (How many of you watch TV while you fold laundry? That's the kind of thing I mean.)

I have almost 7 and 4yo. They don't get an allowance. However, I give my son $0.25/chore (which usually is helping me clear out the dishwasher or if he feels like playing with the vacuums, or Swiffering the floor). We pack his lunch everyday, so he only really needs money for toys or candy that he sees at the store. I usually limit both kid's shopping trips to $1 each kid if we're at target, or if we're at a grocery store and they bring up something we need anyway, I'll buy it for them. They don't feel deprived as they've learned that whenever they want something at the store, they can tell me and I will put it on the "consideration list" for their birthday/Christmas list. My 7yo is a pro now where he'll only ask about toys he really likes, but my 4yo still needs to get the hang of the idea as every single toy that sparks her fancy she'll say "mommy, can I have this for my birthday" and promptly move on to the next toy and say the same thing.

Honesty they have way too many toys already and I already have a stash of toys stocked up for special occasions or for a long weekend. They do get money for holidays and birthdays from the grandparents of course and have a small savings account for buying things. In which case, say my son wants a toy really badly ($10 lego set). I'll say, OK if you want it, you'll have to buy it, and I make him pay me back at home.

Until my son starts asking me for an allowance, I'm going to hold off for another couple years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious what the younger kids spend their money on. I have a 6 year old who does chores around the house like those mentioned above, but we haven't started an allowance mainly because I don't know what he'd buy with it. He gets plenty of toys for birthday, Christmas, etc. and I don't mind buying a very occasional app for him. I do want him to learn about spending and saving though, so I suppose it's time to start an allowance if only for money managing skills.

I like the idea of the moon jar. I think $3 a week would be plenty, though, one for each (spend, share, save).

Do gifts they purchase for others come out of spend or save for most people? Share will go to church or school fundraisers for our family.

I'm wondering the same thing. Though I'm cheaper than you. I could envision putting 50 cents in each jar each week and still ending up with too much in spend.

Honestly. the spend, save, give thing was too much for me to keep organized (really it was hard for me to come up with the small bills and change every week. We've ditched it in favor of small allowance.

Anonymous wrote:4&6, don't currently get an allowance.

They:

- clear their places at the table
- fold their clothes and put away (we sort it)
- pick up their rooms
- pick up the play room
- put all dirty clothes in the hamper

My 5 and 6 yo do all of these things and they also help bring out the recycling. We give them $2 and $3, respectively.

My 5 year old does daily and weekly chores. Daily are : put laundry in hamper, clear plate from table, put clean clothes away, put chickens away (backyard), clean up toys, sweep kitchen/ living room. Weekly are: clean bathroom (with me), fold towels, water plants, dust, feed chickens.

He gets $5/ week not tied to chores. He is required to save $2, put $2 to charity and $1 goes in his wallet weekly. He helps chiose charity and what his money will be saved for.

I just start using Financial Peace Jr. by Dave Ramsey and I love it. It comes with a chore chart (that you choose the chores for your child) plus a workbook and parent guide (and more add on if you want). But here is a article on Age Appropriate Chores that may help with other options on chore. Hope this helps. http://bit.ly/1PAkXcl
Blessings

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious what the younger kids spend their money on. I have a 6 year old who does chores around the house like those mentioned above, but we haven't started an allowance mainly because I don't know what he'd buy with it. He gets plenty of toys for birthday, Christmas, etc. and I don't mind buying a very occasional app for him. I do want him to learn about spending and saving though, so I suppose it's time to start an allowance if only for money managing skills.

I like the idea of the moon jar. I think $3 a week would be plenty, though, one for each (spend, share, save).

Do gifts they purchase for others come out of spend or save for most people? Share will go to church or school fundraisers for our family.

I'm wondering the same thing. Though I'm cheaper than you. I could envision putting 50 cents in each jar each week and still ending up with too much in spend.

Anonymous wrote:I do not tie allowance to chores. You do chores because you're a member of the family and everyone contributes. You get allowance to learn how to handle money responsibly.

I do this with my younger kids too. The five year old is responsible for feeding cats and giving them fresh water, picking up the toys in her room, folding towels, and setting and clearing the table. The two year old is responsible for picking up any clothes on the bathroom floor after showers/baths. Both put away their clean laundry and help load and unload the dishwasher. They get a weekly allowance equal to their age (one dollar/year) and divide between saving, spending, and giving.

I'm curious what the younger kids spend their money on. I have a 6 year old who does chores around the house like those mentioned above, but we haven't started an allowance mainly because I don't know what he'd buy with it. He gets plenty of toys for birthday, Christmas, etc. and I don't mind buying a very occasional app for him. I do want him to learn about spending and saving though, so I suppose it's time to start an allowance if only for money managing skills.

I like the idea of the moon jar. I think $3 a week would be plenty, though, one for each (spend, share, save).

Do gifts they purchase for others come out of spend or save for most people? Share will go to church or school fundraisers for our family.

We have certain things that are just part of living in the house. They are:
-- helping unload the dishwasher
-- clearing your plate
-- keeping your room moderately clean and/or helping
adult clean it (same with toys in other areas of house)
-- helping sweep up crumbs they drop on the floor (I got a really sweet little brush and pan at Target for them to use)
They do not get allowance for these things. Our older child (9) also takes out the recycling, but I don't think a 7 year old could do that. It's a lot of sorting, and you have to be tall enough to see in the bins, etc.

If they want to earn cash, I am always happy to pay them for the following tasks:
-- vacumming any room
-- swiffering wood floors and bathrooms
-- cleaning windows (well, with a squeegee)
-- washing the car and/or vacumming the inside
-- cleaning out old coupons in the coupon drawer
I will pay them double the going rate for these tasks if they are using the money to donate for a charity or to buy Christmas presents for a relative (like an employer-match program).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not tie allowance to chores. You do chores because you're a member of the family and everyone contributes. You get allowance to learn how to handle money responsibly.

Same here. He's got his regular chores like we all do, and he's expected to help with the periodic chores (generally outdoor stuff).

My 9 year old son has to:
Hang up backpack, coat, put shoes away.
Pick up toys.
Set table and clear table.
He's now doing his own laundry (with my supervision).
Weeding, raking, snow shoveling as needed.
Help with trash and recycling.

I've taught him to do things like vacuum, clean toilets and bathrooms in general, as well as wipe down countertops, and wash floors. But we have a cleaning service, so he doesn't have to help with those things on a regular basis.

I've taught him to Spackle holes in walls, sand, and paint. He's helped me put furniture together so he gets the idea. He's helped me repair deck planks, hang bird feeders, do very minor plumbing fixes (and I mean minor) etc. Whenever I've got to do some minor repair around the house, he's with me to learn.

He gets $10 a week allowance. Not tied to chores. He has to save 20% of it. The savings can only be used for special purchases, like a big toy he really wants, or christmas presents for cousins. But we talk about what happens if he uses all his savings at a time, how long it takes to rebuild, etc.

wow, this is great! My sister's 2 kids do zero chores regularly, at 6th and 9th grade. if she pleads with them they will carry clean laundry upstairs. if they are in the mood they will set a table or maybe clear it off.

We weren't raised like this, not sure why she is doing this. the kids are brats.

pick up her room
hang up her clothes
clear dishes
unload silverware
take out trash

no allowance. she's a part of the family.

Anonymous wrote:Five year old daily:

Sort silverware from dishwasher into drawer
Empty backpack
Clothes to hamper
Set table
Help with clearing

Weekly-ish:
Help fold laundry (mainly towels but starting to do some clothes)
Help put away own clothes
Help match socks

I'm debating rearranging the kitchen cabinets to have the dishes low enough for child to reach to be more of a dishwasher and full table setter helper, but I'm not sure if that would be annoying for grownups needing to reach plates.

Looking for other chores to add for the summer so will watch this thread

NP also looking for more chores. My 4yo unloads the dishwasher and is supposed to be responsible for her laundry, but I'm fairly confident the nanny does it for her. She clears her plate from the table and will clear everyone's when we have company. Also looking to add chores.

Just as an aside, I have my 4 yo stack dishes and cups/mugs on the counters in front of where they go. I didn't want to rearrange my cabinets either.

I think we will start allowance with her at age 5.

Anonymous wrote:I do not tie allowance to chores. You do chores because you're a member of the family and everyone contributes. You get allowance to learn how to handle money responsibly.

Same here. He's got his regular chores like we all do, and he's expected to help with the periodic chores (generally outdoor stuff).

My 9 year old son has to:
Hang up backpack, coat, put shoes away.
Pick up toys.
Set table and clear table.
He's now doing his own laundry (with my supervision).
Weeding, raking, snow shoveling as needed.
Help with trash and recycling.

I've taught him to do things like vacuum, clean toilets and bathrooms in general, as well as wipe down countertops, and wash floors. But we have a cleaning service, so he doesn't have to help with those things on a regular basis.

I've taught him to Spackle holes in walls, sand, and paint. He's helped me put furniture together so he gets the idea. He's helped me repair deck planks, hang bird feeders, do very minor plumbing fixes (and I mean minor) etc. Whenever I've got to do some minor repair around the house, he's with me to learn.

He gets $10 a week allowance. Not tied to chores. He has to save 20% of it. The savings can only be used for special purchases, like a big toy he really wants, or christmas presents for cousins. But we talk about what happens if he uses all his savings at a time, how long it takes to rebuild, etc.