Allowance - Minneapolis,MN

I don't get paid to do my chores, neither do my kids... no allowance here.

HOWEVER, when they're at that age where they need a few bucks in their pockets, I'm sure I'll think of a way they can earn it, being through making good grades or helping with something huge at the house.

My daughters are 6 and 8 and have a really good handle of the value of a dollar, so I don't feel like they need an allowance to learn about it later on.

I did get an allowance as a teen, which was so ridiculous (not that I didn't take the money, I just didn't learn a damn thing from it)... once I had my own job, THEN I started taking pride in my money and the things I was buying with it, because I had earned it.

3 moms found this helpful

Ditto to Rachel.

My kids don't get an allowance. They also don't want for anything. They do something extra if they want something. Or they use extra good behavior or do something kind.

They all clean their rooms, do the dishes, help with laundry, vacuuming, and general upkeep stuff (putting papers away, not leaving things laying around, etc).

They get what they need when they need it. I had started allowances years ago and it just wasn't working for us.

I figure if I give allowance, there goes some of the fun things they like to do that they get just for being kids. So I think it all works out :).

1 mom found this helpful

My kids were 4 years old. They do a specific job once a week that earns them the money. Regular chores weekly are expected. My son is 7 and swiffers the house and cleans up anything he finds under the furniture and earns $2/week. My daughter is 4.5 and wipes down all the knobs with a clorox wipe, and dusts around the TV for $1/week.

Both kids are expected to clean up their rooms nightly, help set the table and put their dishes in the dishwasher. Keep the basement clean (playroom). Feed the dog and cat and make sure they have water. These chores are not ones they earn money for.

There's also times when they can earn extra, like seasonal things like picking weeds, raking or shoveling.

Check out www.activeallowance.com

I've used it with my boys for two years now. It's fantastic and easy.

Best of luck!

We have the same philosophy as Rachel D. Our boys are 7 and 13, and are learning the value of the dollar quite well. They do extra chores around the house to earn money, but do not get an allowance.

Age 6, they earn allowance solely for the purpose of learning to handle money and to understand the value of saving money to buy something they really want.

It's not much, maybe $5 per week but usually not but a couple of dollars is earned.