My kids want to save money to buy themselves some high tech gadgets...one wants a Playstation and the other wants an ipod. I told them to save their money and they complained that they don't get enough allowance! And I told them that I'm not paying them for doing NOTHING! So what is the going rate these days?
goodness, well i NEVER got an allowance. i did chores around the house and got small amounts of money for that. i totally back you up on the "not paying them for doing nothing" im glad my parents taught me that i had to work for what i wanted.. you know - unless it was birthday or christmas present. i dont really know what the rates are for doing chores..i dont have kids yet.
i got 10.00 a week when i was a kid in the 70's, i had to keep my room clean and do supper dishes,as far as todays amount i dont have a clue,id take my 10.00 and by bluejeans back then.
Netty my kids did paper rounds and washed cars to supplement their pocket money - which I admit wasn't much. It taught them more about the value of money than just getting it handed to them every week by either Ian or myself. On birthdays or at Christmas I would buy them gifts but also hand them an envelope with money in it towards their 'special fund.' The gifts they worked and saved for themselves meant much more to them than the ones bought for them.
Ours got a tiny sum each month, based on what grade they are in (3 dollars for third grade, 4 dollars for fourth grade), just enough they could treat a friend to a piece of candy or something, or save up for a toy. They had to tithe from that too. They could supplement it with extra work outside of regular chores like washing the car, popping a batch of dandelions, etc. When they got to jr. high they get $10, then $20 in high school, but they only get it if they are doing their chores. It's not much, but it adds up if they save it and gives them enough to not have to be left out if they want to see a movie or go skating with a friend. My youngest is the best at saving and has already amassed nearly $300 as she is saving for a laptop (and now will start babysitting to get more)- meanwhile her spendthrift brother has his go right through his fingers.
How about they do some extra chores for a set amount that YOU save for them. Maybe you all could look at E-bay for some deals together. 8)
Now that I'm going back to work I thought it was the perfect time for the kids to do a little more around the house. They are home about a half hour before I get home so it would be nice if the dishes and the vacuuming were at least done. They are also responsible for making their beds and keeping their rooms clean, and picking up after themselves. Do you think $10 a week each is fair? When I was a kid, doing these things was called "earning your keep" and it didn't pay!
$10 per week? That's $40 a month... hm. I wouldn't go that high, if it were me, unless you are going to also have them being responsible to purchase something like their school supplies or clothing or extra phone-minutes from it. That's a lot of disposable income for a kid who isn't paying for food, clothing, rent or transport. "Earning your keep" is still a good principle, so it should only be enough to cover what they would reasonably spend on extras or entertainment (a movie ticket plus a couple candy bars? A paperback book? A lego set, if they save up?) Also, sounds like yours are old enough to be doing their own laundry, maybe add some chores like that if they are getting money. Two of my kids are in their young teens and they now do their own, with occasional advice/help, my younger one is learning but isn't strong/tall enough to deal with the baskets of clothes or reaching down into the washer quite yet. Just some thoughts!
I had to work an help out and not recieve any allowance. They will appreciate it more when you do give .They do live there too and need to learn to help mom out if she is going to work.$10.00 is a lot of money. I was never given an allowance.I got what I needed and if we went to town I got a dime are quarter to spend. Back then that was lots of money.Let them know they are part of your household and shouldn't be paid to help.
You could make them save half of it if you give them ten dollars a week. The things they are saving for cost quite a bit and saving it on less could take a long time. Dooley
I like Dooley's idea best. In today's world I don't think $10 is too much if they save some of it. I did get an allowance and was paid extra for extra jobs and had a Very Generous Mother and my hubby says I am one of most frugal people he knows. 8)
I worked at paper routes and babysitting from age 12 but was still expected to do my share of housework. There were seven children and we bought all our clothing after we started working. It was mandatory. No arguments about it. It didn't hurt us any either. We had a job list for our boys and didn't make them work if they kept their grades up. No allowance until junior and senior high school. I don't remember how much but I think it was five dollars a week. Dooley
I didn't get pocket money. We wanted for nothing - my dad, until his dying day would have given us the earth if we had asked, but we never did. We just didn't want the current trends or followed fashion so it was never an issue. When I was 15 I got a Saturday job in a hairdressers and earnt £7 for 7 hours work, plus tips. I have to admit, that gave me a taste and I did enjoy earning a salary when I finally left school and got a job. I didn't have to pay housekeeping either once I was working....however mum and dad insisted that I had a pension fund set up and a savings account, and what I would have paid them had to go into these for my future. I think they did okay.
