So I need some input from my bloggy peeps.
We're finally going to start some sort of allowance system for our girls. We've never really done anything before (we simply didn't have the extra money, really) and have a few thoughts about how we want to do it. But I would LOVE to hear what you do, or good ideas you've heard about.
What we're initially thinking is that part of their responsibilities is simply because they are alive and have to take care of what we have, and won't have anything to do with allowance. But then some chores will be tied to allowance; if they don't do their jobs, they don't get the money, sisters can opt to do jobs that have been ignored or abandoned, etc. I'm planning to have them save a percentage and give a percentage before they spend.
What else? Tell me what you do!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friends and Countrymen, Lend Me Your Advice
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12 comments:
this is what we do:
http://www.afamiliarpath.com/2009/03/time-and-money.html
it works well and they have to have save, spend and give envelopes.
As we're an only child family, this isn't tried and true ... but one of the things I read once that I thought would work well was the idea that if a job goes undone and this is completed by a sibling ... the one who shirked their duties has to pay the wage of the one who completed the job ...
We have responsibility jars, paid a wage for doing their part. They start with a certain amount in a jar at the beginning of the week (more for the older who has more responsibility) and they pay fines for slacking off. The money is all in quarters, and the fines vary. Leave a toy or laundry trail behind you, pay a quarter. Forget to do one of your regular chores, 2 quarters. At the end of the week the remaining quarters are counted up and exchanged for paper cash (and often a few of the quarters.) New week fills the jar back up and we start over. They can earn extra cash by doing bigger jobs/chores that are above and beyond the call of duty.
At our home, my boys are expected to do certain things just because....just because they live here, just because it's the responsible thing to do, etc. But they also each have 5 paying jobs that are each worth a set amount per job (the amount is different for each child according to their age). These jobs MUST be done each week WITHOUT being reminded (by Friday afternoon at 5 pm) in order to receive their pay. This has worked well for us because it teaches them to correlate a job done to money earned. The "doing it without being reminded" part was added later when I discovered that it wasn't any fun for me (or them) if I had to stay on top of them time and time again to get a simple chore done. Good luck !!!
Here is what we do--it's basically what you said in your last paragraph:
http://smallworldathome.blogspot.com/2008/04/our-allowance-system.html
I am in no way an authority on allowances and chores. So continue reading at your own risk.
I have a gift (or two), but follow through in the area of chores is not one of them. I hate chores myself, so making myself do them while nagging my kids to do them is not high on my priority list.
However...my kids sort, place in washer and dryer, fold, and put away their own laundry, as well as pick up their rooms (when reminded), for free. The girls' laundry day is Monday, and Bubba's is Wednesday. If their laundry needs to be done at other times in the week, I do it.
Other chores they do for free: Bubba takes out the trash (when reminded) and the girls keep their toys picked up out of the living room (when reminded). All three of them clean out the van together once a week.
I tend to do everything else when the mood strikes. And usually when the mood strikes me, I start handing out jobs to the kids (and the husband). I pay them (the kids, not the husband) by the hour (sweat shop pay) instead of by the chore. Basically because we usually just do basic cleaning and up keep all in one fell swoop instead of a little every day.
So, judging from what I just wrote, it cold be said that, if it's little things that need to be done every day, ie: dishes, trash, toy patrol, it gets done for free. If it's the big stuff that gets done weekly (or so) I usually pay.
I wouldn't say I'm happy with this system, but it works for us. I would love to be one of those people that does a little every day and has trained her children to do the same, but I'm just not. And I'm OK with that. The important part is that it gets done...at some point, right?
hey there cindy...from Betsy (Fla.)
The Tithing thing is a big lesson to start off teaching when they get any kind of money (soon babysitting). Have a tithing envelope or jar (as suggested) and have them put in 10%. We also had an envelope for saving and one for spending. So you can have the SSS plan in envelopes or they "decorate" their own jars/sm. containers.."S" goes to our Savior, "S" goes for savings, "S" goes for spending! There you have it...I just totally made up the "SSS" thing as i was commenting to you! Have fun...but TEACH early!!!! God Bless you! love you and miss you guys!!!!
We have tried different ideas or systems but the most successful was when we followed Dave Ramsey's principles. I think that my girls need to do work just because they are part of the family, as in without pay. For our family that meant folding and putting away their own laundry, cleaning their rooms and doing all schoolwork. Paid jobs included washing dishes and emptying the dishwasher, cleaning common areas such as living room and schoolroom, sorting laundry...One of the best ideas was Dave's insistence that when a job is completed the child come and ask a parent to check their work. It is good to teach them to do a quality job. Our girls had to tithe, save 10% each. The other idea was to think about what they were saving for. A couple of our girls worked and saved a looong time for the American Girl doll they had wanted, another a digital camera. They really appreciated these so much more than if we had given it to them.
We would still be doing this program but are in a different economic situation now that we are missionaries in the Philippines.
Everyone lives here, eats here, wears the clothes that are hanging around here, wanted the dog that used to live here, needs a ride somewhere etc. soooo, everyone is expected to chip in time and energy to take care of this place and get food on the table and off, keep the clothes ready to wear and help keep the car cared for etc.
No pay.
But for painting Grandpa's farmhouse at the old property, hauling large amts. of wood or dirt from there to here or reverse, babysitting for mom and dad so we could get out of here for a few, etc.- there was cash paid for things like that.
Kids grown now. Real jobs. Hard workers. Pretty neat, cleanie beanie types- almost all three :)
Good luck! There's no one right way.
Heidi
Wow - there's some good advice in these comments! We just started an allowance with our older three girls. The 11 and 10 year olds get $3 per week, and the 7 year old gets $1.50. I know friends who give more, but this is what we're starting with. This article from Crown Financial Ministries is a good place to start. http://www.crown.org/LIBRARY/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=404
Let us know how it goes!
-Lee
The girls each get $4.40 a week. They have a bank that we made from pringles and oatmeal boxes, that has a Bank, A Store and A Church. 2dollars must go to the bank to be saved, 2 dollars goes to the store--they can spend this, and the $.40 goes in the church for tithe. For us allowance and chores have nothing to do with each other, they are required to help around the house because they live there, however sometimes I'll come up with a extra job to pay them for and if they neglect chores or schoolwork then part of their allowance may be taken away as a fine!
Hi long lost friend!
I have so enjoyed catching up with your family this morning! I have missed you all!
The allowance thing was tricky for us, too! We have come up with our own little system. We give each child a small amount twice a month as part of our budget. We are teaching them about how to have a budget and the only way they can learn is by having some money! Unlike most families I know, my kids do not get money from grandparents and other extended family, so we decided it was up to us! So, we give them a small amount just to practice with. They break the allowance up into spending, saving and giving. Lily has saved almost $40.00 in her giving fund and wants to buy goats for World Vision. so cute! Anyway, this money has nothing to do with chores...it's just a necessary tool.
We also allow the kids to work extra jobs (not their regular chores...these are expected just because they live here!)to earn money. For example....I was too lazy to hang up and put away all my clean clothes yesterday, so I gave Caroline the opportunity to earn $5.00 to do it for me. If me kids start to complain that they don't have money to buy something or if they need cash for something fun...a movie with friends or a new CD...I put them to work. Dusting baseboards, washing windows, organizing junk drawers, pulling weeds,,,you get the idea. It gives them a chance to earn money and it gives me a way to get stuff done that wouldn't otherwise.
So, there you have it! Best Wishes! ~Deb C
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