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[Annie Fawn]

Do you give your children an allowance? Should we pay our children allowances or not? If so how much and what do you consider too much?

[chickendad]

When my boys were younger, I gave them allowances for doing their chores. It wasn't a bribe, I don't make much money. But they would save to buy what they wanted. It gave them a sense of accomplishment, and self esteem to be able to buy for themselves.

[AngelFeather]

Good question..

first I Do beleive that children do need to learn the value and worth of money and how to earn it honestly. I have struggled with this question about the dollar amount attached to allowance.

the way i have worked it lately is that.. all my children are members of a family unit.. a family unit works together to make the family work what i mean by this is that.. I dont beleive in paying them to do dishes.. they eat off those dishes..I dont pay them for vaccuming the floor.. as they too walk and sit on that floor.. i am sure you get my point..I Do offer my kids extra chores such as yard work.. garden work, car washings..errands.. babysitting...that I will pay my children for. As to the dollar amount I havent figured that out YET.. LOL.. I just kinda work it inna way that i feel is appropriate. It is hard to set a dollar amount because alot of factors that need to be considered, for instance.. time.. how long did it take them to do it.. did they argue to do it... stuff like that. point being is that you know your kids and thereofre go what you feel is right for THEM. Dont listen to them when they come home crying that THEIR friends dont have to do chores or that THEIR friends get alot of money ect... They are YOUR kids and you raise them the way you feel fit, as well as reward them accordingly. Just dont think it is right in my opinion to pay them for being a part of a family unit.

[Annie Fawn]

Good question..

first I Do beleive that children do need to learn the value and worth of money and how to earn it honestly. I have struggled with this question about the dollar amount attached to allowance.

the way i have worked it lately is that.. all my children are members of a family unit.. a family unit works together to make the family work what i mean by this is that.. I dont beleive in paying them to do dishes.. they eat off those dishes..I dont pay them for vaccuming the floor.. as they too walk and sit on that floor.. i am sure you get my point..I Do offer my kids extra chores such as yard work.. garden work, car washings..errands.. babysitting...that I will pay my children for. As to the dollar amount I havent figured that out YET.. LOL.. I just kinda work it inna way that i feel is appropriate. It is hard to set a dollar amount because alot of factors that need to be considered, for instance.. time.. how long did it take them to do it.. did they argue to do it... stuff like that. point being is that you know your kids and thereofre go what you feel is right for THEM. Dont listen to them when they come home crying that THEIR friends dont have to do chores or that THEIR friends get alot of money ect... They are YOUR kids and you raise them the way you feel fit, as well as reward them accordingly. Just dont think it is right in my opinion to pay them for being a part of a family unit.

I've always done things the same way as you do, BUT, if I'm getting nagged for something like a certain pair/brand of pants or a semi-expensive shirt, I will tell them if you weed all the flower beds WITHOUT complaint and within a certain time span Then, I will buy it for you. If they really want it they will do the job.
When mine pull the old but my friends ect.. stuff on me, I point out I'm your parent, not your friends and YOU will know how to work and actually do something other than sit on your butt with your hand out when your grown.
I also make them put 1/4th of their pay check into a saving account when they get jobs, each and every pay check. When they learn to drive and get jobs they are responible for paying for their car insurance also. I've been told for YEARS that I'm a MEAN MOM, but now that all but 1 is grown they have come back and thanked us for teaching them how to save, how to balance a check book and how to do basic home and car repairs on their own. So we must be doing something right.
My nephew is 8 and most of his friends have cell phones and get 10 dollar a week allowances! I told my sis, if you do the same you deserve the spoiled irrisponible brat that he's going to grow up to be. So far she's stood her ground and said no way.

[chazziff]

i read some where that half their age is a good allowance - and to make them put away 1/4 to 1/2 into a savings account. and this amount is to be given to them regardless with chores done and any extra $$ for extra work done without complaint from the kid

so far its been working for my girls .. but i did run into some financial difficulties last year and had to stop ... and just recently started up again. they have had bank accounts since they were like 6 and 9. and they really take care of their lil pass books lol but still arent able to go in the bank alone yet - just with us watching from behind them while they do their business lol

[chazziff]

yea and i get that youre a mean mom thing too - but hey those other kids wont know how to take care of themselves when they get older .. lol

[wannabeUrNo1Snag]

yea and i get that youre a mean mom thing too - but hey those other kids wont know how to take care of themselves when they get older .. lol

lol ain't that the truth...

i refuse to pay my daughter an allowance for helping to keep the house clean, i mean she does live here too...if i get extra cash, i'll give it to her to put away...shes a good girl...but i definitely try n reward her when she gets good grades in school...

[*Brown Eyed Gurl*]

I dont give my kids $$.....their grandparents do tho

...they dont really have to do much in this house...and i buy their skool supplies...pay for field trips...buy their shoes and clothes..and bday and christmas stuff...and i feed em and do their laundry for gawd sakes...lol..err i sound like my father

[StraightDanceWeasel]

Kids should get an allowance for doing their chores. Now if parents want to give them other money for other things, that is their choice.

[*Brown Eyed Gurl*]

^^^^^why?...if they live in the household and they are old enuff shouldnt they be helpin out too?..no one pays me for all the work i do? i mean really when they move out no one is gonna pay them to clean their apartment/house

[Cherie]

My parents didn't believe in giving me and my sibblings an allowance. When we lived at home it was just a house rule you DIDN"T get paid for doing chores. It was just expected. We didn't pee and moan about it either.

My hubby and I didn't believe in paying our two sons allowances either. When they wanted something special they had to get outside jobs to earn the money to get it. We figured that providing them with a roof over their heads, clothes and 3 square meals a day we figured we did our jobs.

[Annie Fawn]

When we were growing up we got a dollar for every A on our report cards, 50cents for a B C's or lower you were grounded until your next report cards, and that means the only places we were allowed to go were to school and church. With D's we had double chores added ect.. we didn't have the nerve to come in with a F. We all figured mother would just kill us flat out and bury the body in the yard if we did.

[CJTurtle]

I don't give them a allowance for doing their chores. I give them an allowance when they bring home the good grades. We all have chores and I wish someone would pay me for cleaning my house LOL. But school is like their job and they have to do really good at it. Just another view.

[*Brown Eyed Gurl*]

I dont give them $ for goot marks either...thats juss expected of them...its somthing that one NEEDS to do....i sound like such a biitch..but i never said i wasnt

[Little Man's Ma]

I have 3 kids, 17 yr old and 14 yr old daughters, and an 11 yr old son. I have never given them an allowance, because I figure I give them all they NEED, and a little of what they WANT.. I won't buy each of them cell phones like their friends, thank goodness they aren't brand junkies, and my boy still likes the shorts I sew for him best. I have tried not to spoil my kids, but they do work for the extra's the want. My eldest works part time in a coffee shop, and sells fringe (usually to her auntie) for grass dance outfits. My younger two craft - and set up a table at local events. Or one of then will open up a refreshment stand (with their dad's supervision) at a pow wow or community function. They have to work for all the extras, but by no means are they lacking anything.