When the boys were little....everyday they had chores.  One had to sweep the kitchen, the other had to vaccuum the living room.  We're talking about 2nd and 3rd grade or younger.  That's where they started, just those 2 chores.  Then it worked into emptying trash everyday...they took turns.  Every weekend they had to help me with folding and putting away laundry and cleaning the bathroom in addition to their daily chore.  Then it worked into cleaning up the dog poo everyday in the backyard and then yard work such as weed pulling, raking leaves, etc. every other weekend.  SO, very early on they had stuff they needed to do.  No allowance.  They learned they had a responsibility to the home along with me.  I did however, REWARD them.  We'd go get McDonalds or some ice cream or to the river or something that was out of the ordinary and a BIG treat for a single parent household.

I did try the chore chart and stars and depending on the quality of the job would determine the star color which would determine the coin amount and then a total payout at the end of the week.  That didn't work out so well for us.  So I just reverted back to the "it's everybodies responsibility to keep the stuff around the house done" way of thinking.  But they know if they do it consistently and well, I'm happy to reward them with some spending money over the weekend and sometimes into the work week depending on amount and need.  They're pretty good at keeping things done for me because they know it pays off.  If something comes up that they hadn't earned it prior, I'll hook 'em up anyway and they know they owe me and they'll follow through by the 3rd day without being reminded.

I was raised inthe 50s, 60s and 70s.  Always had chores.  Mom worked two jobs, Dad was gone.  I raised 5 younger sibs and to-date they worship me. LOL.

 

Today, I fear nothing and didn't get a dime for all that hard work.

 

My daughter started doing her own laundry when she was 13 and still does it.  Facts is, she's still upset about it and won't let me wash her clothes.  She's very independent and doesn't take any guff from anybody.

 

Work never hurt anybody, some just did the wrong kind of work and was too lazy or ignorant to look for something else, some gave up, some sue, sue, sue to make a buck.  Money isn't everything, but it makes misery tolerable.

 

Start them young, work with them, reward them!  NEVER NEVER yell at them, the first incident teaches them to tune you out!

 

Thanks.

 

Lawlady10

i tried the whole allowance thing and i tell ya it doesnt always work out too good so i just make them clean up after theirselves i am a clean freak anyways and when they clean i have to go back over it anyways

my kids got allowence  and had their normal chores

 

for xtra money i taped a list of chores on the fridge with a pricetag

 

whoever wanted xtra money would ask to do that chore

 

rule was: dirty i have it for free if im paying i want to see it clean

when we started to have the daily setting table clearing table and loading dishwasher squabble with the i did it last no it was me blah blah blah ect,

 

i felt like a referee

so my solution was from now on 1does it 1 week turn over is sunday and it must pass inspection

when it didnt they were told u are a wonderful kid and just need an extra practiceday

than turnover was monday

amazing how fast they learned

i have 2 sons 1 daughter the middlechild all grown up with kids of their own

welleducated geeks as i call them in chat

they still like each other and help each other with homeimprovement projects

 

a funny compliment i got was omg we start to sound like you with our kids sometimes lmao

 

 

Ok when I was saying about the amount Kevin was getting before getting his job that was in reference also to his age. When he was younger allowance was $5 a week BUT not for making bed and keeping his room and bathroom "straightened" those were chores expected as a mamber of the family. He got paid for the extras like cutting grass and taking out trash. He has always known when I pull in from grocery shopping to go start getting stuff out of the trunk.lol

 

Unfortunately $5 doesn't go far heck wouldn't even get him into a movie with friends so back then he had to learn to budget his allowance. Like if he wanted to go to a movie with a friend obviously that required two weeks allowance at the least. Of course I was a bit flexible with this if he did and saved up sometimes I would go ahead and hand him a $10 to get in so he could get popcorn with his. But he had to learn to manage his own in case. Actually he learned the most about money and budgeting right after we moved to Atlanta when we were carryinbg our bills and mortgages for two houses and simply could not afford the extras. That is when he went on his own and got a job, heck I didn't even know until he came home and said I filled out an application and I have a job to save up for prom Mom. I was actually very proud of him, even at 17 he has friends whose parents complain they can't get their kids to get a job and he did it all on his own to help out when the family budget got too tight.

I give our 11 year old son gets $ 10.00 a week allowance and $ 20.00 a week for doing gardning and weeding the garden beds , watering the hanging baskets and some parts of the garden that the underground sprinklers don't quite hit.

The $ 10.00 is for doing basic chores and keeping his room clean. The only problem i have is sometomes he gets up to cut the lawn at 7 AM on a Saturday. He has found that yardwork could be a viable business for someone his age so he now has more customers who he does and gets paid for.

 He is talking about starting his own yard maintenance business with his friend , but I thought that next summer when he is 12 it may be better. He has already got his company name picked out, and wqants to start advertising now.  

thats great i would let him at least he is learning how to make money and knowing too make it you have to work for it

ALLOWANCE TAS LOCA I ALLOW MY KIDS TO LIVE IN MY HOUSE