Allowance for Kids

I am trying to determine what a fair allowance is for kids these days. Could someone please give me some advice? The parenting Internet sites I have looked at indicate that it should match their age in terms of $1 per year. So a 12 yeard old would get $12. Is that average for around here? I am assuming that is the national average. Also, if you have more than one child, is it fair to give the older child more money?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

 

In our house we go by the school grade of the child. For kindergarten through 2nd grade, it's $2.00/week. 3rd grade is $3.00/week. 4th grade would be $4.00/week, etc.

I can't imagine giving my nine year old $9.00 a week - he can't spend the $3.00/week he gets.

 

That's good... we don't need any more spoiled kids around here! Kudos JLC =)

 

Don't give, make them earn it. For their normal chores such as cleaning their room, doing dishes or taking out trash, associate a fee to it. Try to establish a good work ethic early. Just a thought...

 

Shoot, I worked outside the home when I was 12, gave half to my mom to help with the household.

Imagine how far that suggestion would go around some teens in this area !!


Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

We don't associate their allowance with their chores. They do chores around the house because they are part of the family and we all have to help. They don't have the choice of not doing one of their jobs. I can see where my son would gladly give up his weekly allowance if he didn't have to put away his laundry!

 

hi there... most parents i know cap it at 5 dollars per week. that seems to be enough for kids to save and spend until they are old enough to babysit or make money on their own. by the way, i searched for a working mother group and found your post, i replied to it on the community issues board. just curious if anything ever got started with that? i am interested in helping out.
Stephanie

 

Thank-you for all the suggestions!

I'm glad to hear that people usually cap the allowance on a lower amount! I am also a believer that chores should be expected as being part of the family. On the other hand, I want to give my children an allowance so that they can learn the value of money. I read that giving them extra money for extra work is a good way to teach them about how to earn money. My four year old already saves her money from birthdays and holidays from relatives. She spends the money when we go to the Toy store or the mall.

As far as the Working Mother's group, my post was 2 years ago and it ended on the Forums. I re-read it and noticed that a couple of people were going to talk about it offline and I never heard anything else about it. I don't know if that ever got off the ground...

 

my 7 year old gets $3/week. his chores are a part of his contribution to the home, so while his allowance is not paid for DOING the chores, it can be taken away if he doesn't do them on his own initiative, or if he misbehaves in school etc. Guess it's our old military ways- screw up bad enough and your pay gets docked!

Since he rarely needs cash in hand, many times we take him online and transfer $12 for the month into his bank account- he likes "watching his money grow." He's already learning the concept of interest, and saving for bigger purchases rather than friterring away $1 at a time.

Ciao,

Redon1