Tamara Nugteren
If you read my previous post, then you already know our kids have recently started getting allowances. And hopefully you also noticed that they are EARNING it. So, what exactly qualifies as a chore that you have to do "because you live here" and what is a chore that can bring in extra income?
For our two, up until this summer, ALL chores were done "because you live here" and because "everyone has to help out". They have been doing some sort of chore since they were preschoolers. Alas, that could only last so long. The aforementioned need for the children to learn money management skills and my need for more output with less fuss has led us here.
So, now the chores that are done "because you live here" are as follows:
- Make your bed and keep your room mostly clean (no clothes on the floor).
- Put away the clean laundry that I deliver to your room.
- Feed the dog and take him on walks.
- Practice piano.
The chores that are done for allowance are more varied. The 9 year old and the 11 year old can really accomplish all the same tasks for now. They have one chore each day. It's written down so they can go look and do it anytime of the day. My goal was to get them to do things that teach them a housekeeping skill and get them to do things that I find tedious and time sucking (but don't tell them that). Before you read this, I must give you the caveat, DONT JUDGE ME. I know some of you have children that do WAY MORE and some of you have children who DO NOTHING. I'm trying to hit the middle ground with room to grow. The following list is revolving, meaning we update it and change it around a few times a year.
Our nine-year-old's current list:
- Monday: Sort vitamins. She lays out the variety of calciums and multivitamins that each person is supposed to be taking for the week (This is one of the tedious ones...).
- Tuesday: Put away all the clean dishes for the day or empty the dishwasher.
- Wednesday: Dust the main living areas.
- Thursday: Shake out rugs in the bathrooms and the kitchen.
- Friday: Clean surfaces in the main bathroom (counter top, switches, knobs, etc.)
- Saturday: Clean bedroom.
Our eleven-year-old's current list:
- Monday: Shake out rugs in the bathrooms and the kitchen.
- Tuesday: Vacuum the rug by the front door.
- Wednesday: Wipe down the stainless steel appliances.
- Thursday: Take the trash and the recycling to the curb.
- Friday: Take the trash and the recycling back up to the house.
- Saturday: Clean bedroom.
Other past chores have been helping with the various stages of laundry (folding, sorting, hanging and even running the machines), blowing out the garage, sweeping the kitchen floor and others I can't recall.
On any particular day, if a chore doesn't get done, that percentage of allowance gets deducted from the end of the week payout. There is a little wiggle room here - I've said that if it doesn't get done because they are really busy, they could do it the next day. However, if it is a pattern of behavior, it's a "too bad, so sad" scenario. Truthfully, it hasn't happened yet and we are at the start of month three. They are very motivated to get the paycheck, and I haven't had to beg-plead-nag for them to do the chores. Its been great.
Another real world financial situation will come to light this weekend. The kids have been at their grandparent's farm this week. There will be no allowance because I was doing the chores. In our house, vacation time is unpaid. A good lesson to learn, I think. We also now have one child actively seeking out additional chores for a little extra cash toward the item she is saving for. Nice.
I'd love to hear how others have worked out the whole allowance thing...
