Family chores, pocket money and teaching kids about money and responsibilities

artichoke

Hi all

I have searched but can't find any articles / discussions on here about the different options for setting children / family members household chores, and if this should be related to pocket money or just done as part of family responsibility.

I know there is no right answer as every family is different - but am looking to both set pocket money levels for my kids age 8 and 9 (they have never had pocket money before) and also to set a chore rota going - and just wondered what others experiences were on these issues.

Can someone point me in the direction of any discussions on these topics?

I want to teach the children both about money management (ie encouraging them not to blow it all on sweets each week) and about family responsibility ie we all work together to get the necessary jobs done.


Thanks

art

Stabbald

I like the idea about linking pocket money to chores, it instils the idea that in the real world you have to work to get the things that you want. You could even do a chore "bounty" that you set and if the kids want pocket money they have to do various chores to earn the bounty.

pmlindyloo

Stabbald wrote: »

I like the idea about linking pocket money to chores, it instils the idea that in the real world you have to work to get the things that you want. You could even do a chore "bounty" that you set and if the kids want pocket money they have to do various chores to earn the bounty.

I disagree with this.

My personal feelings on the subject are summed up by this article:

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/superscrimpers/articles/all/solving-the-pocket-money-problem

Mojisola

We never linked pocket money to chores. No-one pays us to do the housework - why should the kids get paid for the bits they do? We all share the work in the house because it needs doing to keep the household running smoothly.

As the kids got older, they were able to do extra things for us and neighbours for money. They never had any problem understanding that you had to work to get money.

loopyloouk

i agree with this,

We currently have a weekly chart each day of the week is worth 50p, if they are well behaved and have completed there 'chore' or 'task' they get a tick and at the end of the week receive their money to either spend or save.

When i say 'chores' i don't necessarily mean poor cinderella scrubbing floors etc but more of a hang up uniform for school, put dirty washing in the basket, check bag packed for swimming, even sometimes polish/tidy room. My daughters find it quite beneficial and really enjoy saturday pay day as more often than not they save it up for a few weeks and get decent toy or for example last week DD saved up for 3 weeks to buy a new case for her tablet.

FBaby

My kids have chores they have to do no matter what: cleaning take and floor under table after meals, dishes when asked, picking their piles of clean clothes and putting then in their closet ans some other chores as I ask line helping putting groceries in cupboards/fridge. What they do get money for is keeping their room tidy the whole week.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

My children do not get pocket money as such, but they do get weekly treats instead. (Magazine etc)

The have their "own jobs" as such which they do regardless.

6yo:

Make her bed first thing in the morning
Keep her room tidy
Feed the dog (Occasionally)
Help look after the rabbits
Put her "washing" away (socks and underwear)
Put dirty washing in the wash basket
Occassionally bring the wash basket down stairs when full
Put her plate/bowl etc in the dishwasher

2yo:
Helps me load the washing machine
Helps load the tumble dryer
Is trying to make her own bed (With help from her big sister)

Both of them "help" to hoover (with their toy hoovers!) :rotfl::rotfl:

Both of them get the change from my purse at the end of the week also which they put into their money jar. When this is full it gets swapped and we go to the cinema or a day out, or they buy something they really want (DD1 saved up to buy herself some of those "stompezee" slippers)

EDIT: Obviously DD2 isnt old enough to buy things but she gets took out and treated lol when she is older she will have a say

They both also have a savings account which i put into once a month

Georgiegirl256

I disagree with it too. When I was little, instead of getting paid to do chores, if I was told to do something such as tidy my room, I did it regardless.

My Mam is an excellent saver, and has different money boxes for different things, something which has now rubbed off on me (I love money boxes!), and did so from a young age, as back in the 80's when you opened a bank account you usually got a money box, and I knew I could save if I wanted too, or if there was something I wanted, I could buy it, but that was my money gone.

I think installing the value of money and saving into them is far more healthy than bribing them.

ETA: By that I mean that there is nothing wrong with giving say an extra 50p/£1 or whatever for doing an extra job, but pocket money shouldn't be dependant on it as in 'If you don't do this chore then you won't get paid this week.

maman

My children never had pocket money linked to chores. They were expected to help around the home though as were 'other family members' even my DH!:rotfl:Mainly these were linked to looking after their own rooms and belongings with some bits to do with family meals. What they did got more sophisticated as they got older. So from laying/clearing the table to some prepping/cooking and when my DD1 passed her test she loved doing the weekly shop so she could use my car!


To be honest, they never really had pocket money when they were Primary age just money 'as and when' or given to them as gifts. When they were about 12/13 we started them on proper budgeting. We added together most of the things we spent on them (school meals, hairdresser, swimming, out of school clothes, cinema etc) and gave it to them as a monthly allowance. They coped really well.


I feel the same about this as I do about people insisting on 'board' from their working children. I could never imagine 'charging' my children to live at home. I chose to have them so I look after them. I never asked my DDs for a penny BUT when they lived at home as adults they both saved for deposits etc, neither has ever been in debt and neither has ever asked us for a penny either. So perhaps the 'budget' training worked.

Person_one

Mojisola wrote: »

We never linked pocket money to chores. No-one pays us to do the housework - why should the kids get paid for the bits they do? We all share the work in the house because it needs doing to keep the household running smoothly.

As the kids got older, they were able to do extra things for us and neighbours for money. They never had any problem understanding that you had to work to get money.

I agree.

Money for chores also suggests that its ok for them not to bother with the chores as long as they are ok with not getting the money as a result!

maman

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

I disagree with it too. When I was little, instead of getting paid to do chores, if I was told to do something such as tidy my room, I did it regardless.

My Mam is an excellent saver, and has different money boxes for different things, something which has now rubbed off on me (I love money boxes!), and did so from a young age, as back in the 80's when you opened a bank account you usually got a money box, and I knew I could save if I wanted too, or if there was something I wanted, I could buy it, but that was my money gone.

I think installing the value of money and saving into them is far more healthy than bribing them.

ETA: By that I mean that there is nothing wrong with giving say an extra 50p/£1 or whatever for doing an extra job, but pocket money shouldn't be dependant on it as in 'If you don't do this chore then you won't get paid this week.

Oh I well remember the NatWest pigs!


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