Paying the kids to do housework

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi

I have a busy life and 2 teenage kids who do absolutely nothing around the house. We have had some fairly big arguments over this just lately but essentially nothing changes. When they were younger they did help but somehow things have slipped and I do everything.

I was chatting to a friend today and she says she puts a list of jobs up on the fridge, gets the kids to sign when they have done something then they get paid pocket money accordingly. She says it has made a real difference.

I have mixed feelings about this though. I want the kids to help because they should contribute to this household and I am not their servant, but on the other hand if they are getting paid for doing jobs is this teaching them a valuable lesson?

What do you think? Do you pay your kids for doing housework? Does it work for you?

suejb2

On a slightly smaller scale,my D.D is starting secondary school in September and O.H and I have decided upon "pocket money." However, we want her to understand that it isn't just given each week she will need to "work" for it so we may in fact call it wages insted

Counting_Pennies_2

I am sure there are many different schools of thought on this, but essentially it is about what works for you. Getting them to do jobs any other way is not working, so if there is an incentive of earning money for the jobs done and it works then go for it.


What happens now with the pocket money they have? Are they given it for nothing in return? If so I suggest you scrap the pocket money and put something in place similar to your friend.


I have read various different articles about how children earn pocket money, or given it, or start up micro businesses, there will never be one size fits all. If that works for you go for it

Top_Girl

Whilst in LA care, I used to earn a fiver an hour ironing all our uniforms and work clothes.

Cracking idea, took a bit of the pressure off my foster mum and gave me a degree of financial independence and a work ethic.

Absolutely agree.

trailingspouse

We expected ours to do certain things for nowt - principally keeping their rooms clean and tidy, and looking after the guinea pigs. Other things were open to negotiation eg grass cutting, baby sitting, and (my personal favourite) cleaning the wheelie bin out. By the time they were about 13-14 we were paying a monthly allowance 'just because', but they could earn more by doing chores.

I also encouraged them to help with the washing up, but they soon learnt that 'I need to do my homework' worked as an excuse. A win-win situation!!

Billie-S

Meh, can't do any harm

If they think they're gonna get something from it, they will work like little beavers!

Give it a go. Why not?

Don't pay them too much though. :rotfl:

pinkshoes

I had basic tasks I HAD to do to get my allowance, then there were additional jobs up for offer if I wanted extra cash.

If I didn't do he the basics (stripping and remaking bed once a fortnight, dusting once a week, emptying dishwasher) then allowance got cut accordingly.

Buzzybee90

I think more a set jobs a week and they get the pocket money approach, otherwise there's the chance they might just choose the easy things for full bucks.

My brother and I had a daily job each that we weren't paid for, I used to do some ironing for money though.

Buzzybee90

Top_Girl wrote: »

Whilst in LA care, I used to earn a fiver an hour ironing all our uniforms and work clothes.

Cracking idea, took a bit of the pressure off my foster mum and gave me a degree of financial independence and a work ethic.

Absolutely agree.

Cor! A fiver an hour was much more than I was paid in my actual job! Jammy one

fannyadams

Mine are 14 and 10, they earn stars for each job they do.
we agreed in advance what each row of 7 stars is worth (e.g. 30 minutes screen time on DS/laptop/PC or TV), 2 rows = a film, 4 rows = a day out with friends (before anyone says anything, they have behaviour/anger issues which means they have to 'earn' a day out).
They don't get pocket money but they do understand the value of money as we budget very very heavily in our house.

nikki1520

My ds is 7 and we operate a system where he has to do a number of jobs (5 in his case) to contribute to the house, then for every additional job in the week he earns some cash