Wednesday, September 03, 2008

It's Backwards Day and I need help!


It's Backwards Day over at Rocks in my Dryer and this is a time for me to ask your wisdom instead of sharing my folly! Initially, I didn't think that I had any questions, but in the last 10 minutes I have come up with about 20 questions.
So here is one that has me stumped: allowance. I want to start giving Caleb (age 6) and possibly Luke (age 4) allowance, but I don't know how much or how often. I want it to be a relevant amount that can actually be spent, saved and tithed. I'm also not sure if I want to attach it to their chores. But if I did, would I penalize for poor behavior, attitude and lack of job being done?


Yeah, see I need help! Share some ideas with this mama!

8 comments:

Janelle said...

We have a 5 1/2 year old and just started giving him an allowance. He gets $2 per week. $1 he gets to keep and $1 goes into his savings jar. We keep a chore chart on the refrigerator which has to be completely filled out or he gets nothing.

Elizabeth said...

I wish I could help, but we have the same problem. I want to give my kids an allowance, but I always forget. I do think their allowance should be contingent on doing their chores properly, but I also think they should do their chores without an allowance. I don't know what to tell you. Lots of blogs have some great info, though.

You're right. I can survive two hours of almost anything! Almost.

Elizabeth said...

One more thing, I gave you a little award today. I hope you like it!

~Elizabeth

Melonie said...

I can share what we've done...not sure it's "right," but after much thought, it's what we've come up with. It's a bit of a compromise between the "earn your allowance" camp and the "do chores without pay" camp.

Drake started getting an allowance when he started kindergarten, and he gets $0.50 each weekend automatically, just for being a member of the family (not connected to his regular chores, which he also does just because he's a member of the family). He can also earn an additional $0.50 each weekend for a total of $1.00 per week. To earn the additional $0.50 he must do two "bonus" chores, on top of the chores he already does (which have no connection to money). Mom and Dad choose the bonus chores, and he can take them or leave them; it's up to him whether he wants to earn the extra money or not.

We have not given any stipulation yet as to what he does with his money. We want to encorporate saving, tithing, etc., eventually, but right now we are just working on the "four quarters make a dollar" thing and percentages are still a little confusing. We've talked about the concept of tithing with him, and suggested that it's a good idea, something that pleases God, and Drake recently asked to give some of his money to the church to help people. So I think he's on the right track. As soon as he gets a little better about understanding the coins (like ten dimes make a dollar, twenty nickels, etc.) we will probably elaborate on the system to include regular tithing and saving.

Anyway, we've only been doing this 3 weeks, but so far we're satisfied with it!

rebecca said...

Well I have one, and she is about 5 years away from getting an allowance. I did find a great article on it that might help you out.

http://www.childhoodaffirmations.com/general/child/5-6/allowance.html

Good Luck!

Anonymous said...

Chores are a part of a reward and so this should be$ 2.00,
then, grades in school good behavior 1.00 more, then $1.oo for being kind to eachother, 1.oo for memory verses, and tithe from this is 60 cents, and 1.oo to put for savings. So total of 6.00 For Caleb,
and make each of the above 50 cents each thing for Lukie, 3.00 total and 30 cents tithe. As he gets older increase 50cents each one. Your MAMA ADVICE I like answering surveys like this. Love ya!

Esquire's Wife said...

We have friends at church with a 3 year old and they said they started giving allowance "just because" in order to teach her to save, give and spend the way God teached us...they give her 4 quarters each week and immediately have her pick out the shiniest one to give to Jesus at church on Sunday!

Your boys are older, but I thought I'd share...

TYLERS said...

I am planning on paying my boys for back and foot rubs! This will be a performance based pay scale!