Thread: Allowance ??

I'm sure this question has been asked before

How old are your kids and do they get an allowance, and how much is reasonable??

My kids are 15 and 12 and right now they do not get an allowance, but dh and I have been rethinking that -- right now they basically get money for whatever they want to do, go to the movies, the mall etc, we thought it might be better if they had an allowance it might teach them better budgeting -- so we started to talk numbers and my dh said $20/week and I nearly fell off my chair although in the long run we probably do give them around that each week for expenses...

If you were to go that high for each, then you would maybe take a very solid stance that you are not going to supplement that for movies or other fun things. Because that would be $160 per month.

My son is almost 11, and for some reason I don't get into the allowance thing, but I should eventually because it does teach money management and responsibility.

I dont give my DS an allowance. He is just expect to (and does) help out around the house. He does get paid from side jobs like shoveling the neighbors sidewalks, cleaning up after their dogs, doing their yard work, etc etc. He has always had his own savings account too.

What my parents did for us, which I didnt grow up around much money anyways, was they paid cash for everything and they would put all their change in a jar and me and my brother got to roll it up when it was enough and they would cash it and we split the money. Yeah needless to say it was never much $5 here and there but now I am VERY conscious about how I spend my money and am very good at saving but also im able to get what I want within reason. We didnt have chores though. Im not really sure what im going to do with my future children

Originally Posted by Breezin

I'm sure this question has been asked before

How old are your kids and do they get an allowance, and how much is reasonable??

My kids are 15 and 12 and right now they do not get an allowance, but dh and I have been rethinking that -- right now they basically get money for whatever they want to do, go to the movies, the mall etc, we thought it might be better if they had an allowance it might teach them better budgeting -- so we started to talk numbers and my dh said $20/week and I nearly fell off my chair although in the long run we probably do give them around that each week for expenses...

$20 a week for a 12 year old? What "expenses" are you talking about? Is this really expenses, or is it just stuff they want to do? We always did the "times your age" bit. So a 12 year old would get $12 a week, and a 15 year old would get $15. My boys got jobs at 16, so the allowance stopped then.

My DD is 8 and she has to do simple chores around the house and keep her room clean & behave; she is expected to do those things whether she gets an allowance or not.

We used to buy her something every week but now we give her 10.00 and she gets to decide what she wants to buy/do with that money. It's helped her learn to save and have a better idea how much things cost etc.

My kids are 14 and 12. I do not give allowance. They are expected to contribute to the running for the household and as such they are rewarded by getting to do stuff which I do pay for. IE skating, movies,extracurricular activities etc....

I really appreciate everyone's input

Originally Posted by Anniston

If you were to go that high for each, then you would maybe take a very solid stance that you are not going to supplement that for movies or other fun things. Because that would be $160 per month.

Oh I agree if we went that high, that would be it, they would have to save and budget for what they want to do/buy.

Originally Posted by NasCat

There should be chores involved, too, not just a free ride.

My kids do chores -- chores, good behaviour and good grades are always expected.

Originally Posted by dinosmom

I dont give my DS an allowance. He is just expect to (and does) help out around the house. He does get paid from side jobs like shoveling the neighbors sidewalks, cleaning up after their dogs, doing their yard work, etc etc. He has always had his own savings account too.

We have an elderly neighbor, and a single mom with young kids across the street, we've taught our kids to be good neighbors, they shovel their driveway and rake their leaves etc for free.

My 15 year old has a little "job" he started refereeing this season it's only for a few weeks, but with his course load I wouldn't want him to have anything that might impact his grades (which are really really good at this point)

Originally Posted by cathych

$20 a week for a 12 year old? What "expenses" are you talking about? Is this really expenses, or is it just stuff they want to do? We always did the "times your age" bit. So a 12 year old would get $12 a week, and a 15 year old would get $15. My boys got jobs at 16, so the allowance stopped then.

It's stuff they want to do, go to the movies, out to dinner with friends, the mall, paintball etc -- I kid the kids have better social lives than we do

Our son had to earn his money. We paid him to mow and do outside chores. Nothing in life is free. He is grown now and knows what it is to earn an honest dollar and to work hard doing it.
Never thought it was right to just to hand over money because he thought he needed something. Big difference between wanting and needing.

I kid the kids have better social lives than we do

Unfortunately, that's not kidding, that's the truth...