https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:40:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-234438 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 16:04:03 +0000 stargal 234438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>dont think we will give our lo a allowance when he is young, maybe when he is a teen?!? maybe we will do rewards, but i fully expect him to help out on little things </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-233743 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:45:03 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 233743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right now we don't plan on giving an allowance. Neither of us had an allowance growing up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-233740 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:44:39 +0000 Mrs. Pen 233740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was never given allowances as a kid, and neither was DH. Our parents always said, "you get a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear, and a an education - I'm not going to pay you!" :)</p> <p>We just finished the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace study and I think we'll follow his idea, which is <i>commissions</i> instead of allowance, which is rewarded for choosing to do extracurricular jobs in addition to regular chores.<br /> <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/article/top-3-kids-and-money-qa/lifeandmoney_kidsandmoney/" rel="nofollow">http://www.daveramsey.com/article/top-3-kids-and-money-qa/lifeandmoney_kidsandmoney/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-233727 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:40:53 +0000 yoursilverlining 233727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey119: we plan to do something similar (no tithe since were atheists ;p lol). We'll give LO something like $10 a week - $5 for her, and $5 to give to whatever charity she wants. We plan to start by taking the charity portion of the money to the pet store and letting her pick out whatever cat/dog food she wants to with that money, then we go to the shelter and she gets to give them all the food/toys she purchased for them. I hope this instils in LO how important it is to give back, and be thankful for what you have! </p> <p>I'm not sure when exactly we'll start, I was thinking around age 4 or 5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-233616 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:50:46 +0000 Crisark 233616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess I should clarify by previous post. Chores aren't optional in our home. The 'payment' for them is based on completion and doing the job correctly. If they slack on it they don't get the full amount back. They are aware of the total amount that job is going for and if they can perform the task to the best of their ability that is the rate they get.<br /> They should have initiative to want to do more around the house then just the bare minimum.<br /> I have to say it's interesting to hear other opinions about this when your LO's are so small. You will almost certainly change your outlook on some of this when the time comes to execute it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-233590 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:41:35 +0000 Mrsbells 233590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. bird: yeah I agree with you about the allowance/chores issue. chores were not optional in my home and we definitely didnt get rewarded for them.<br /> Never heard of that moon jar before but I think its really cool.. will probably get one when LO is old enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-233586 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:39:22 +0000 looch 233586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I should clarify, because I did write that my son would have to earn his allowance first.</p> <p>He will have chores to do that are age appropriate and he will not get paid for them. As an example, at age 6, I'd expect him to be able to put his laundry away or clear the dinner dishes. There will be things that he can do on top of that to earn some pocket money, such as pull weeds in a flower bed or help wash the car. It could also be academic, such as reading a certain number of chapters in a book we select at the library. Ideally, I'd like him to pick an item that he would like to purchase and work towards that. I am not comfortable with giving an allowance just to give one, it agree that you have to teach children how to handle money, but in the real world, you don't just get an allowance, you have to work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-233446 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 08:36:37 +0000 Adira 233446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. bird: Oh my gosh, I'd never heard of a moonjar before, but that's awesome!!! Is it sad I want one for myself? :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-233431 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 08:28:24 +0000 mrs. bird 233431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>when DH &amp; i have discussed this, we don't think that chores should be linked to allowance. chores are something you do because it is a way to contribute to the household, not because you will get paid to do them. i feel like by offering a reward for doing them, you are giving them the choice whether or not to do them- do them and get paid or don't do them and don't get paid, it doesn't encourage the chores to get done simply because they need to get done. we'll give opportunities to earn extra though- like washing the car. </p> <p>i love moonjars! they're a bank with three compartments- share, save, spend. i think once they're 5 or 6 we will give an allowance, early on something divisible by 3 so they can put money in each section of their bank equally. </p> [attach=2301/12/m7pxfc.304x336.moonjar.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-233416 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 08:14:57 +0000 Adira 233416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Crumbs: We never got an allowance based on chores either (which could also explain why I'm a slob). I agree with you that I don't think it's necessary to tie money with work. For us, an allowance was just that - an allowance. If you have to work for it, it's not really an allowance, is it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-233334 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 06:50:32 +0000 Cole 233334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had allowance intermittently growing up, it was like a habit we never really kept. At one point when we were little my parents had us pick something and they bought it and we then had to earn it (it would take a few weeks) which I kind of liked (we didn't get it until we earned it.)</p> <p>I think around 3 or 4 I would like to start so they can learn about money from a young age. I love the moon jar idea where you use a bank with three compartments: save, spend, and give. I want to figure out a way to incorporate saving for Christmas gifts too. We always bought gifts for our siblings and parents and it was such a source of pride to be able to do that.</p> <p>I am not sure how much we will do yet but I like the school of thought that it is their take in the family share if you will, chores will be expected regardless but some work will be available to make a little extra. I saw a blog post where the kids in that family would occasionally pay a sibling to do their chores and I thought that was cute-it showed me they understood currency. I could see there being a fee if they didn't get their chores done though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-233297 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 04:33:47 +0000 SugarplumsMom 233297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey119: That's awesome! I've never thought about incorporating the act of giving at so young of an age, but it makes so much sense! About how much would you give at age 4 though? </p> <p>Gotta try out the photo upload option: here's my mushroom piggy bank find! </p> [attach=1448/12/m7pmkc.375x500.shroom.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-232949 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 18:35:17 +0000 Freckles 232949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It'll be when they are 5...probably $5/month? I'm not a believer in paying for chores or good grades, but will probably be willing to give them extra if they want to do more than their regular chores. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-232905 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 17:51:41 +0000 sulli301 232905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think age 4 or 5. My parents were never consistant about allowance &amp; I hope that we can come up with a reasonable system &amp; chart to make it work for our family </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-232899 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 17:49:48 +0000 chopsuey 232899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I haven't talked about it, but I think 4's a good age. They're mini adults at that age and old enough to help around the house. </p> <p>We want to teach our LOs to give, save, then spend. They'll tithe 10%, save 10% and can do whatever they want with the remaining. If they're anything like DH, they'll save the rest! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-232857 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 17:08:02 +0000 cyndistar3 232857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I won't start until they are old enough to do actual chores, I refuse to do hand outs! I was always expected to just do things and not expect anything in return but I hope to teach them that hard work is rewarded and nothing in life is just going to be handed to them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-232834 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 16:41:42 +0000 SugarplumsMom 232834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All your responses really got me DH and I thinking. We both never got paid for chores when we were young (probably explains why we suck at cleaning)! Haha! And I'm not really sure I'm for making her earn her allowance - perhaps I'm not very realistic, but I was hoping she'd want to help out on her own. DH's on the same boat. The type of work he got paid for as a kid was picking berries from their garden and when he was older, mowing the lawn.</p> <p>I intend to pay for weeding the backyard, but for our normal day-to-day, I want her to just help out and not expect cash. </p> <p>As for 20 kronor a week, it's about the price of a candy bar. It's the same as buying a cold bottled drink at the supermarket. It'll take a few <u>months</u> before she can save up for a doll. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-232707 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:56:16 +0000 Crisark 232707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have started at age 5.<br /> My youngest gets roughly $1 per chore or depending on how helpful she is with assisting myself or her sister or DH with something. With that age you have to remember their attention span is short and you have to be realistic.<br /> My oldest LO (9) will get upwards of $3 per choir depending on completion and how well she did it. Her chores range from Laundry to dishes to sweeping the kitchen floor. All totally doable for her age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-232701 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:54:02 +0000 regberadaisy 232701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not until they are old enough for "chores". We agreed that they have to earn their "allowance". Whether it be cleaning their room or taking out the trash or clearing the table.</p> <p>We want them to know you have to work for your money! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-232695 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:51:55 +0000 Adira 232695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, and I think our allowance was scheduled around the school year too, as opposed to birthdays. So it was based on the grade you were in instead of your age. That way when they stopped giving us an allowance (when we graduated high school), it was fair no matter when your birthday was. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-232686 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:48:51 +0000 Adira 232686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: Sounds like your parents did what mine did! We'd get money for lunch, but there was always some change and that was our allowance. Before high school though, we had lunch tickets, so our parents had to buy those directly, so they had to give us our allowance separate from lunch money. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-232677 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:46:18 +0000 Mrsbells 232677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After they start 1st grade, so no earlier than 6 years old. Thats when I started getting money on fridays for school lunch and I could keep the change and save it if I wanted to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-232667 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:43:16 +0000 LuLu Mom 232667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure, we really never got allowances, but if it would help them clean then I might consider it. I definitely want to teach savings with my children. I wouldn't do it until school aged though, 6-7 minimum. I don't want them expecting they will get paid everytime they help out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-232661 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:42:04 +0000 Adira 232661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't given this a lot of thought yet, but when I was a kid, the most I ever got was roughly $2.50 a week. Really in high school, we got $10 a week, but that had to go towards lunch, so in the end, it was only $2.50.</p> <p>Before high school, I remember getting $2 a week, and I'm assuming it went up every year (or maybe every couple years). But definitely when I was little, I was only getting like $0.25 or $0.50 a week.</p> <p>A small allowance really forced us to learn to save our money and only spend it on things we REALLY wanted, because it would take a long time to get that much again.</p> <p>I feel like we probably didn't start getting an allowance until we started school (kindergarten), so I might do the same with my kids. Although probably I'll ask my mom what she did and try to follow her example, haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-232655 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:38:45 +0000 looch 232655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably not until at least age 6. First, he has to earn the money, then he needs to learn how to budget and save. I have no prior experience, but I really don't think there's any perfect age, as long as parents start sometime! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-start-giving-out-allowance-amp-how-much#post-232637 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:30:40 +0000 SugarplumsMom 232637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I are discussing allowance and have no idea when we're supposed to start giving it out and how much. He thinks we should start at the age of 4 with 20:- a week (about $3) - just so she'll learn about saving money. I suggested at age 3 but I have no idea how much.</p> <p>I already have a little mushroom piggy bank for her that I can't wait to use (an antique find that's unused, it's so cute)! </p>