ttb@ihuxn.UUCP (09/05/84)
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I never received an allowance as a child, and have not
given any to my two boys (now ages 9 and 13). I (and
they) were always allowed to EARN money by performing
jobs either around our own home, or wherever else they
could find them. Now I am being "taken to task" over
this policy, and I would like to take a survey of
allowance/earning practices for children of all ages.
I will post a summary (without names) to the net. Where
possible, please include amounts paid for allowance or
for jobs.
--
Tom Butler
..!ihnp4!ihuxn!ttbessachs@ihuxl.UUCP (Ed Sachs) (09/05/84)
================================================================== We picked up this algorithm from some friends whose kids are older than ours. Seems to work OK for pre-teens. The weekly allowance is the age (in years) squared and rounded to the nearest nickel. Thus, our 8 year old gets 65 cents/week, our 6 year old gets 35 cents/week, and our 2 year old gets 5 cents/week (how she loves stuffing that nickel in her piggy bank). -- Ed Sachs AT&T Bell Laboratories Naperville, IL ihnp4!ihuxl!essachs
benson@dcdwest.UUCP (09/06/84)
My kids and I have gone through three distinct phases of allowances. First, I assigned chores and money for doing those chores. This started at age 4 and lasted until the arguments over how much things were worth got too time consuming. The second phase was started when my oldest was twelve. She wanted designer jeans and I couldn't stand the idea. After too much time spent arguing, I put her on a clothes allowance and let her buy her own clothes. When my younger daughter turned twelve, she also went on clothes allowance. Stage three is now. The girls are seventeen and fourteen. I give them about $7 a week for expenses plus $25 a month for clothes. Their mother sends them money as well. I give them allowances as a recognition of the fact that they have legitimate expenses and need money to cover them and that they are members of the household. On the other hand, they have chores to do, which include dishes and cleaning, which are theirs to do because they are members of the household. The allowance and the chores are separate items. This systems has been in place for three years and is working very well. It depends upon the participants having some sense of responsibility to the family. -- _ Peter Benson | ITT Defense Communications Division (619)578-3080 | 10060 Carroll Canyon Road decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!benson | San Diego, CA 92131 ucbvax!sdcsvax!dcdwest!benson |
plw@drutx.UUCP (KerrPL) (09/06/84)
My daughter and I have a earned allowance. She wasn't paid just for her to have money, she was paid by the amount of work she did. For example Bedroom pick-up = .25 clean (dusting and waxing) = .50 Frontroom pick-up = .35 clean = .60 Laundry folding clothes (all week) = 1.00 etc... These are daily chores, paid by the daily amount. She was able to earn up to $3.00 a week. Now, we are in the process to raise her money. She is getting of age where she wants to have more buying power. Her money goes to the extra things she wants (jewelry, sweaters that she wants but don't really need (She owns 10 sweaters), the OTHER pair of shoes that are wanted but not needed). My husband and I get all that is needed at the beginning of the school year, and she buys what "All of the rest of the kids" are wearing. It gives her an idea of buying power and makes things easier on us. We haven't been able to set and agree and her "wages", but she would like to have a total of $5.00. To agree on how much each chore is worth, is to first agree how much a week they ought to earn. This way, the child and the parent agrees on the final week allowance. Then do a break-down on their chores and agree to the individual price. When some event is coming up, the child has a way to earn extra money doing the chores to earn the money he/she wants. Patty Kerr AT&TIS drutx!plw