How much allowance? DS would like to know.

[Tamarap]

My two boys get 1.00 per year of age, every two weeks. The 12 year old gets 24.00 a month and the 8 year old gets 16.00.

 

[lewdyan1]

DD9 and DS10 do not get allowance.

 

[Acklander]

I give $1.00 per age for a child - so for a 10 year old that would be $10.00. We don't tie allowance to chores either so he has the opportunity to earn more money by doing extra chores. With our kids we stopped doing allowance around age 14 when they're old enough to get jobs. At that point the only thing I give them is a clothing allowance, One amount in the Spring and another amount before school. This way I don't have to get into the "but everyone else has it" thing. They can spend the clothing allowance on whatever they want and if it's important to them to have something super expensive - they can pay the difference out of thier own pocket.

 

[MELSMICE]

At that point the only thing I give them is a clothing allowance, One amount in the Spring and another amount before school.

I started giving a clothing allowance before school started, but I never thought of the Spring allowance. That is a good idea. My DD's are always in need of new tees, etc. by that time of year.

 

[Tantor]

My DD gets $3 a week. She has certain jobs that are extra that she gets that money for. I think that it is important for them to learn about money at a early age. We also make her write it down onto a ledger sheet (with debit and credit) so she sees how much money she has in her piggy bank. We found that she was taking money out all the time and then would have nothing left. Now she sees what she has and thinks about her what she is going to buy. She also puts money into another piggy bank which we put into a bank account and she is saving for a car(she is 10).

 

[Christine]

No allowance here. I just buy my kids stuff when I feel they've been doing a good job. If they want something above and beyond that, I give them extra chores to "work" it off.

 

[zurgswife]

My kids 15, 13, 12 and 8 get half their age....

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

For those of you who give $X per week for a set of chores...what if your kids don't do all their chores? Do they get $0 or a smaller amount?

 

[tjmw2727]

My dd's get $10.00 per week but its not tied to chores. They are also expected to keep the room clean, schoolwork and 1-2 chores they pull from a chore jar.

They put at least $2.00 per week into long term savings and $1.00 for charity. (Charity usually ends up spent for the giving tree at christimas). They purchase all of their own "stuff" incluidng outfits for build a bear or AG dolls, they pay for movie rentals, all the little extras.

Even at $10.00 per week it works out cheaper for us than giving them money for the stuff they want to buy or do but thats not really why we did it. This has helped them see the value of their money and choose more wisely how they want to spend it. They will often agree on a movie rental and split the cost or wait for the reviews before going to a new movie.

They are 9 and 11 and we started this in the fall, so far so good.

TJ

 

[Evil Queen]

DS10 doesn't get an allowance really. But I pay for most things for him: movies, some toys and some games. But he can do extra's around the house which he usually does about $5.00 worth of extra work. He also, doesn't think he "earns" enough.

He gets most of his "bigger/expensive" things for birthdays, Holidays, etc.

He did get a nice gift yesterday. I gave him a PSP. Numerous factors went into this (grades/honor roll, making safety patrol, winning 1st place in Science Fair, and being promoted to 5th grade, among other things).

 

[chasbos]

I think it all depends on your situation and what you expect your kids to do with their allowance.

I give my 3 oldest (14, 13, 10) $20/week and our 7 yo $10/week.

Now some people feel this is high - but they have a few expenses that they must use this for.

They must give 10% to the church each week and in the winter they figure skate and have to buy their suppers with it and their own snacks (I was really sick of hearing them ask for money - this helped a lot)

Also, it is now summer and they do quite a bit of golfing and I would come and pick them up after Jr. League and have a quite the tab to pay. Well, now they can pay for what they want at the course and if the money runs out - oh well, they will budget better next time.

Most weeks they do not spend a lot of it and I get it back to put in their bank account and that is fine as well, they are learning to save.

We also run our own business and I use it as a wage for them and an expense for us.

 

[cepmom]

my kids get allowance equivalent to their grade in school...DD16 is in 10th grade, so she gets $10 per week....DD8 is in 3rd grade = $3.00 per week and DD5 in Kindergarten but we give her $1.00 per week (DD8 thinks we should give her only .50 per week, but we decided $1.00 was good and it will stay $1.00 until 2nd grade)

They are expected to do their chores (not many) and can earn extra by doing extra chores like weeding the yard, babysitting, etc. No chores = no allowance.

 

[dizneenut]

My 4 boys each get $10 a week. They are expected to do a few small chores and keep their rooms clean.

 

[musicotb]

They put at least $2.00 per week into long term savings and $1.00 for charity. (Charity usually ends up spent for the giving tree at christimas).

Wow - what a great idea! I love that you emphasize charitable giving as part of their allowance!
When I was younger, we didn't have much, and I didn't get an allowance. I think the extra birthday/Christmas money I had every year was going into a savings account, but before I went out to college I found out my savings account was mom's pocket for living expenses =(
I guess this gives me prespective for when I get older and have my own kid. you guys all seem like great parents doing the right thing for your family!

 

[Planogirl]

We were giving our son an allowance for a while but discontinued doing so. He was expected to perform certain duties to get it and he didn't do so well so he no longer gets an allowance until he gets back on track. The kid is sloppy like his Dad and I'm doing what I can to break him of the tendency. It's too late for his Dad.

Oh, he got $7.00 a week and he was 12. He could spend his money pretty much however he wished but I do supply him with all clothes and books.

 

[Tinks]

Our 8 and 10 year old boys get $20/month. That works out to ~$5/week. It is not tied to chores. They are expected to help out with chores and do whatever we ask.

They must use their money for movies/snacks at the movies, toys and/or games they want. My 10 year old is saving now for "heelies" (those shoes with roller skate wheels inside. Hey, if he buys it, he can have it! I already told him he really won't be able to use them! They are also saving for spending money at Disney.

 

[Nancy]

Never gave allowances to my kids. If they needed money to go out with friends they asked for it and depending on what was available and how their behaviour had been up to that point made the determination if they could go or not. They probably made out better without an allowance.

 

[of the seas]

Well I can answer but not vote, our kids don't get an allowance. They are expected to do certain jobs around the house that vary with the time of the year, more in the summer, less during the school year because of homework. They can do extra jobs like snow shoveling, lawn mowing and scrubbing the kitchen floor (because I hate that job) to earn extra money. They were given the choice of getting an allowance and having to pay for things like going to the movies with friends or not getting an allowance and having us pay for things like that. Being smart kids, they chose the latter.

They can earn money for things we won't buy like XBox games.

That's what we do also!! Our kids have a list of chores with a $ value that they can choose from to earn money. They can earn as much as they want. But if I have to tell them to do something, they don't earn the money. They have to do the work without being told. For example my 10 year old can vacuum the downstairs and earn $1 if she does it on her own. If the floor is looking dirty and I'm busy and I end up telling her to vacuum, she doesn't earn any money. They don't work, they don't get money! But they love to earn money for Disney!! Some of you out there really give your 3 year olds allowance? I was surprised reading that.

 

[chasbos]

Nancy - just wonder why you think that your kids made out better without an allowance?

 

[Innocuous1]

If you are planning on using this poll, you might want to keep in mind that there is no $0 to vote for. Mine get the equivalent of about $5.75 a week.