Inspired by Tiggerlover...At what age did you start allowances

[Aidensmom]

DS is 4, and we have never given him an allowance. We have, however, used a reward system for a particular problem using quarters, and that worked very well for him, as he was excited to be able to spend it when he got a lot. I am thinking maybe it is time to start an allowance.

How old were your children when you started giving an allowance?

 

[tiggerlover]

Wow, it is nice to know I inspired something!

I really do not remember when we started DS with an allowance, it was probably some time after he entered school. I know for sure he got an allowance as early as 3rd grade, but anything before that I just can't pin point. Wow, the old memory is failing me!!!

 

[belle_of_the_ball]

im 14 and have gotten one allowance in my life. I hate chores..and having a list for me to do just...no..it didnt work..i kept it for one week..got my 2 dollars...and left it. I was 6. my parents havent tried again since. Most of the time they just tell me to do something and I'll do it there. It just means that I get to go out when i want to, and during the school year they'll give me cash, thats kind of like my allowance. I work babysitting and doing stuff like that, so my parents make me save my money for summer when i want to go out (which is like...everyday)

it works out great..but my mom wishes that the floors would be scrubed on a regularly!

 

[paigevz]

2nd grade. When he was old enough to understand and manage money, but see the other thread on how we do it...........we're a bit different.

 

[disykat]

We started our kids at age 8, because I didn't see a need prior to that.

The reality is kids are probably ready for it at different ages. My oldest loved money from about age two on and has always spent wisely, my youngest just lost it in his toybox. Even at age eight he had to go through several rounds of losing allowance priviledges before learning to keep track of it.

 

[Aidensmom]

 

[threeboysdad]

We have started all three of our boys at age 4 $1. It moves up $1 every other year and maxes out at $20 per month at age 14... #2 son realized that the last step was actually a slight decrease in 5 week months....

I used to try to remember to give it to them every week but this always turned into a negative "Dad, you OWE me for 3 weeks...". Now we use an online bank account, I automatically transfer it in. We transfer it out when they need it and they have become more responsible about monitoring it. Also makes it a little harder to spend.