Chores and allowance.

FastCraig

Master Mechanic
Sep 11, 2017
411
600
93
Huntington, WV
Trey, my 10 year old was sitting in the kitchen eating my cashews and on his tablet playing a game and IMG_20200405_162530.jpgwho has cut our 1 1/2 acres exactly 3/4 of a time asked me if he could get paid to mow the yard. I said, he could, but wasn't going to get paid. Then he asked if he could get an allowance? I told him that he was already getting an allowance. He looked at me real hard and said he was not receiving an allowance. I told him he was allowed to live here. Trey didn't see any humor in that. He told me I could go back out to the garage now.
 
As an adult I saw both sides to this a long, long time ago. I never really received any allowance either growing up. I did however save and budget money twice a year - birthdays and Christmas from relatives.

I like a two tiered approach. You've got weekly chores first. If all of those are done, PROPERLY, then there's a second list of optional take where you can earn extra money. Nothing real regular, just extra stuff around the house.

Springtime might be filling in gravel in the driveway or making brush piles, every couple of years washing the interior walls. Fall might be stacking, and later splitting, firewood for winter. Maybe there's one time projects like painting exterior wood/decks. That sort of stuff.

Having money coming in helps teach the value of it, saving, budgeting, and MISTAKES.
 
my son will be 19 in a few weeks. Still gets $40 a week from his "work" fund that he has almost $2k in savings working with me over the years. He's been working with me and earning $$ since he was 10 ( well younger but he preferred food to $$ back then LOL ). Was not until he was working for the local grocery store and treated like the " red headed step child " that he was brought to his senses to realize that he has it pretty good working with me. They will get it but most not until they hit their mid 20's
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rktpwrd
I never really got an allowance. I did yard work, shoveled snow, worked the fields, any odd jobs I could find. The jobs a 12 or 13 year old could get didn't pay well but the people I was doing the work for appreciated someone willing to do the menial (sh*t) jobs. I worked for my dad a little. When I was 15 he had an aluminum siding and gutter business. I picked up on it pretty quick and we finished a few houses in a month or so. Dad paid off his materials and another guy "with experience" then he handed me a hundred dollar bill. Dad told me, a hundred hours, a hundred dollars. The following Monday I was up before him and made coffee and sandwiches. He was impressed that I had gotten everything ready. After I told him I wasn't going to the job with him he was mad as hell. He was a big man and I was afraid of him but I stood my ground and told him I couldn't afford to work for him at a dollar an hour. He left the house cussing. I walked a couple blocks and got a job on another crew for $8 cash when minimum wage was around $3.50.
 
NO ALLOWANCE, we were expected to do chores OR ELSE. Brought my kids up the same way. They are both working good jobs and paying taxes. When they asked for an allowance years ago I said I’d think about it. The next day I set a tablet down in front of them. It showed each one would get $50.00 a week. Then the list of expenses. Such as $2.00 for breakfast, $4.00 for dinner ect ect. They walked away mumbling. I guess they realized they’d owe me after 7 days.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FastCraig
What's an allowance? I worked for everything I have. When I started to make some real money my Dad wanted to charge me for room and board. I said OK but why can't I decide WHERE I will be boarding? He never asked again. Now, my Grandson does his chores for "free" but of course he gets to live there, etc. So I pay him minimum wage ($15/hr) to work for me. Painting, drywall, cement, tile, fences, all kinds of stuff. He goes home bushed but happy and can be proud of what he made. I raised my kids the same way. No work- no eat.
 
What's an allowance? I worked for everything I have. When I started to make some real money my Dad wanted to charge me for room and board. I said OK but why can't I decide WHERE I will be boarding? He never asked again. Now, my Grandson does his chores for "free" but of course he gets to live there, etc. So I pay him minimum wage ($15/hr) to work for me. Painting, drywall, cement, tile, fences, all kinds of stuff. He goes home bushed but happy and can be proud of what he made. I raised my kids the same way. No work- no eat.
$15 minimum wage.... man, I remember when I was happy to be getting $5.35/hr...
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Rktpwrd

GBodyForum is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Please support GBodyForum Sponsors

Classic Truck Consoles Dixie Restoration Depot UMI Performance

Contact [email protected] for info on becoming a sponsor