It's Works for me Wednesday and today I'm wondering about chores and allowance.

My 10 yr old and 8 yr old have always had chores. But I've been of the mindset that you don't get paid for chores, you do them because you are part of this family. You also get some spending cash because you are part of this family. But Bud has a different opinion and we've recently changed over to a chore-based allowance system. It's still in the early stages, but working pretty well. It just needs some fine-tuning I think.

The thing is, I can barely get my own chores done. What do I know?

The basics:

• Everyone has to keep their own room tidy, fold and put away their own clothes, and generally be responsible for their own messes. The payment for these chores is room and board. Also, no getting paid for other chores if these things aren't taken care of to the boss's satisfaction. Lucky for them she's not really that particular.



• The following chores are mandatory:
  
  
  
  • setting the table for dinner
  • clearing the table after dinner
  • keeping the bathrooms tidy with full soap dispensers, clean hand towels and tp on the roll (setting it on the back of the toilet tank does NOT count)
  • keeping Romy's toys organized
  • cleaning out Mom's diet coke cans from the minivan
  • keeping the media room tidy
  • keeping the gameroom tidy
  • keeping the front porch tidy
  
  
  
• At the beginning of the week each child chooses four of the chores and is responsible for them all week.



• Both kids are required to work in the yard and garden as part of their daily chores.



• The above is all mandatory. If they want to earn more, they can ask for additional jobs for more cash.



• Ten percent of their earning must go to church and an additional 10% must go to long term savings. We will match anything they save or give over that initial 10%. Unless they become particularly frugal or philanthropic, then they'll learn that parents aren't to be trusted.

So we're off to a slow start. Things are being forgotten. They are learning what needs to be done. But it's getting smoother.

I'm wondering: How old are your kids and what chores do they do? Do they get paid for chores or just for being in the household? What do you expect for your children to pay for with their money?

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Don't forget to come by this Friday for



I'll put a Mr. Linky up on Friday morning so you can link us to your blog and we can read about your weekend plans. That way we can follow one another's progress and encourage eachother over the weekend. I can't wait to see what creative and talented things you'll be getting done this weekend!

Labels: My Troubled Children, Weekend Warriors, Works for me Wednesday