Comments on: Here’s My Problem: My Kids Get The Smallest Allowance In School

By: I Was Wrong: Scrapping the Child Chore Chart for a New Allowance System | Frugal Dad

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:00:37 +0000

[...] How Much to Pay for Kid’s Allowance? [...]

By: Scott @ The Passive Dad

Scott @ The Passive Dad — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:39:08 +0000

This is very timely as I was looking for info for allowances. I struggle with what some of our friends are doing as extreme and also see others just giving money away. We have several friends that believe that children don’t deserve an allowance but should just be given the basics like food, shelter, and lots of love. Then the other extreme where they basically give kids whatever they ask for, including an ipod or cell phone. I received an allowance as a child but I’m not sure the structure worked for me as I was able to manipulate the system. Yes, we can be very creative when we are young. I would always just do the bare minimum to receive the allowance and nothing extra.

By: AnnMarie

AnnMarie — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:08:48 +0000

I think I went from the smallest allowance to one of the largest when I went to junior high. Prior to that point, we got our age squared, rounded to the nearest nickle. So for instance, at 10, I’d get a dollar. that’s PER WEEK. At 9, I got 80 cents.

In junior high, we started getting $50/month. However, along with that went far great responsibility: buy my own clothes, school supplies, extra beauty supplies (Mom bought plain old cheap shampoo, I bought the fancy schmancy stuff), charity, gifts, summer camp, etc. I kept track of every penny I spent and each year was able to negotiate an increase in my allowance (I think it went all the way up to $75/mo by the time I went away to college).

My point being: If you decide it makes sense to give a larger allowance, you might tie it to larger responsibilities for spending the money.

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:50:55 +0000

Amphritrite, I like what your mom did. My kids got a similar treatment!! I did give them money once in awhile….if the budget allowed it…but they helped out around the home….money are not. They lived through it!!!
I am glad to see that someone young has the same ideas as this grandma!

By: Frugal Dad

Frugal Dad — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:35:21 +0000

Hey, if us adults inflate our salaries a bit you can bet kids do it too! I like your advice to make them part of the negotiation. Asking them to provide specific reasons why they should get a raise makes them think about their contributions to the household, a lesson that will serve them well when they start a career. Out in the real world, it isn’t enough to tell your boss you need a raise because a coworker makes $20k more than you. If you can produce results, you will lose that argument every time.