Do You Give Your Kids Allowance?

I love learning about how other families operate. I wonder things like: does everyone in the family have specific chores they’re responsible for? Do they have family meetings? Which decisions affecting the family does everyone get a ‘say’ in? What’s their philosophy on extra-curricular activities? Do kids get to choose their own clothes? Do they enforce bed times? What’s their philosophy with respect to screen time limits?

One of the things my family has never instituted is a set monetary allowance. I never had one as a kid, and didn’t see the need to give one to my kids. They have set chores for which they’re responsible, but neither my husband nor I felt the need to pay them to do these jobs. We feel that each member of the family should contribute to the household in positive ways. When the kids need money, they ask for it, and we discuss its purpose. The kids are also encouraged to save birthday and holiday money they might receive in order to buy themselves things without needing to worry about justifying their purchases. They have learned to appreciate the value of a dollar and the benefit of savings.

Some families have chore charts, and their kids are paid to complete certain household jobs, piecemeal. Other families have set weekly allowances, and if the chores aren’t all completed, the kids don’t get the allowance. Other parents tie grades and behavior to allowance. Some parents give an allowance, but force the kids to save a portion of it, to help teach them about long-term savings.

What’s your philosophy?

Natalie Rea

Mom to two amazing daughters - a feisty teen in middle school, and an ambitious young adult in university. Originally from Montréal's West Island, I now explore the beautiful trails of Hamilton, Ontario. Proud Canadian, vegetarian, dog-adopter, & bleeding-heart liberal. I smile a lot because I have Resting Bitch Face.