LIVE.GIVE.SAVE

So, I am determined to write a blog post to you all a few times a month.  I am new to the world of blogging and am so inspired by the different blogs that I follow.  There are a bunch of talented, creative and smart people out there!  For my fellow readers that blog as well, I would LOVE some tips and ideas.  Right now I feel that my blog is rather primitive and I look forward to making it more "fancy".  So with that said, today I bring you my thoughts on "Allowance" with your children...as well as a new way of doing "Allowance"...

I have some personal beliefs when it comes to allowance and children:

1.  Allowance is important because children need the experience managing money.  It is something they will have to do their entire life.

2.  Allowance should be started at an age where money is "meaningful" to a child.  That age when they have the concept that things "cost" something.  You know that age when they start asking you for a quarter here and a dollar there..everywhere you go?  That age is typically 5 or 6...when they are old enough not to eat it...the money that is! HA!

3. The amount of allowance should be realistic.  Remember we want to set children up for real life experiences and giving them $100.00 a week for remembering to cover their mouth when they cough or take out the trash is hardly a real life experience.

4.  Allowance should be given to chores above and beyond self-care and home maintenance.  In other words, brushing your teeth, taking a shower, cleaning your room and making your bed are all part of the self-care and maintenance.  Children should not get paid for these types of things.  Allowance should be given for the above and beyond like: bringing in the trash cans on trash day, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning mirrors, taking bathroom trash out, starting a load of laundry, carrying in groceries, etc. 

5.  A fee schedule should be set up.  For example I like this one from: http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/2010/08/our-chore-system-chore-chart-printables.html

Here, they give each chore a value such as $.25 a chore.  Makes live easy.  Also, they have morning chores (unpaid) and afternoon chores (unpaid) and earned chores.

6.  I believe in instituting the LIVE.GIVE.SAVE or SPEND.SAVE.GIVE or whatever you like to call it.  We haven't decided here yet.  But the point is the child takes their earnings each week and places a percentage of their allowance in each of these jars that will be labeled live give save or whatever words you decide.  So they learn to give a little to charity, save a little for a rainy day and spend a little to satisfy the instant gratification that children naturally have.

It is my hope that we raise a less entitled generation than those that have come before.  Getting paid to do things that are naturally expected of someone (like self-care and maintenance) takes away the intrinsic value children need to experience.  Otherwise, they will always look for extrinsic motivation to complete any task in life...from the simple and mundane to the complex and daunting...

Here is my LIVE.GIVE.SAVE Jars....

List of items needed:

3 Pint size or larger mason jars

Chalkboard paint

Paint brush (I used a sponge brush)

Simple enough, right?

 The Martha Stewart brand was all Michael's had

                                                        You only need to use a little...it goes far!

Make sure to do two coats of paint

We have decided to go with LIVE.GIVE.SAVE....but alas....I have no chalk!

 Until next time................Keep calm and get your teach on!