Allowance trends for a 9 year old?

Iva - posted on 07/30/2010

My kids get an allowance equal to their age. I have started using www.myjobchart.com and it has been wonderful! I simply set the kids' chores as well as their rewards (including allowance) and let them loose. I'm no longer the bad guy if they don't get an allowance because them getting one is based completely on their efforts. Best of all - it's free!

Julie - posted on 07/29/2010

We don't give "allowance" because you don't get paid to be part of a family and chores are part of being a family. However, there in with the sticks that each child's daily responsibilities are written on are "gold sticks" if the select to do an extra gold stick those are worth an amount of money they can do to earn extra cash. Such a weeding the garden or cleaning the garage, or a bigger than average chore.

Michelle - posted on 07/26/2010

Allowance should also be proportional to your family income. If a dollar per year of age/wk is too much, I like the idea of doing that per month. Currently my ex is on disability so the child support is minimal so budgets are tighter; that too is a good lesson for kids to learn, that fortunes go up and down.
We have a 10/10/80 rule; 10% is saved, 10% is given to charity and 80% is whatever you like. I was a kid who saved much more than the 10% so I could generally go to the movies with friends at the drop of a hat or to an approved show, but each kid can learn their own lessons with money which, I think, is much of the real point of allowance.

Varda - posted on 07/26/2010

sound like a great plane - always include savings it is very educational and teaches them to save

Kathy - posted on 05/02/2010

I would start out small like 5 dollars a week and start with small chores then discuss with him if he helps out more and without asking he will get a raise. (but i would make the raises small so your not dishing out too much dough) lol

Cecilia - posted on 05/01/2010

My 9 year old gets $4.50 - why so low? My husband and I read an article that said their allowance should be 1/2 their age. Before he started getting an allowance we made sat down and talked to him about splitting his money in half - 1/2 goes to savings and the other half for spending. So far its working and he is using his spending money wisely.

Summer - posted on 05/01/2010

Thank you, Everyone for your suggestions!! I am puting together something that I feel would work well for our family, so we shall see. . . :)

Jackie - posted on 04/28/2010

Hello,
I tried the allowance thing, but same problem, I do not believe I should give allowance if I have to tell you what to do every day, clean your room, take the trash out, wash the dishes, etc. I told my kids I would be more willing to if I did not have to force them to do things. Back in the 80's we received $20 every two weeks, but my parents never had to tell us what to do everyday. A schedule was set and it was done, they never mentioned it again. I would definitely limited what you give him based on what he is doing at the time. If they are going to the movies or just to the store, I would base it off that.

Elizabeth - posted on 04/28/2010

Our kids don't get as much allowance as some mentioned here, but they do get $1 per year of their age per month (i.e., my 9 year old gets $2.25 a week). They also have certain chores that they are expected to do, and they have to "pay us" if they don't get them done or if they have to be reminded. The chore list and the "fine" for forgetting is clearly posted in our kitchen. They don't need to buy much, but we do teach them to tithe, save, and the rest is their spending money. I know $16 per month doesn't sound like much for my 16 year old, but we have been encouraging her to find gainful employment, especially during the summer. I highly recommend (and is taught by Crown Financial Minstries) to discontinue allowance during the summer during High School, to encourage the kids to find a summer job, and develop their work-ethic. My 16 year old and 14 year old supplement their allowance from time to time with frequent babysitting jobs, however we are encouraging the 16 year old to find a job with an employer so that she knows what it's like to work in the "real world."

Beth - posted on 04/27/2010

I, too, have recently started an allowance with my boys. I've created a routine/chore sheet. This means they have a set of routines (getting dressed, brushing teeth, doing homework) that are expected and are not paid and a list of chores (feed pets, take out trash, clear table, etc) that they will be paid for. The catch is, they have to do the items without complaint and if they DON'T do their routines without my having to tell them, they will not be paid for the chores that they do either. I think it is important for kids to understand that there are just things in life that you have to do as part of life that you won't get paid for.

Also, I give my 9-yr-old $5/wk for now (I've told him that if he earns his allowance well for a couple of wks, he will get a 'raise'). With that $5, $1 must be put into long-term savings and 50cents goes to charity, the rest is his to spend immediately or save towards more expensive items. Of course, if he is given his 'raise', the savings and charity amounts will be readjusted too.

Sandra - posted on 04/27/2010

I have a list of chores that my kids are to do each day. They have six or seven of them. Nothing super difficult, ie: take out the trash, pack your school bag for the next day, make bed, pick up room, etc. They mark off what they get done. If they don't get it all done they don't get the .50 for that day. At the end of the week it totals 3.50. My kids are learning that work is tough and you don't always get paid a lot. They are also learning to save their money for what they want. I do not ever have them asking me for money. They also know to bring their money with them when we go grocery shopping. I will NOT buy them candy. They don't need a lot of money at that age and if you are firm and consistent with it there will be no "Mom, can I have?". Good luck.

Natalie - posted on 04/26/2010

I'm in agreement with the $1/day/year of age aka. $9 for your son. We also follow the rule that if the chores aren't done, you don't get paid. You might consider putting a dollar amount on each chore. Check out Dave Ramsey for ideas on how to get him to save some of his money. He has the idea that you spend some, save some, and give some away.

Margie - posted on 04/26/2010

$10 per week

Rhonda - posted on 04/26/2010

The going rate for allowance these days is 1 per age per week. If that is affordable. I think it does sound appropriate, i see nothing wrong with teaching kids how important saving money is.

Tammy - posted on 04/26/2010

I really think that each family has to decide what is appropriate. My children get allowance every week but they are also required to buy their own clothes outside of the basics for school. If they want something special for snacks at a ball game etc. they are required to pay for it out of their own money.

My husband and I give $20 each to my 11 and 10yo each week, but they are required to do chores around the house and have a daily listing of items that have to be done every day after school and must be done prior to me getting home from work. Unless they have LOTS of homework then I allow that days chores to be held off to later or another day.

My boys are at the ball fields every evening for either practice or games as they each play on two different teams and they like to get drinks/snacks there at the concession stand. They have to decide which is more important snacks at school or snacks at the playground.

I always have snacks here at the house that they could grab on their way out of the door so it isn't like they are going hungry in one area or the other.

Janette - posted on 04/25/2010

I have a boy the same age. I was giving him $5 per week and he was happy with that. The problem was that he wasn't doing his chores! I stopped the allowance for the time being...he'll call crying when his B-day money is all out! My son also likes to buy his friend's things....lunch, snacks ect...I had to put a stop to that real quick when the other kids started taking advantage of his generosity. Lesson learned.