Allowance thoughts...

I’ve been thinking about how we issue allowance in our house. The way it is now is that my daughters do tasks that we ask them to do and we give them an allowance equal to $1 / year they are old. So my 6 year old would make $6 / week and my 10 year old would make $10 / week. The problem with the system is that it is pretty unregulated. The chores that seem pretty regular are for them to make their bed, clean their room, unload the dishwasher, help pick up in the family / toy room, and help set & clear the table.

The problem lies in that some chores, like clean her room, don’t get done every day. Which is ok, but then it’s not motivating for her to do her other chores. I don't think that the chores should be broken down into $x = chore (x). I am at a cross roads because while i think it is good for her to have her own money so that she can learn to be responsible with it, I also think that they should do the chores for the good of the household and not purely for a financial gain. I do not want to hear the question of how much do i get for doing (x) when i ask them to do something.

This little problem has been on the back burner for the last few months. I finally have a solution I’m going to try. I’m going to get a roll of raffle tickets from the craft store and a jar. Then each time she does a chore she will earn a ticket. She can trade the tickets in for money. Maybe a quarter each?

Chore ideas are:

6 Year Old
1. Clean Bedroom
- Make Bed
- Open blinds in the morning
- Clothes in the hamper
- Closet doors shut
2. Unload the dishwasher.
3. Help Set / Clear the dinner table.
4. Help straighten up the Family (TV) Room.
5. Straighten up Toy Room.
6. Take recycling out to the bin
7. Help clean up your bathroom

10 Year Old
1. Clean Bedroom
- Make Bed
- Open blinds in the morning
- Clothes in the hamper
- Closet doors shut
2. Help put dishes away (unload dishwasher)
3. Help Set / Clear the dinner table.
4. Help straighten up the Family (TV) Room.
5. Straighten up Toy Room.
6. vacuum carpets (family room, foyer, toy room) each night
7. Help clean up your bathroom