I thought this question was particularly appropriate time-wise since many of us are probably setting up systems and jobs as the new school year approaches (or has already approached).
First of all, I love your blog and refer to it often for advice or just a good uplifting motivation in this journey of motherhood.
And you know what? It has worked for us really well (much more about our family economy system over here: https://71toes.com/2012/11/a-money-system-that-works.html). After quite a bit of deliberation we realized that although we are attaching money to the big picture, that doesn’t mean that our kids are going to go off to college and think they don’t have to do anything. Rather they will have learned that it makes a difference when everyone pitches in to help out. And they will have learned how to clean, how to work…and how to spend and save money….I HOPE!!
It’s so tricky as parents because we want so much to glean from any advice and examples we see around us, but in the end, after all our research and experimentation, we just have to do what we personally feel works best for our own families. You and your husband are the experts for your own family. You know what motivates your kids. You know what worked and didn’t work in the families you grew up in. I’m sure you will figure out a wonderful family economy system that will work wonders for your family because you are striving to be deliberate about it.
I love that.
6 comments
We have taken the system Shawni uses and tweaked it for our own family. our kids over eight (and they are younger than 12 right now) mark jobs off on paper charts (a house help chore, piano practice, exercise, babysitting, etc). They get .25 cents per task and can get extra by doing extra chores etc. we keep track of money in a notebook. They pay for 50% of all their clothes and shoes (which I love because they are much more careful with their stuff and mindful). But our kids also are expected to pitch in at times just because they are part of the family and we work together (for example, after dinner to clean the kitchen, we rotate assignments, cleaning their rooms, and other times when we ask, like we will set a timer for 10 min and everyone pitches in to put stuff away and clean up, etc). This system works for us, but it's true that every family is different and you have to keep tweaking things depending on your children and their ages.
We have a slightly different approach (with hopefully the same or similar outcome)! Our boys have "family jobs" as well as their personal responsiblities like cleaning their room and doing their homework. We then give them a certain amount for their pocket money each fortnight where half goes in the bank (a real bank account) and half they get to keep and spend. This amount is a based on their age so will grow as they do, but is not directly linked to the jobs and responsibilities they have. As they grow (all boys are 9 and under) they will have the opportunity to earn extra pocket money for larger jobs around the home and outdoor jobs washing the car or mowing the lawn.
I would love to hear more about what financial responsiblities you give them and at what age? (eg. paying for their own clothing etc). That's something I haven't thought too much about yet but with time flying the way it is I will have to consider it soon!
We tweaked it a bit for our family too. We all help out around the house because we are part of a family. But if they do their jobs before they leave for school (or before 10 am in the summer) then they get paid to do the chore. They have charts printed that they bring to us to get signed off after they have done the chore. (Kinda like clocking in on a time clock) This way, they have a way to earn money, and I don't have to look at a sink full of dishes all day while they are at school.
Thanks for this!!
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Love this Shawni!