For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for August 25, 2011

Allowance? How come I didn’t get one 70 years ago?

I never got one either. My folks figured that it was my responsibility to keep my things picked up and help with the chores including feeding the chickens, gathering eggs, mowing the grass, feeding the pigs, taking care of the dogs and cats and generally being a helpful, contributing part of the family.

In return they loved me with all their hearts, encouraged me, taught me, fed me, clothed me, bought me my bike and other toys, took me on trips to amusement parks and on vacations,and so much more.

I always figured I got the best of the deal.

@puppybreath……same here although I didn’t live on a farm.We were given the more important things in life, love and responsibility….something a lot of kids today just don’t get.

I was also raised to be responsible rather than worrying about an allowance. Now I try to be a responsible adult in a world of mostly irresponsible people. Go figure!!

I agree. He shouldn’t get paid to keep his room clean. While I understand the day-to-day stuff that accumulates, he needs to stay on top of that. If he can’t do that, it gets taken away from him. He’s old enough to handle that.

I too had love and responsibility, I also received an allowance as do my grandchildren. It is given to teach financial responsibility. They are learning to save for the future, save for their wants (needs are provided), and learning the grace to give to others by buying and donating to the local food pantry. An allowance without responsibility would only give them an unhealthy sense of entitlement to things they haven’t earned.

Plain simple answer. Too the point. Excellent.

Ah yes, the 25 cent allowance per week……….10 cents of which was promptly spent on the new Walt Disney comic book that came out each month.

I got an allowance from the age of 5. Out of it, I was expected to put at least 10% in the collection plate in Sunday School and was allowed to spend 2 cents a week on candy/gum. The rest I saved (I got a whole $.10 a week). By the time I was in Jr. High, my allowance was expected to cover my school lunch and any extras I wanted. My parents bought my clothing and basic school supplies, but if I wanted a special pen or a special book, I was expected to pay for it myself. It taught me to save, work toward a goal, and be responsible with my money. I had chores that weren’t tied to my allowance, but I could earn extra money by doing extra jobs around the house.

My parents have never given me an allowance. I wouldn’t really use it anyways; I don’t buy that much stuff. My little brother, on the other hand, loves the idea…

Giving our son an allowance caused him to be MUCH pickier about what he wanted to buy. It is a great tool. As for room cleaning, I prefer John Rosemond’s methodology: if they don’t clean it, you do, and remove all but 10 toys – leave their LEAST favorites, and they have to earn their favorites back by keeping the room clean thereafter.

Thank you, that was one of the reasons I was going to give for allowances, it also teaches them how to handle money & make wise decisions on pricing things they want, if you don’t have the money either go without or save your money. Mine are also learning to put 10% in a savings account for college (which we put into a college fund once they save enough) & 10% to church tithe so they can learn to give back to God a part of what they receive. Another thing they’ve learned is to spend the money on others for gifts so they learn to be unselfish as well. Funny thing is my kids get their allowance even without doing the 1 chore each they have (well my son does his, but my daughter is a real hard case LOL)

Yeah, I agree, an allowance, if used responsibly and as a teaching method to understand the value of money is a good idea.

Unfortunately, if I may judge by the examples of the families I know, the kids just consider the “allowance” as their personal “I’ll spend it any old way I want” money and they learn nothing from the experience except that there is such a thing as “free money with no responsibility”.

But each family is different and things that work in one may not work in another.

When I was growing up I didn’t receive an allowance and my reasonable needs and even wants were met. But I was included in the weekly budget discussions my parents had about which bills needed to be paid and how much money they had for that very important responsibility.

I also knew how much they were putting in savings, for “a rainy day” emergency and how much might be left over for other purposes….even fun ones.

I grew up knowing the value of money and respecting the effort it takes to both earn it and save it. Well, it worked for me and my brother. God! I had great parents! I sure miss them.

The logic makes sense. If you don’t go to work, you don’t get paid. That’s the way the real world works.

@bevgreyjones I applaud your remarks – blaming the (whatever) media instead of lack of good parenting is a cop-out. I take full responsibility for how my kids turned out. They are good and upstanding adults.

I got very little allowance as a child in the 40s, but a big bonus when I painted all the trim on our house (upper dormers and all trim was wood on a dark brick house). I was 12 or 13 putting ladders all day on a 2-story house. The following year I had a real summer job in a local bank-much easier.