Splitting the Pay Out

Now back to the topic of allowance.

As I mentioned earlier, we created a chart that lists a variety of "paid chores".  These chores have changed over time, as the kids have grown and based on the needs of the house we are living in.

We base the amount that each chore is worth on how frequently the chore could be done.  For example, picking up dog mess in the back yard could be done every day.  It is worth 50 cents every time they pick it up.  There is a serious opportunity to make good money here.  The catch is, it is worth the same amount of money, regardless of how often they do the chore.  Unfortunately, for them,  it usually only gets done once a week, so they are picking up the same amount of mess in one day for 50 cents that they could have gotten 3.50 for.   But other chores like thoroughly cleaning the bathroom is worth 1.00/per cleaning because it is generally done once a week.

So we created a chart with various chores on it.  The chores on the chart are chosen by need of the household, and things the kids think should be done.  For example, Seth really likes cleaning windows, I am not all that into windows :)  but we added it to the list.  It is a chore he can make money doing, but that I don't particularly care about.

The chart is created as an excel spread sheet and when the chore is completed they put their initial in a box next to the chore.

Once the chart, or an entire row is filled it is pay out time!!

The payout is another unique aspect of this system.  The original Oprah guy suggested splitting the payout into threes, but for our purposes we split it up evenly into four.  These four areas are: tithe, savings, personal money, and family tax.

So lets say that one of them earned 40 dollars, this could happen if you let the chart fill up. (It's really best NOT to let the chart fill up, but it does happen :)

That 40 dollars would be split up with 10 dollars going to God, 10 dollars going into their savings account, 10 dollars going to them to spend how ever they see fit, and 10 dollars in to family tax.

Tomorrow I will go into greater depth and explain the family tax, what it's used for, and the thinking behind it, as well as one of the reasons, I think, that my kids are motivated to do the chores on the list.

Kristen