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What can I do for you?
By sandi | February 26, 2009
Lately our girls have been obsessed with money. They want to earn money to buy things. I don’t want to just give them money to buy the things they desire so I told them that I had three jobs available and that I was willing to pay someone a dollar for each one. I needed the rocks removed from the grass out back, the van cleaned out of all the trash and toys that accumulate in the back two seats and the playroom cleaned. In all honestly I should offer two dollars for the playroom as it is a complete pit!
Mimi was very driven and got the yard completely rock free. She then went on to clean out the van. She did a great job making sure that all the stuff was put in the correct place when she brought it into the house.
Annie didn’t even attempt to do the jobs and basically just asked me if I would pay her for doing stuff she already was doing. I tried to explain to her the difference between just helping out Mommy because we are a family and actual jobs I will pay for. She was happy to do the odd jobs just to help out but not the ones I would pay for—go figure.
Kimmie went upstairs to attempt to clean the playroom but got distracted by Annie playing. She said she wanted to clean out the van but Mimi had already done it.
It will be interesting to see how this all works out. I know they want to make money and I want them to have experience with saving versus spending as soon as you get it. I am not sure how we will navigate this new development.
If you have kids what do you do about them wanting spending cash?
Topics: Annie, Kimberly, Madeline | 5 Comments »
February 27th, 2009 at 1:45 am
I’m watching how this unfolds…I have a feeling once the kids get a better grip on the money thing, they will start asking.
Especially because Amado’s going to be losing another tooth soon.
Hmmm….
February 27th, 2009 at 7:44 am
My brother and I always had to earn our spending money too by doing extra jobs beyond regular chores.
Maybe to teach saving find something they can save up for and purchase in a month or less, an item or an experience, and the slowly increase the time period, so they see they can save and that it pays off.
February 27th, 2009 at 8:20 am
I think all children are different about this. Walter is a saver. He is willing to wait for something he really wants. He’s been saving all his money, plus some gift card money to buy a new game for his Nintendo DS.
Trent, on the other hand, is a spender. If he has cash, he spends it. No matter how much I try to encourage him to save it or to work out how much that favorite toy is, he would rather buy ANYTHING than save his money.
Josef is somewhere in the middle.
February 27th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Way to go Mimi!! She has that drive that she will probably always take the jobs first and then her sisters may want to do it since she will be getting things and they will not. It totally does not surprise me about Annie! She is such like Abi it is crazy- who wants to clean when there is more fun to have!!
February 28th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=270722&netp_id=427942&event=EBRN&item_code=WW&view=covers
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=502702&netp_id=214014&event=EBRN&item_code=WW&view=covers
I’ve seen the above two products before and thought they were great ideas. They teach kids to save, give, etc. You could pay the girls in quarters and they have to put a quarter in each section and have a quarter to decide on their own where to go. I’m sure there are other similar banks around but these two were ones I had seen before.