He does pretty much everything he is asked of and has all he needs but his friends get anything they want. I don't want to spoil him but I also don't want him feeling like that one kid who can't do stuff 'cause he doesn't have the means. What is a good amount assuming that I pay for all major expenses and outings? He needs money to go to movies, mall, arcade and the such...
2007-08-30 05:32:10 · 16 answers · asked by n8 dogg 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Adolescent
My 11 yr old son and 10 yr old daughter have specific chores they are responsible for...feeding the dogs, putting away their clean clothes, emptying out the diswasher, taking out the trash, etc. that is simply a part of being...well... responsible and a giving party to the family.
However, we do keep an updated and posted list of extra chores which result in a "payday". We list each chore or project with the "pay", and the kids sit down each week to plot their course. I also require them to put 10% in their savings account BEFORE spending on fun and games.
We are financially secure as parents, and I want the same for my children. They are learning to manage their money and know that some weeks they didn't earn enough for some immediate gratification, but look to add the next week.
2007-08-30 05:56:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is gonna be tough for u dude cuz every dad wants to give his kid stuff....and especially if the kid is a good kid.
But this part..."but his friends get anything they want."...shouldn't figure into YOUR kids life.
And this part..."I also don't want him feeling like that one kid who can't do stuff 'cause he doesn't have the means."...shouldn't be somethin u consider.
U want the kid to be strong and able to sustain himself. Just cuz he don't have the crap that some other spoiled kids have when he is 14yo is not a issue. Yeah, he may feel like he's deprived, but later on when he is livin a good productive life and those other "undeprived" kids are still spongin off their parents, then how is he gonna feel.
And then too every time a kid earns somethin on his own, he learns good values, and is that much closer to bein self-sufficient.
As for givin the kid allowance, that aint necessarily bad if he does stuff to earn it. But it should be extra stuff...not normal household chores. I would put a value on every extra thing that u need done and pay him that when he does the job.
And any time he goes above and beyond what is normally expected...like he does something outta the goodness of his heart without bein asked, then a money reward might be the right thing for him.
When I was 14yo I had a job after school hours and in the summertime. He might be able to get one too....someplaces it may be hard for a 14yo tho...like big cities.
2007-08-30 13:09:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't give him an "allowance".
He's 14 and he's your kid, he's "allowed" to live in your affluent neighborhood house, eat your affluent neighborhood food, and sleep in his affluent neighborhood bed.
Now if he wants money, he needs to work for it.... just like you do I would guess. Only slum parents get government allowances, people who live in affluent neighborhoods usually had to work to get there, and their children need to learn that work is how you stay there.
So if he can't get a job cutting grass, or walking pets, you can arrange a system where by he gets paid for doing things around the house, $1 for taking out the garbage, another buck for cleaning off the table after supper. Make him work for it.
My daughter babysits, makes about $50 a week. My son works outside the home, about $150 a week. If either of them worked in the home the most we would give them would be about $20 (which is what motivated them to go out and get a job).
2007-08-30 13:31:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is what my parents did....(remember, this was about 15yrs ago so prices changed a bit)
on the 1st of each month we were given $20. This was for any activity we wanted to do that month, extra food we wanted to buy, clothing we wanted to buy ourselves(even though my mom would buy clothes too), gifts for friends....We were in charge of how it was spent. If it was gone buy the 1 st week, then too bad for us..no movies. We became really good at budgeting and spending the $ when we REALLY wanted to. As we got older and started driving, we got a bit more. Of course I was to$0 aat the end of each month, but my brother had well over $3000 spending $ he saved by the time he was in high school...
2007-08-30 12:43:12 · answer #4 · answered by Cowgirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At 14, I would say $20 per week is appropriate. Any more than that may give him enough for things behind your back that aren't healthy. Speaking from experience here, my parents gave me a very generous allowance (because I was involved in sports and said I needed it for games and such) but I ended up trying pot at a young age, and then spending my left over allowance on it.
Also, putting it on a prepaid Visa card will help him learn to budget money, and you can monitor where he is spending it on line.
2007-08-30 12:36:30 · answer #5 · answered by izzymo 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Enough to force him to choose between his wants and his needs.
Basically, you want to make him learn how to use his money wisely. You dont want to give him enough that he can always go and do, but also not such a little amount where he has to save for a month to go to a movie.
I would personally give my child enough to do one thing a week, and give him "bonuses" for going above and beyond whats expected.
2007-08-30 12:38:43 · answer #6 · answered by Phil M 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well if your son helps out around the house and knows he must behave you should give him 25 dollars every Sunday...he could save up and use it as he pleases...as he grows you can give him more...but teach him to value money not to think it grows on trees
2007-08-30 12:41:06 · answer #7 · answered by JG 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We never had money. Money isnt what makes things fun. He should know that, and so should you.
However, as parents we want to dote on our kids is we have the means.
Give him enough for his outtings and leave it at that. Unless youre ready to teach him how to manage money he doesnt need an allowence.
2007-08-30 12:35:47 · answer #8 · answered by amosunknown 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
20-25 dollars a week is good. He won't look out of place with his spoiled friends, and he'll also learn the value of money. :)
2007-08-30 13:51:05 · answer #9 · answered by Echo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as long as he is, well behaved, does his cores receives good grades in school, i see no reason not to give him an allowance, i think i would sit down with him and ask him to summit a budget and then negotiate from there. but $20-30 in not unreasonable
2007-08-30 12:49:22 · answer #10 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋