Kids and allowance and jobs

[MissKim]

My kids' "allowance" goes directly from my checking account into their savings accounts. They are allowed to use money from savings to buy clothes, etc. above and beyond what we provide. For example, I'll buy them a pair of good athletic shoes a year. If my teenage daughter wants more than that, she has to use her own money. They earn $20/month. They get it regardless of what they do/don't do around the house.

Each child has assigned chores. We're struggling right now because my youngest is 11, while the older two are 15 and 17. Their chores are obviously more difficult and more involved. They complain that Ches doesn't do her share, but can't remember back to when they were 11. It's frustrating as a parent. If they don't do their chores, they lose privileges. For the older two, it's phones and car keys and iPods. For the younger, it's iPod, dolls, tv. They don't get paid for doing these... it's expected.

Above and beyond their regularly scheduled chores, about once a month I create a list of bigger chores. They can do these if they'd like and earn extra money... or often they'll just pick something out at Wal-mart like a new book or hair stuff for the girls.

I also don't pay my kids for good grades. It's expected. If they pull off straight As for a year, I might have a celebration dinner (which we did), but I won't reward them for something I expect. Likewise, I don't punish them for bad grades. I just get to where I'm checking homework, talking to teachers all the time, and it's annoying enough they'll pull their grades up on their own.