Get Your Kids Off Welfare

That headline above comes from a Dave Ramsey seminar where he referred to giving kids an allowance is like having them on welfare (giving them something for doing nothing).

We’ve implemented Dave’s Commission System (with some of our own tweaks) and it seems work.

Here’s what we do (it may or may not work for you).

1. Each week we print off the chore list and post it on the fridge. (Here is a link to our Chores Template)

2. Each chore is worth a dollar amount, some are worth more than others.
3. If the child does the chore they earn that amount, if they don’t, they don’t.

Fairly simple, huh? We’ve come across a few problems with this system and added some tweaks.

Child doesn’t do certain chores.

• We added BONUS CHORE – Sounds cool, right? The bonus chore works like this:
  • We take the grid and cut out all the chores (done or not done) and place them in a hat. Child then draws a chore.
    • If they DID the chore that week they can either:
      1. Take a set dollar amount OR
      2. Roll a dice and get less than the set dollar or double it. (most times they roll the dice)
    • If they DIDN’T do the chore that week their pay isn’t affected at all. It’s a BONUS afterall.

Child doesn’t do chores at all.

• Limit TV, computer, or something else to completed chores.
• We don’t allow the child to get on TV or computer until chores are done. They don’t have to do the chores, but they also don’t get the privilege of going on computer or TV.

Is this a perfect system? No. But, it works for us. Will it work for you? Only you can answer that.