As a kid, I had a set of chores I was expected and required to do. Then there were chores I could do, above and beyond my normal list of chores, that I would be

As a kid, I had a set of chores I was expected and required to do. Then there were chores I could do, above and beyond my normal list of chores, that I would be paid for. I had no allowance whatsoever. I think this method is best. In addition to teaching me to be industrious and to spend my hard-earned money wisely, it had the (probably unexpected) side benefit of teaching me to negotiate raises. Upon deciding that the pay wasn't worth the labor involved (when I could mow neighbors' yards instead for more money), I mentioned this. My mom, who is in management, replied, "Well, what do you think these are worth, then?" And then we negotiated to a mutually-acceptable set of numbers. This probably happened again after I got my first part-time job at 15. Extra chores, at a couple dollars each, are how I paid for my own NES and the handful of games I had as a kid, since my parents didn't buy me video games. You had better believe I took immaculate care of them.