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I fail to see how giving his boy a budget for what he wants is different from an allowance and the "entitlement" that the wanted to avoid.

by lazyant 13y ago

mcherm 13y ago
I think the difference is psychological. Getting paid for household tasks suggests that the household tasks are not part of your obligation to the family itself -- that if the child didn't really want the money then they could just quit helping to mow the lawn or wash the dishes. Getting an allowance suggests that the money is theirs to do with whatever they want. For instance, my son (11) gets an allowance but he almost never spends it. It suggests that the child's finances are (at least partly) separate from the family's. And it represents "free money" earned without working for it which may or may not be a message you want to send. The article described putting the child in charge of a portion of the family budget. The implication is that the family operates as a commune (which most families do) and the income may be earned by the parents, but is to be spent on everyone (as needed) and puts the child in charge of a piece of that. It happens to be the part that the child cares about (McDonalds and video games) because that is age-appropriate. An older child might get a larger budget and also be responsible for paying the electric bill -- assuming that they can influence it by helping to turn off lights and minimize wasteful use of electricity.
- lazyant 13y ago
  Thanks for the explanation. I personally use the same system as another HNer mentioned; kids have to do a basic set of chores regardless of money because they are part of the family and they have to contribute to it and then they get some money for extra work.
- mercutio2 13y ago
  Speaking as someone who lived happily for many years in an income-sharing commune (not all modern US communes are full-on income-sharing), this is a lovely way to explain the "control of a few budget lines" system. My plans for my own daughter are for her to understand the total family budget (and retirement plan), perhaps giving her control of a few line items would be a good entrée into the overall much more complex budget.

I fail to see how giving his boy a budget for what he wants is different from an allowance and the "entitlement" that the wanted to avoid.

by lazyant 13y ago

I fail to see how giving his boy a budget for what he wants is different from an allowance and the "entitlement" that the wanted to avoid.

mcherm 13y ago

I think the difference is psychological. Getting paid for household tasks suggests that the household tasks are not part of your obligation to the family itself -- that if the child didn't really want the money then they could just quit helping to mow the lawn or wash the dishes. Getting an allowance suggests that the money is theirs to do with whatever they want. For instance, my son (11) gets an allowance but he almost never spends it. It suggests that the child's finances are (at least partly) separate from the family's. And it represents "free money" earned without working for it which may or may not be a message you want to send. The article described putting the child in charge of a portion of the family budget. The implication is that the family operates as a commune (which most families do) and the income may be earned by the parents, but is to be spent on everyone (as needed) and puts the child in charge of a piece of that. It happens to be the part that the child cares about (McDonalds and video games) because that is age-appropriate. An older child might get a larger budget and also be responsible for paying the electric bill -- assuming that they can influence it by helping to turn off lights and minimize wasteful use of electricity.

lazyant 13y ago
Thanks for the explanation. I personally use the same system as another HNer mentioned; kids have to do a basic set of chores regardless of money because they are part of the family and they have to contribute to it and then they get some money for extra work.
mercutio2 13y ago
Speaking as someone who lived happily for many years in an income-sharing commune (not all modern US communes are full-on income-sharing), this is a lovely way to explain the "control of a few budget lines" system. My plans for my own daughter are for her to understand the total family budget (and retirement plan), perhaps giving her control of a few line items would be a good entrée into the overall much more complex budget.