How chores can be a motivator

An allowance or pocket money can be a great teaching tool. About 90% of parents insist their children earn pocket money by doing chores, according to the HSI survey.

There are strong views from parents that certain chores should be part of kids’ contribution to the smooth running of family life. They believe paying for basic chores can set their kids up to believe they are entitled to money every time they help around the house.

Some parents rotate the chores to give their kids broad life skills and help them become competent at keeping a clean, well-run house.

For example, Caroline Hamilton’s three kids have a daily routine that isn’t linked to pocket money. It includes emptying the dishwasher, hanging out and bringing in the washing, making their school lunches and beds, plus keeping their bedrooms tidy. They must walk and feed the family dog.

Hamilton says they don’t receive money for doing the basics, but they can be paid for extra chores. She starts basic pocket money of $5 a week at age 12 “because before the age of 12, as far as I’m concerned, they don’t have expenses”. Her kids have some money from birthdays but if they want extra for a special purchase, they must do extra chores such as washing the car and weeding the garden. The recycling helps them earn extra money.

Negotiating a rate for certain chores is a good educational step for kids.

Yish Koh, from the Kit app, says parents need to give their kids some autonomy about their own money. When you’re trying to teach them how to save, you start small and then you get a small win, she says.

“You build that confidence and set longer savings goals and bigger savings.”

When they are under 14, typically the only way for them to earn money is working for their parents. I know a family who clean the house themselves, putting the money that they would have given to a cleaner in a jar for the family to spend.