Did You Get An Allowance?

[Lady Day]

I didnt get an allowance. I also didnt get a job till I was 19. My mother would not let me work, she wanted me to do good in school, and I did (graduating with honors).

As far as asking for something. I would, but I kept perspective. I remember asking her if I could start a library of cartoon vidoes, something I was sure she would object to. I was totally nervous, but she said, "Thats a real good idea."

I did do stuff around the home (not as much as I should have) but was never compinsated for it. I was very independent, and complelty wrapped up in school and the like, so she didnt mind giving me extra cash from time to time.

LD

 

[MissHuff]

I got lunch money and bus tokens all through high school. I worked for everything else I needed. The way my mom saw it if she didn't approve of the outfit or choice of activity I was paying it out of my own pocket. My dad also believed that getting an education was my job and slipped me some money here and there but for the most part I paid my own way.

When I watch shows like "My Super Sweet Sixteen" on MTV I just get sick. 16 year olds getting $100,000 parties and Benzs. Can I PLEASE go back and go shopping for a Mercedes Benz when I was 15? PLEASE?

I think I'll give my daughter an allowance and everything that she needs because I can remember not having much as a child. But there's a fine line between what a child NEEDS and WANTS.For instance, a growing boy may go through a lot of sneakers but a room full of mint Air Jordans is definitely not necessary.

 

[Elaina]

I think the Sweet 16 is important. But not THAT important. I got a Rocky Horror Picture Show movie watching party with my friends (about 12 of us that were into it) and they could stay the night (they were all guys...quite a feat) and we watched anime until the next morning when we went out for breakfast.

My folks paid about $250 on it...total.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

When I watch shows like "My Super Sweet Sixteen" on MTV I just get sick. 16 year olds getting $100,000 parties and Benzs.

And the saddest thing is, it's real. And not just here, but everywhere. Rich Chilean girls get unbelievable stuff from their daddies and mommies.

.

 

[Big Man]

... But there's a fine line between what a child NEEDS and WANTS.For instance, a growing boy may go through a lot of sneakers but a room full of mint Air Jordans is definitely not necessary.

If I may say so, you are very wise for your age. If more parents understood the difference between "needs" and "wants", we would have a much better society.

 

[Polka Dot]

I vaguely remember getting an allowance when I was very young, maybe $1 a week at the age of seven. It was just enough to buy a pop or some candy, since my parents didn't keep that sort of thing in the house.

I was always busy doing something or other when I was a kid. I babysat, made and sold beaded jewelry to tourists, and volunteered at the local library. I've been working off and on since I was 9 for my parents; at first making copies and running errands and such, later moving on to bookkeeping work. I can't think of a time that I didn't have a job, either part-time or full-time depending on the time of the school year, since I was 12.

You'd think I'd be better at managing money!

I think it's good for kids to get a small allowance as a way to learn about saving money, but obviously it can get out of hand. A Ferrari in high school?

 

[Lincsong]

Nope.

 

[Lincsong]

If I may say so, you are very wise for your age. If more parents understood the difference between "needs" and "wants", we would have a much better society.

Reminds me of when I was a kid; "Dad I want this" to which my Dad would give it the once over and say; "You don't need that". lol

 

[Paisley]

I've read that high-consuming parents sometimes spend everything they have and at some point have nothing else to give their kids. All the kids are left with are appetites they can't satisfy. This is going to happen to some of my nieces and nephews who are in their 30s and are still supported by parents and grandparents, except that their appetites will be for groceries and rent.

This reminds me of the song "God Bless the Child (that's got his own)."

 

[Lincsong]

At my high school, some classmates got $200 a week their junior year. That's not including their BMW convertibles.


At our sister school, the girls got even more. Had their daddies wrapped around their pinkies.


I knew of a 17 year-old guy at Fairfax High School (a public school) who totalled his first car, a Ferrari. His parents punished him by then getting him a used Porsche.


.

I wasn't even getting paid that a week for picking up carts at Ole's Home Center part-time in my Junior year.

 

[Vanessa Anne]

I got a whole 2 dollars for doing all the chores in the house you could think of every week. Slave labour really

I do however remember it going up to 5 dollars a week when I was about 12. So I got a raise!

 

[woodyinnyc]

we never got an allowance, Dad told us our payment was getting to continue living in the house! I got my first job at 14 and excluding housing through high school, have pretty much paid for everything since then. I don't know if it was in my parents greater plan, but getting a job at that age and basically supporting yourself really made us more independent as adults.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I got a whole 2 dollars for doing all the chores in the house you could think of every week. Slave labour really

Yeah, but you had an excellent benefits package. Housing, transportation, medical ... all covered.

.

 

[Paisley]

I wasn't even getting paid that a week for picking up carts at Ole's Home Center part-time in my Junior year.

Two hundred dollars a week is more than I made when I first joined the military.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Two hundred dollars a week is more than I made when I first joined the military.

None of those guys had any intention to join the military.

.

 

[Paisley]

Go figure!

 

[Novella]

I got a weekly allowance, but I can't even remember how much it was anymore. Definitely not $30 though. I remember it increased a little bit as I got older, and then it was kind of phased out at some point when I was a teen. I can't even remember that! I started working when I was 14, and it's kind of a blur from there as to how much allowance I got and when it stopped. I spent the allowance on toys and books mostly. I think my parents were pretty good about enforcing the idea that saving your money is the way to go. I remember when I was in grade school there was a Magic Attic Club doll I wanted (I think it was maybe $70?), my Mom told me I should put up a picture of what I wanted on the wall to remind me to save my allowance and not spend it on junk.

 

[dr greg]

lessons

From the age of 12 I had to work with a milko to pay for my bus fares to school and my lunch, and when I got my first full-time job I had to hand over 50% of my wages as board...I thought this was outrageous but my father said "you'll thank me one day" and you know what, he was right, after I moved out I got used to paying all the rent, power etc bills very quickly whereas all my mates who'd been living at home for free, landed hard once they got out into the real world.

 

[Archie Goodwin]

Incentives

My sister, step-brother, and I all got a base of around $10 or $15 per week for our allowance. Then there were the chores, for which we were paid: laundry, vacuming the house, vacuming the pool, mowing the postage stamp (that was what the "lawn" seemed to us moving from the Southeast to California). Whoever did the chore, got paid for doing the chore.

 

[Viola]

I didn't have to buy my own clothes, or lunches, or anything as far as school books or whatever, but I never got any extra money either. Mainly because we didn't have it. If I had asked for hundred dollar sneakers my mom would have knocked me into next week. We did not have a lot of extra cash for much.

I started babysitting my brother and sister when I was nine, always for free. I walked the dog(s) for free. I did my own laundry but nobody elses' and didn't have many chores otherwise, though the free babysitting wore thin at times.

For my own kids, they'll likely have chores, but I don't think I would have them walking the dog alone before they weigh more than the dog.

-Viola