Since Ainsley has moved up to the 3 year old class at Levy, one of the things they do is collect money for a children's home on Sunday mornings. We decided instead of giving Ainsley money to put in the jar, we would given her an allowance. We are hoping that way she will understand more about giving, and also about saving. We give her $1 per week. She gets to keep $.50 in a jar to use how she wants, $.25 goes to the children's home, and she puts $.25 in the offering plate.
Yesterday, I took her to Dollar General so that she could buy something if she wanted to. She picked a dinosaur for $1, and a little tube full of sea creatures for $1 (I paid the tax). She had 2 dollars and a few cents (the few cents are the change from Katie's entry fee to the water park--thanks Katie!) She has been playing with the toys ever since. It could be the newness of the toys and the fact that she got to pick them out, but I think that she appreciates the toys more because she paid for them herself.
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we've been thinking about allowance for camille. I've been reading up on various ways to handle it. Thanks for sharing your system!
Learning about money is super! However, we have shyed away from giving money (i.e. allowance) and instead we have 3 jobs that Anna may do to earn money and sometimes has to do so that she sees how money truly works in the real world. Her chart has pictures of her doing these jobs and the dime picture beside it to signify the pay she will receive. Checking them off is fun (the chart is laminated so you can use a dry/erase marker on it), putting the money in the bank is visible, giving/saving/spending are sorted most weeks before going to church. It's based on the Dave Ramsey system for children, but we've adapted it to our family. It's worth it...we will not have to change the approach or have reality hit later when money is not just given out in the real world. Ben, 3, has just started, but because he requires a bit more help (especially with sorting the weekly vitamins for our family) he gets just a nickel (this honors the ages/privileges of the kids too). We started with Anna a little over two years ago. (Note: she is now 6 yrs) Gift money means so much more to them, because they know it's value by the work they usually do in receiving those "bundles!" When we are out and they ask for something, we just ask if they brought their money...if not then "don't forget to bring it next time." Paying for things at retail and their seeing how much more can be bought at a consignment sale for less has made an impression as well....the stories go on and on. I highly recommend a simplified personalized method that works like this to bring the whole concept step by step along the way. It's all God's...we pray that this process will help instill some core basics/concepts of good stewardship.
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