How much should I pay my kid?

TheRoadDog

We used to have a house cleaner that came into our home every other week. When my daughter got into her teens and was looking for extra money, I let the housekeeper go and gave my daughter the same amount of money for the same amount of work. She had to proved the same results and received the same payment. i, personally, didn't care if it took her 2 hours or 4 hours. It taught her responsibility. She is now 23 and is a General Manager in a huge company and makes the same as I do at 62.

SomebodyWakeUpHIcks

Do this:

Set you kid up on a healthy monthy allowance. Like $80 . From that he is to fund all his activities and spur of the moment purchases and save for future purchases. You agree to provide food, shelter and basic clothing. Along with the $80 there are some expectations as far as chores. One could be lawn mowing.

As he gets older, the monthly allowance could increase.

CSARdiver

I'm just starting my 9 year old on this as well and told him next year he is responsible for the lawn. I'm looking at $20 including trim and edging. He draws a paycheck from my business and has his own list of duties and responsibilities, which enables him to start an IRA. He is starting to handle his own finances (this is scaled appropriate for a 9 year old). I am hoping this develops into him providing lawn service for the rest of the neighborhood.

We have also included him on the home finances and budget, so he knows how much cable costs, internet costs, food, gas, etc.

We go shopping and he gets his own toiletries, clothes, extra things from his own money. 50% of his income goes to savings, the rest is his to spend as he sees fit. He was saving up all his money to buy a PS3. On the day he finally built up enough we went to Best Buy to pick it up and he thought carefully and decided against it. The ability to delay gratification - a key quality lacking in education today.

LittleLionHeart1

StongerBiggerFaster wrote: »

I would give $15 with an option to go up to $20 if the job is done up to the standard that the lawn company was providing. That should give him incentive to do a good job and not just rush through. You may also want to make him pay for the gas for the lawnmower (or half of it) to teach him a little about operating expenses.

I like your answer a little bit better than mine. I said $20 to start. But due to the optional increase, and the operating expenses. Good thinking there. I agree with you now.

Unknown

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CTcutie

How about 10$, & you match the earnings towards college or a future car or something?!
Or maybe you do it but don't tell him til he's older that's what you did? :-).
FWIW- I don't have kids yet.

Spliner1969

If it were me, and he did the same quality work the company did, I'd give him their $20. Not $20/hr, but a total amount you would pay the company to do it. I'd probably also ask him to cover the gas for the mower but I'd provide the mower. If, however, he decides (like most boys) that he can make some extra money by mowing other people's lawn's I'd tell him he was welcome to use that mower for his little side business as long as I approve of what he's using the money for (if he was 10 anyway), and that he up-keeps the mower and replaces it if he wears it out. But the first mower I'd provide for him within reason (a push mower).

Lounmoun

$8-10 per hour or per week for lawn mowing seems fair enough to start since he has no experience and will not be paying for gas or equipment.

kenzienal

Jeez louise.

I was 15 and having to cut my acre of grass for free. There was plenty of "I didnt know i had to cut that area" and running over large rocks to snap the belt, so monetary satisfaction was never in the books for me.

But 5$ seems reasonable. Im 24, and I am starting to feel old. 15$ reward for cutting grass seems mighty expensive at once a week. 80$ a month allowance? The kids I have better keep dreaming. For 80$, you better have scrubbed every inch of dust out of the house, fixed a broken fence AND spent a year taking out the trash without being asked. Shoot.

I'm cheap too. Sure, if the grass looks as good as the lawncare company did it, give that guy a 20$ bill for his effort. If it looks like a nascar track through a forest, 5$ buddy.



All this coming from a person with no children, and who was an only child. so don't mind me.

kenzienal

OutOfUserName wrote: »

kenzienal wrote: »

Jeez louise.

I was 15 and having to cut my acre of grass for free. There was plenty of "I didnt know i had to cut that area" and running over large rocks to snap the belt, so monetary satisfaction was never in the books for me.

But 5$ seems reasonable. Im 24, and I am starting to feel old. 15$ reward for cutting grass seems mighty expensive at once a week. 80$ a month allowance? The kids I have better keep dreaming. For 80$, you better have scrubbed every inch of dust out of the house, fixed a broken fence AND spent a year taking out the trash without being asked. Shoot.

I'm cheap too. Sure, if the grass looks as good as the lawncare company did it, give that guy a 20$ bill for his effort. If it looks like a nascar track through a forest, 5$ buddy.



All this coming from a person with no children, and who was an only child. so don't mind me.

I need you to come mow my lawn. I got beer and your 5 bucks

I hope you have plenty of spare belts around, im pretty good at finding a rock within 5 miles to destroy one. The beer though.... calling to my soul, now.

kenzienal

OutOfUserName wrote: »

kenzienal wrote: »

OutOfUserName wrote: »

kenzienal wrote: »

Jeez louise.

I was 15 and having to cut my acre of grass for free. There was plenty of "I didnt know i had to cut that area" and running over large rocks to snap the belt, so monetary satisfaction was never in the books for me.

But 5$ seems reasonable. Im 24, and I am starting to feel old. 15$ reward for cutting grass seems mighty expensive at once a week. 80$ a month allowance? The kids I have better keep dreaming. For 80$, you better have scrubbed every inch of dust out of the house, fixed a broken fence AND spent a year taking out the trash without being asked. Shoot.

I'm cheap too. Sure, if the grass looks as good as the lawncare company did it, give that guy a 20$ bill for his effort. If it looks like a nascar track through a forest, 5$ buddy.



All this coming from a person with no children, and who was an only child. so don't mind me.

I need you to come mow my lawn. I got beer and your 5 bucks

I hope you have plenty of spare belts around, im pretty good at finding a rock within 5 miles to destroy one. The beer though.... calling to my soul, now.

Its a push mower for extra calorie burn to drink more beer and stay under goal....so rock away

You are very persuasive, my friend.

stealthq

There's no way I'd be paying an 11 yr old the same as the lawn company. He has no overhead. No equipment to buy and maintain, no truck or trailer, no advertising costs, no other employees to consider, no insurance and no taxes (other than sales tax).

I'd probably settle on $5 as reasonable. But, I'd also probably add it to the regular chores so he doesn't get the idea that you consider mowing optional. It doesn't really sit right with me to make it seem like it is, only to say 'gotcha' if he decides the money's not worth it. If you're not OK with him skipping out on mowing, I think it's best to make that clear.