Secular Charlotte Mason

Do you give an allowance and is it tied to how many chores they do during the week?  Or is the allowance/chores just part of being a family?

First let me admit that I stink at paying allowances and such. It wasn't a part of my life as a child so I have a hard time being consistent with my kids. Most of the kids' chores are indoors or animal related and the kids are only paid an allowance if they do their chores well and nongrumpily. If the work isn't up to my standards or they whine and complain about it they don't get paid (which means they haven't had an allowance most of this year lol). They can make extra money for doing work outside the house. Drakon gets paid $ for mowing the lawn, cleaning out the van, etc. Sometimes Tide will choose to help him so she can earn $ too, but most of the time she doesn't (and then wonders why she never has money lol). I don't pay $ for babysitting siblings but I do pay with extra privileges or a trip to Powells. Have to admit that this year I have paid more in privileges than in $. 

I would *love* to hear how others handle this issue since I am always looking for ideas.

Hi, Chai Mama!  I'm late chiming in, but since you ask... 

We don't do "allowances" per se.  Chore are just a part of being a member of  'Team Smiffy''.  That works for us...but we are older parents with only one child (of five) left at home.  When Jack complains, we remind him of the last handful of things we did for him -- and three or four that we did for the famile welfare -- and that seems to eb that.  I never got that kind of cooperation from his older brothers, but it was my technique anyway. 

Instead of allowance, when we go someplace where he might want spending money (not frequent -- we're not "shoppers") we decide how much money the family kitty has for us to spend and then we hand him his share.  If he doesn't spend it all, the remainder goes into his piggy bank, and when it gets full, we make a trip to the bank to put it in his account.  Because, again, sharing the discretionary funds is part of being on Team Smiffy.  (His part is smaller than mine or his father's because we are bigger contributors, so far.)

I hope that helps...