The Allowance Chores Contest

Hi everyone, I just wanted to share this with you.

Here is an article I just posted on my Allowance Secrets Blog.

Enjoy!

Have you ever heard of the allowance chores contest?
Since I recently created the allowance chores contest for my two kids and their friends, you may not have heard of it.

I like contests. I really like a fair contest. Why is that? I like competition. I really like a competition that is fair and square. That’s why I like contests because they should be competitions that are fair and square. ;o)

I decided that it would be a very good idea to create the allowance chores contest. I’ll tell you why in just a minute.

A debate has been going on for some time now on the topic of giving an allowance in payment for chores. I am not for that. I don’t believe in giving an allowance at all!

I believe in entrepreneurial skills and creative thinking over a straight allowance. I believe in fostering financial independence by helping kids find kid-friendly, creative ways to make money.

I also believe that there are family chores. Chores, not paid for, that all family members (parents and children) are responsible for to keep the family unit intact. I do, however, believe in payment for unusual or extraordinary chores. This breeds young entrepreneurs.

I became so involved with the topic of giving an allowance or not giving an allowance to kids that I consulted the top 25 “kids and money” experts, family coaches, and highly successful entrepreneurs to share their personal opinions and tips on whether or not to give an allowance to kids.

Their personal opinions and tips are awesome! Before you make your decision, check out The ebook I created: “Allowance Secrets: To Give or Not To Give.” It is free to download.

Back to my creating the allowance chores contest. Thought I forgot about that, huh? ;o) No, I just wanted to set the proper stage.

One morning, my two kids, Xanthe and Quinn, along with their friends, Candy, Kyle and Andrew, were discussing the merits of receiving an allowance in payment of chores. My two sweeties (yes, I’m prejudice!) were in favor of not getting allowances and being paid for extraordinary chores, not family chores. Now where did they get that idea from? ;o)

Their friends were in favor of getting allowances which would be in payment for all chores, both extraordinary and family. Xanthe and Quinn were willing to concede the giving of an allowance. After all, every family has a right to make its own decision about giving or not giving an allowance.

On the topic of payment for family chores and extraordinary chores, lines were firmly drawn on each side of this issue. Their friends felt they should be given substantial allowances that covered payment for all chores asked of them. My two kids felt an allowance, if given, should cover only family chores, not extraordinary chores. Kids should be able to earn their own money doing extraordinary, unusual chores.

A debate then started as to what constituted family chores and what constituted extraordinary chores. As time went on, this debate grew a bit too heated for me. That’s when I came up with the idea of the allowance chores contest.

“Okay,” I said, “let’s settle this debate this way. Decide which of you is going to be the judge. Then divide into two teams with two kids on each team. Each team discusses chores and decides on six chores, three family and three extraordinary. The judge will then decide which team’s list of six chores is fair and square. The winning team gets to decide what everyone is going to eat for lunch today.”

Well, all the children were motivated to settle on which chores could be classified as “family” and which ones could be classified as “extraordinary.” Team A (Xanthe and Candy) wanted pizza for lunch. Team B (Quinn and Kyle) wanted hamburgers. Judge Andrew just wanted to eat lunch early!

Next time I’ll tell you all about what choices Team A and Team B decided on in the allowance chores contest. You will be surprised at their choices and the reasons behind why the judge chose the winning team. ;o)

Cheers … Amanda van der Gulik … Excited Life Enthusiast! ;o)

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