Comments on: Friday Link Love

By: Karalyn

Karalyn — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:55:55 +0000

Your quote on the frugality of management is a good reminder. Similar to the idea of “they also serve who only stand and wait.” My Grandmother raised 11 kids (had 2 more who died before age 3) and my Grandfather was a train engineer and gone most of the time. Grandma always said the “art” of running a good household was worth more than any salary you could bring home. In the intervening years I’ve come to believe what she said.

By: Alison

Alison — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:19:29 +0000

Thanks for the link love! Of course I don’t have kids and can’t really give advice on any parenting subjects. But I remember being a kid and getting an allowance. Every Friday I got a dollar from my Dad, which I immediately put into a bank. (Not a real bank, but a little cat-shaped bank with a slot on top.) It wasn’t that I chose to save the money, it’s what my parents told me to do. Later, when I had enough saved up, they told me how to spend it. Fast forward to adulthood: my sister and I both have meager savings and a hatred and misunderstanding of the banking system. I say take the opportunity to use the allowance as a teaching tool. Teach them about making choices, how to spend and save your money wisely, and eventually, teach them how to navigate the financial world. Start young.

By: jody

jody — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:02:16 +0000

Hi
Our practice of giving allowances has been driven largely by our own limited means. We just have given the kids the dollar amount of their age – per month!! So yes, as high schoolers they are getting just $16 – $17 dollars to go wild with!! But they both have jobs now that help and they have never been required to buy their own clothes or other necessities. It’s just theirs to use for whatever. And they’re also both busy enough that they don’t have alot of time to spend it. It’s also not relative to what they do around the house to help – they’re just required to do what needs to be done from time to time….just because.
Love you!