To give him the pocket money?

[Beeshome]

I told 13yo ds I'd give him a fiver for doing the garden. This was cutting the grass that hadn't been done for a few weeks, and doing some weeding and clearing up leaves. This is on top of doing a few jobs round the house, dishwasher, taking bins out.

Just wondering what expectations you would have of how well it's done.

There might be a few bits round the edges not done properly, some stray weeds and leaves! It's far from perfect but Rosie than it was. Dh would probably say he hasn't done it properly I'd say he's given it a good go.

That should say tidier not Rosie.

You know your child and if they've tried to do a good job I'd give it to them

I think that sounds like he’s done a fair job for £5. How long did it take him? It depends on how big your garden is, and his general attitude towards doing it in the first place. If he’s really done his best then I’d pay up.

I think that's more than enough work for a fiver. Good lad.

If he’s genuinely made a good effort I’d reward that. If he’s faffed about I’d get him to sort it first. It would probably be best in future to cover your expectations before he starts and to check standard once he’s finished

A fiver for all that it's taking the pi**.

Of course you give him the money. That’s a lot of work for £5.

I'd say £5 was a bargain for that work.

That's a lot of jobs for £5.00. The gardening is worth £5.00 alone. Remember he's only 13, he won't do as good a job as an adult who's been cutting the lawn for years.

If he's done all the jobs in the house and only left a little bit of finishing off for you/DH, he's earned his money and a little bonus if you can afford it.

It sounds like a lot of work just for £5 imo. I think £10 is fair.

I think you're being pretty tight. A fiver wouldn't even get him a cinema ticket or something these days.

How long does it take?

By the time I'd got the mower out, gardening gloves, done the lawn, emptied the grass bin, done the weeding and raked up leaves I reckon that alone would take me over an hour... I'm not a speedy gardener though.

Were the other jobs just part of the normal expectations of what he'd contribute to the household without being given any money/to get usual pocket money?

Thanks. I am definitely going to give him the money, I just wondered what people's expectations are of a 13 year old and how well things are done. I'm a bit lost with it all sometimes as I hear people whose teens do absolutely nothing, to teens who seem to be really capable and do loads.

It has taken him about an hour and a half but he was having lots of breaks playing football.

Ds can be quite lazy and give attitude when asked to do things. I try to encourage him to do some jobs for money, but as he gets given money for birthdays and Christmas from grandparents, he never seems motivated to bother. Perhaps that's because I don't pay enough by the sounds of it!

Usually if I have a word he will help in the end.

The dishwasher and bins are just the usual bits I get him to do.

I'd give him him fiver and then some. £5 isn't a lot for the sort of work you've asked him to do and, at 13, of course he isn't going to do as good a job as someone older and more experienced.

Mine would be expecting more than a fiver fir doing that!

I don't like paying kids for jobs. £5 isn't enough for that work if it's paid work, but perfectly reasonable to ask him to do it just because.

If £5 was the deal, I'd pay it.

£5 is not very much at all for that.

I would give him the money, because it's not a lot of money considering the amount of tasks he had on hand. Alternatively, I would offer him the opportunity to earn a bit more money by redoing what he missed the first time around - and mention to him that if he does the tasks properly the first time around the next time he'll earn more.

Everyone mucks in at our house, chores, gardening, whatever. Ive never tied chores to money, we just all do the stuff - or I get ratty and tea is gruel!

Having agreed on £5 though Id definitely pay up, sounds like he did a great job - and actually did more than a fivers worth.

Blimey you're a hard one.£5 for all those jobs ?
On top of household chores.
Is he actually allowed to attend school in term time or is he kept at home to do the cleaning?😀

That's a lot of work for £5!

£5? I think you should get him to paint the outside of the house as well for that!

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles The porch does need painting actually.

I didn't realise I was so tight fisted I will have to up his hourly rate.

I'd been giving him a bonus ! Can you send him round here

My sons used to cut our grass as teenagers, the going rate was a tenner. It's not a big garden. My sons are in their early thirties now so I'd say you are definitely stingy.