Paying For Chores

[LoisEinhorn]

My 16 wants to earn some money for a pre ordered game. He doesn't currently get pocket money, and just usually gets things as and when we can afford it. (We have other children and can't afford to give them all a regular amount)
I'm not sure what to offer and he's not sure what to ask.
Anyone else do this and be willing to give me an idea of what they do?
Thanks :)

I would only pay for chores that he doesn't normaly do and that aren't everyday jobs. Like cleaning windows, washing the car etc

Yes that's what these are. Just not sure what to offer.

It's easy enough to set an amount, but you need to be able to afford it. I suppose with a pre ordered game that means he will want it for when it's released? How long will that give you?
If you can't think up an amount can't you set an duration? For example a month of him helping out without being asked, e.g. Washing up, vacuuming, tidying up, cleaning his room, dusting etc. Rather than him stopping when he reaches the money he needs it's teaching him that he really should be helping out around the home and not just to get what he wants.

We have until September. That's a good idea actually thank you

My 15 yr old gets £5 for 10 chores. Things like emptying the bin, hoovering, loading dishwasher etc. None of the chores take more than 5-10 mins but they do really help me out - DH works away a lot so I get fed up with doing it all! This is on top of a monthly allowance and just allows him to earn a bit extra.

Oh and I count cooking a simple meal as 2 chores.

Charges for chores for our DS13 and DD14

For weekend pocket money (of £5)

• Weekend big clean (all bins emptied, all rooms vaccumed, bathroom cleaned). Plus wash/dry Sunday Dinner pots.

• Weekly ironing (usually 5 of DH work shorts and 5 or 6 miscellaneous items). Plus wash/dry Sunday Dinner pots.

Other Ad-Hoc jobs, usually weekday evenings

• Helping younger sibling to tidy their bedroom - £1
• Putting washing away that isn't your own - £1
• Evening tidy up (hover downstairs, tidy up shoes/coats/school bags, empty kitchen bins) - £1
• Empty and refill dishwasher and wipe down kitchen surfaces - £1

• Cook family meal - £3
• Wash exterior of car - £3
• Clean interior of car - £3

My DS does all the cleaning every week - hoovering, dusting, steam mop the hard floors, clean kitchen and bathroom, polish mirrors, etc - and I pay him £25 a week. We works out it's about 2 hours work and this is what we would pay a cleaner for this.

If he needs extra money in the holidays (and I have the cash available to pay!) he does jobs like emptying out all the kitchen cupboards and cleaning them, jet washing the patio, painting the fence.

It works well for us as it means I don't have to do the cleaning, he earns extra cash and also he's learned useful skills in how to look after a home.

My DS does all the cleaning every week - hoovering, dusting, steam mop the hard floors, clean kitchen and bathroom, polish mirrors, etc - and I pay him £25 a week. We works out it's about 2 hours work and this is what we would pay a cleaner for this.

You’re a genius.

Might consider getting my DD to do this when I go back to work after maternity leave.

@Sexnotgender it was DS suggestion. I was sceptical at first, but he actually does a great job. I'm a single parent and work full time so it works really well for both of us!

Fabulous thanks for the replies