This little magical system is the reason my son is excited about chores and saving money!
I got super lucky on Varagesale a couple of months ago, someone was giving away a TON of metal railings. I had no idea what I was going to do with them but I had to get them!
I mean seriously aren't they gorgeous???
I also found someone who was selling a bag full of curtain hardware for $2.
I snagged it up and used spray painted those puppies to match my rod!
I also had some s-hooks hanging out in my tool box, so I spray painted them to match too.
Aren't they pretty?? I have found really cheap curtain hardware at Wal-Mart or also robe hooks work really well too!
Next up, I got another killer deal on Varagesale (can you tell I am in love with this app?). I got a box full of 20 assorted Mason Jars for $10 including these beautiful big jars! I have a roll of chalkboard contact paper that I got from Hobby Lobby for $6 with my 50% off coupon. Cut them to size and attach to your mason jars. I love the chalkboard paper!! It has lasted forever and comes in handy with so many things! I also found the beautiful black rocks for $1 at the Dollar Tree
and a bag of Popsicle sticks for $1 too.
Next up, the meat of this awesome system!!! The chores :)
I have read alot about chores and allowance and there were things I liked and things I didn't like. So, I decided that there are certain chores that my kids need to do solely because they are a part of this family. We decided that cleaning their room, clearing the table, doing dishes and making their bed were the main chores that needed to be done and would not be paid for. We also decided that these chores had to be done before they were able to do any chores for money.
I went around the house thinking of all the different chores that I would be good for them to do. I wrote all the chores on the front and a price for each chore on the back. When my son wants to earn extra money he grabs a stick then does the chore. If he wants to get paid for it, he has to have either myself or my husband come and look at how good of a job he did. Then we walk him through anything that needs to be fixed.
Most of the chores I priced at 75 cents because I want my son to equally spread out all of the money he ears. So, if he earns 75 cents I have him put 25 cents in each jar (for Save, Spend and Give). He feels so empowered to take money into church and even more empowered when he has enough money to buy something!
Now, here is the part I really love! All kids want what they want right when they want it, my son is exactly the same :) So anytime we got to the store and he wants anything at all, we tell him that he can use his own money. Sometimes he really wants something and doesn't have enough money. I allow him to borrow money from us. Then he has to go home and write out an IOU, then he keeps track of how much he has earned and how much he still has to work off. I love it! It makes him practice math and also learn about the concept of credit without all the huge life consequences he would have had later. Fingers crossed it works! He is already wanting to save his money instead of spending it on every silly item he sees. He also really hates owing us any money, he actually earned $20 in one day because he owed his dad for a minecraft sword. Makes my Dave Ramsey heart go pitter patter.
