Survey Says!

Question: How much do you pay your kids in allowance?

Do you give your kids an allowance?

Our kids have chores; clean their room, clean their bathroom, sort their laundry and put away their clean clothes, take care of the cat, and when I'm really organized they help clean our main living area, unload the dishwasher, fold towels, clean their play room, and for the oldest, mow the yard. 

For all this, they each receive $5 per month.  The last time JT mowed, we paid him 10 cents a lap, around the house, skippers did not count.  He mowed the whole yard and earned an extra $3.

A quick Internet search showed we are severely underpaying our children.  At first, as I looked over the sites, I thought we were somewhere in the middle.  Until I realized the rates the sites were quoting were per WEEK.  Seriously, my 9-year-old should be receiving, roughly, $5 per WEEK.  My soon to be 11-year-old should be receiving, in the ball park of, $7 per WEEK. 

Hmmm.  I don't think our budget would allow that kind of increase.  On second thought, our budget may allow it, but I am not sure they would be ready for the drastic lifestyle change an increase of money to them would mean.  "Oh, you need more toothpaste and shampoo, I'll drive you to the store honey so you can purchase your own.  Oh, and that will be $1, each way, for the trip."

It would also mean more responsibilities.  More jobs for them, means me figuring out how to organize the whole chore chart thing.  That, and releasing many of my control freak tendencies when it comes to cleaning. 

Question:  How do you organize your chore charts?