new chores for commissions

It was this time last year that my family made the switch from giving the boys an Allowance to giving them Commissions.  You can read the original post here but basically we were tired of handing over money to the boys each month when they'd done nothing to earn it.   We came up with age appropriate chores they could do in order to earn money and they did an exceptional job for 8-9 months of keeping track of what they did and I normally had their commissions ready to give them on Sunday nights.  

Around the time of their birthdays (in the Fall), they were extra busy with football and they were receiving money as birthday gifts.  It was then that they lost some momentum and motivation to get their chore charts completed.    I have to give them credit though, even without earning commissions they did an exceptional job helping out around the house and doing their regular chores.  I keep thinking that one of them is going to give me a "bill" of what I owe them for taking out the recycling bins for the last 3 months.

It's a new year though and they're each another year older.  It's time to get back into our routine of regular chores and commissions.  And since they are older, I want them to each learn a new skill.  

For my 10 year old, I want him to learn how to sort and wash his own clothes.  Last year he was responsible for bringing his laundry basket to the laundry room for me to do the wash.  This year I want him to simply learn how to start the wash.  Also, he knows how to dust, but this year I want him to get even better at it! (ha, ha!)  So, he'll be dusting the furniture on the main floor of the house.

For my 13 year old, he and I both had the same skill in mind that we wanted him to learn and practice.  Cooking.  He'll be responsible for planning (with my help at first) and preparing a meal one night each week.  He's pretty good at grilling burgers, so that will probably be his meal of choice, but I want him to learn how to slice the onion and tomatoes, shred the lettuce, and prepare the side dishes.  It doesn't have to be complicated.  I'll be happy for him to heat up a can of beans or cut up some fruit (or even open a can of fruit...).  He could even make a pot of spaghetti and serve it with garlic bread and a bagged salad.  Easy stuff.

Also, my chore charts aren't fancy.  Just something printed from the computer and taped to the refrigerator.  Here is a sample of what I do:

for my 10 year old...   

CHORE	Earning Potential	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Total Earned
Take out/bring in trash & recycling on Mondays	$1
Clean, dust, vacuum your room	$2
Dust furniture in the den, dining room, living room, guest bedroom	$3
Clean the basement bathroom	$2
Wash & your laundry (I’ll dry, fold & hang it)	$1/load

^{for my 13 year old...}

CHORE	Earning Potential	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Total Earned
Plan and prepare 1 dinner	$5
Clean, dust, vacuum your room	$2
Clean your bathroom	$2
Wash & dry your laundry	$1/load
Fold, hang & put away your laundry	$1/load

My main goal is to teach them to be responsible and to have some basic skills that will serve them well when they are living on their own and for when they have a family of their own.  The bathrooms aren't always going to be cleaned perfectly, but I know they'll get better at it as they get older.  Also, not all chores are tied to money.  There are several things that we expect them to do just because they are a member of the family and we all pitch in to help one another.  Things like feeding the dog, setting the table, putting their clothes away, keeping their rooms tidy, etc. are just normal things they do each day.  As much as they can annoy me sometimes, they're really pretty good kids!  :)

They use the money they earn to pay for concession stand snacks, movies with friends, video game rentals, songs from iTunes.  Normal 10-13 year old boy stuff.

Anyway - have you found a system that works for your family?  How do you handle spending money with your children?

weekend update

It's been another crazy and unpredictable week, but that is a-okay!  Weeks/months like this one are teaching me the importance of keeping my priorities in check and remaining flexible.  My youngest was sick at home Monday and Tuesday and we found out early in the week that a very good friend of ours has colon cancer.  The prognosis and outlook of everyone involved is extremely positive.  The week has been spent sitting with our friends at the hospital and doing what we can to help them at home by preparing meals for their children.  My "normal" goals for the month haven't been my top priority for the week, instead it's been that of friendship, but I am certainly glad that I have the goals in writing.  My blog is a positive distraction and when my head and mind are all a jumble, I can look at my written to-do's and have some direction on what needs to be done.

Sealed Pot - I had a jar of loose change in our kitchen that was earmarked for our sponsored child in Liberia.  We found out he has moved to a different village and no longer needs us to sponsor him, so that money has gone into the Sealed Pot.  It was about $10 in change.

Exercise/Weight Loss -Once again it was on auto pilot and  trying to make good and sensible decisions.  My goal was to exercise twice this week and I exercised once.  You can track my weight loss goals here.

52 Letters in 52 Weeks. -  This week's letter went to my sister.  She celebrated her "half birthday" and I sent her a letter and some fun, silly socks.

Reading - I finished reading the Half Broke Horses and loved it!!  It is about the grandmother in The Glass Castle and wished that I would have read Half Broke Horses before reading The Glass Castle.  After reading the 2nd book, I had so much more understanding and patience for the Mom in The Glass Castle.  Both are great books though and I recommend reading both no matter which order you read them!

Rosetta Stone  - I completed 4 lessons this week!  I have a hard time making myself sit down to do it, but love it once I'm doing it!

 

No Spend Challenge -- We're doing pretty good.  With some unexpected expenses (going to Texas and making some purchases to help our friends) I know that we will not meet our original goal of spending 10% less this month than we did in January '11 but that's okay.  We have to know when it's okay to spend and when friends and family are more important than staying on budget.  I'll know the final numbers for sure next week!  I'm looking forward to our February Challenges and will finalize my specific goals for the challenge this weekend.  Will share them on Wednesday!


But seriously, Mr. Steady and I really would like to put January 2012 out of our minds and are considering having February 1st be our New Year!

{this moment}

Joining SouleMama for {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

february challenge(s)

Just a week ago I was beginning to think about February and wondering if there would be any challenges going on!  I didn't have to wait long to find out that Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily is hosting not one but TWO challenges next month!  Woo Hoo!  Count me in!

The challenges for the month are to have a Low (No) Spend Month and to Declutter the home a bit.  You can read more about it here.  I am super excited!  January has been a good month so far (financially speaking) and I'd love to carry the momentum forward into the next month.

I need to think about my specific goals and what I want to accomplish exactly with the challenge.  I'll put some thought into it and let you know! 

I hope that you'll take a look at the details for the Challenges and consider joining!  I think there will be several of us supporting and encouraging each other during the month!

an extra 9 hours

Today is Monday which means I am scheduled to be away from the house from 8-5 for my Master Gardener class.  Yesterday I made my lunch and prepped a casserole for dinner.  So, both lunch and dinner are already taken care of and are in the fridge.   The house is even tidy so that when I get home at 5pm I get to walk into a clean (enough) house. 

But, my little one is home sick and is too sick for me to leave him by himself.

So....I have an extra 9 hours today!

It's dark and raining outside and we have threats of tornadoes coming our way.  I'd LOVE to get back into my pajamas, cuddle up with the little guy and watch movies all day, but I'm going to tackle some projects that I'd planned doing later in the week.

And if I hurry and get them done, then I bet I can snuggle up with "el sicko" and watch a movie afterall!

Here's what I'd like to get done!

• Clean out the basket on my kitchen counter.  (You know the one....the basket that collects all the stuff so that the stuff doesn't pile up on the counter!)
• Sweep, mop, vacuum
• Research 2 destinations for Mr. Steady's company vacation
• Send e-mail to older son's chorus teacher
• Read the 3 chapters in my Master Gardener book that are being covered today
• Bible Study lessons
• Catch up on laundry
• Check to see if WooLoot has credited the watch that I returned
• Mail shirt back to Hot Chillys for a return
• Send link to Mr. Steady to see what he needs me to order for him from Hot Chillys
• Make/freeze at least one casserole
• Do at least one Rosetta Stone lesson
• Update $$ log
• File papers in the in-tray of my office
• Organize folder for 2011 taxes
• Go through Plastics (cups, containers, etc.) in the kitchen and donate what isn't needed 
• Pick up a book at the library that's on hold for me

Whew!  That's a lot.  So....I'm going to jump off of here and get to work so that hopefully by lunchtime I can cross off a bunch of this stuff and have some downtime with my favorite 10 year old!

What are you doing today?

weekend update

First of all, I want to say thank you all so much for your kind words that you've left for me this past week.  It's been a bit of a rough week and it seems like the more days that go by, the reality of my mom being gone is really sinking in.  Anyway - I don't want to get into it too much here, but wanted you to know just how much I appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers.  Thank You!

Now - for something to distract me for a bit.  My blog!  Just another week and a half and it'll already be February!  woo hoo!

I didn't focus on my goals at all this week, but I want to see where we stand.

No Spend Challenge -- Still on track to finish the month by spending 10% less this month than we did in January 2011.

Sealed Pot - I found $4 in the pocket of my jacket this week and dropped it into my Sealed Pot.  

Exercise/Weight Loss - This was just on auto-pilot.  I didn't exercise at all and ate whatever meals were brought to us by friends and family.  You can track my weight loss goals here.

52 Letters in 52 Weeks. -  I've written several thank you notes this week, but the letter that I'm counting towards my 52 letters/52 weeks is a letter that I wrote to my very good friend Christi.

Reading - Am still reading the book Half-Broke Horses.

Rosetta Stone  - I completed three lessons last week before going to Texas.

So - that's my short update!  My goals for next week will be simple.  To keep my spending down, to exercise at least 2 days, and to write a letter to someone special.  With February just around the corner, is anyone having a February Challenge of any sort?

{this moment}

Joining SouleMama for {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.