Responsibility Charts

How do I help my children learn to work and manage money...but without a handout....and without getting paid for what they should be doing anyway? 

This is the dilemma I found myself in.  I wanted then to work for the money they received, but I didn't want to pay them for things they should be doing just because they are in the family.  I don't pay them just for brushing teeth, making beds, or even basic chores around the house. If I did that, it would make the task "optional" if they didn't want to earn money.  I certainly didn't want that.  So I came up with a way to reward them for showing responsibility while doing these chores. When it works, it really reduces how much I have to remind and beg them to do things.

Do 75% of your responsibilities on the chart, and you'll then earn money based on the amount of work you voluntarily did around the house during the week.

Responsibilities:  These are things they have to do, everyday, no matter what.  If they do 75% of their responsibilities for the week without being constantly reminded, then they earn the opportunity to earn money for the other work they did in the week. I base this off 75% because none of us are perfect and I am trying to encourage, not discourage.  If they do get 100% I make sure to praise them!

Helper Jobs:  These are the jobs that they do to help out the family.  As in responsibilities, they only get to mark them if they do them of their own accord or with only being asked once.  If I have to remind them, no mark.  I've toyed with the idea of highlighting a square once I've asked more than once, then they know they can't mark it.  In reality, this is more time consuming than I will probably do, but if there is a problem with dishonest marking, the tactic could become useful.

The Job of the day is a reference to the other house cleaning schedule I posted earlier: Cleaning Schedule

The amount of money earned can be adjusted by family. Starting out, I used the simple % to dollar strategy  if they did 50% of the possible jobs, they would get  50 cents.  If they did 75% and up, they would get their dollar.  If they earn the whole dollar every week for a month, they get a bonus based on age or whatever I decide to set.

The following Scripture is what inspired this method.

Doctrine & Covenants 58:26-29

26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

 27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

 28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

 29 But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.

If I remember, I like to read this scripture each day before I pay them.

**UPDATE 2017**
It's been a few years. Here is what the chart looks like now.

It's streamlined to 1 chart per child instead of separating the helper jobs to responsibilities. I still have the 75% to get paid, but if they meet 75% they get the full amount. It's just easier math and for now this is accomplishing what I needed it to do. I now use a sheet protector and a grease pencil (do they still make these?) to mark it. Hot glued a magnet to the grease pencil and stuck it right to the fridge. I rub hard with an old sock to remove last weeks marks. To keep up, I sometimes have to take a picture, and erase it without writing paychecks and write them later. If I don't get the chart cleared on Monday, when I do clear it, I put lines through the missed days and the kids get them as freebies.

I write a "paycheck" on a post-it note with their name and date, I leave this note with their payment on their desk because I usually figure all this up while they are at school. If they save up 4 in the row they can cash it in for a bonus equal to 1 weeks pay. It's their responsibility to save and cash those in though. I've also upped their pay after a lengthy discussion with my kids over feeling like they were underpaid compared to other kids. I told them if we up the pay, it reduces the "extra" things I'm willing to foot the bill for out of my pocket and lack of earning their pay and having no money does not necessitate my paying for those things later on. The opportunity was theirs to be had.

For the most part I'm pleased with the results of our current system. Only difficult part is helping remind them to mark. The older ones should be doing this on their own as a responsibility of "punching the clock" to get paid. The younger one, really does need reminders to mark even when he is doing his jobs.

Zones: Instead of a daily job, we just have "zones" that change weekly. In our house the zones are Kitchen, Living Room, Bathroom. They are required to do something in that zone, and then help out as needed or asked throughout the day in that zone. I cut out small strips of paper and wrote each child's name on one in a different color. Laminated it with clear tape and used that tacky wall stuff to stick it to the light switch in their "zone". I rotate names every Monday, which is also payday.