Comments on: Let’s talk chores (Thanks to Financial Peace University) http://www.tobethode.com/2010/03/talk-chores-financial-peace-university.html Adventures of the Thode family... living and loving the crazy life! Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:36:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Heidi http://www.tobethode.com/2010/03/talk-chores-financial-peace-university.html#comment-5971 Heidi Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:31:17 +0000 http://www.tobethode.com/?p=1699#comment-5971 We started FPU(then we moved and had babies), but haven't gone back to finish it. I like the concept, right now we do not pay our son (3) an allowance, but if he doesn't do task that is given to him he losses privledges. He is responsible for picking up the toys in the family room and putting them back in the appropriate baskets He also assists with emptying the dishwasher and putting away the kid cups, plates and silverware. He helps to set the table and clean up after eating. Finally, he is responsible for picking out his own clothes everyday. Best of luck, I don't have any suggestions for the older ones, I'm not there yet. We started FPU(then we moved and had babies), but haven’t gone back to finish it. I like the concept, right now we do not pay our son (3) an allowance, but if he doesn’t do task that is given to him he losses privledges.
He is responsible for picking up the toys in the family room and putting them back in the appropriate baskets
He also assists with emptying the dishwasher and putting away the kid cups, plates and silverware.
He helps to set the table and clean up after eating.
Finally, he is responsible for picking out his own clothes everyday.

Best of luck, I don’t have any suggestions for the older ones, I’m not there yet.

]]> By: Annie http://www.tobethode.com/2010/03/talk-chores-financial-peace-university.html#comment-5969 Annie Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:35:40 +0000 http://www.tobethode.com/?p=1699#comment-5969 For the 3yo I'd do clearing the kitchen table, putting the dishes in the sink. Even if it isn't perfect you can ask the 3yo to make the bed in the morning. The 8 & 9 yr old are ready for more difficult tasks. Again, if you aren't looking for perfection vacuming the floor, sweeping, mopping, dusting. Do you have pets? Perhaps feeding the pets? When I was 12 and my siblings were 8, 7, 6, and 2 years old my mom would split the house into sections. Since i was older I got an entire room (and she would rotate the rooms each week) and my other siblings shared room chores. If I had the kitchen that week I had to sweep, mop and wipe down counters. If I had bathroom that week I did it all. The others shared a room so if they had living room that week one kid did toys, the other vacummed, and the other picked up trash and the other clothes. I see you are getting some good ideas! Keep us posted on what you decide to do For the 3yo I’d do clearing the kitchen table, putting the dishes in the sink. Even if it isn’t perfect you can ask the 3yo to make the bed in the morning.

The 8 & 9 yr old are ready for more difficult tasks. Again, if you aren’t looking for perfection vacuming the floor, sweeping, mopping, dusting. Do you have pets? Perhaps feeding the pets?

When I was 12 and my siblings were 8, 7, 6, and 2 years old my mom would split the house into sections. Since i was older I got an entire room (and she would rotate the rooms each week) and my other siblings shared room chores. If I had the kitchen that week I had to sweep, mop and wipe down counters. If I had bathroom that week I did it all. The others shared a room so if they had living room that week one kid did toys, the other vacummed, and the other picked up trash and the other clothes.

I see you are getting some good ideas! Keep us posted on what you decide to do

]]> By: Kelly Jo http://www.tobethode.com/2010/03/talk-chores-financial-peace-university.html#comment-5956 Kelly Jo Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:49:13 +0000 http://www.tobethode.com/?p=1699#comment-5956 I just finished FPU in October, and it is already changing my life. Stick with it- it is amazing! And my husband and I are opposite you guys- he's the nerd and I'm the free spirit. But it is nice to finally know how to work together. My oldest is two, so I'm no help with chores, but I'll come back for advice in a few months! I'm following now too! I just finished FPU in October, and it is already changing my life. Stick with it- it is amazing! And my husband and I are opposite you guys- he’s the nerd and I’m the free spirit. But it is nice to finally know how to work together.
My oldest is two, so I’m no help with chores, but I’ll come back for advice in a few months!
I’m following now too!

]]> By: Stefany http://www.tobethode.com/2010/03/talk-chores-financial-peace-university.html#comment-5952 Stefany Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:21:06 +0000 http://www.tobethode.com/?p=1699#comment-5952 They do sort their clothes but I want them far away from my machines at this point. The penalty chores concept has not worked here... at all. I am willing to give this FPU plan a chance. I do like Lacie's idea (above) about not doing money and instead doing a reward at the end. That would cause a problem with my "give" envelope but I still think this might be easier on us for right now. They do sort their clothes but I want them far away from my machines at this point. The penalty chores concept has not worked here… at all. I am willing to give this FPU plan a chance. I do like Lacie’s idea (above) about not doing money and instead doing a reward at the end. That would cause a problem with my “give” envelope but I still think this might be easier on us for right now.

]]> By: Stefany http://www.tobethode.com/2010/03/talk-chores-financial-peace-university.html#comment-5951 Stefany Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:18:36 +0000 http://www.tobethode.com/?p=1699#comment-5951 Thanks Kim! My problem is finding additional chores from what they kids already do so they can do their commission chores and the "just because" chores. There are a few new ideas here so I appreciate your input! Thanks Kim! My problem is finding additional chores from what they kids already do so they can do their commission chores and the “just because” chores. There are a few new ideas here so I appreciate your input!

]]> By: Stefany http://www.tobethode.com/2010/03/talk-chores-financial-peace-university.html#comment-5950 Stefany Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:17:11 +0000 http://www.tobethode.com/?p=1699#comment-5950 We are kind of in the same place. Dave Ramsey says that some chores, not all, should be paid on commission. He says that some things should be done "just because you are part of this family". Well, that means I need to find new or different chores. Thanks for the ideas. Some of those they already do but there are some new ideas. :) We are kind of in the same place. Dave Ramsey says that some chores, not all, should be paid on commission. He says that some things should be done “just because you are part of this family”. Well, that means I need to find new or different chores.

Thanks for the ideas. Some of those they already do but there are some new ideas. :)

]]> By: Adrian http://www.tobethode.com/2010/03/talk-chores-financial-peace-university.html#comment-5949 Adrian Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:14:42 +0000 http://www.tobethode.com/?p=1699#comment-5949 Hmmm. Good question. I've never really given much in the way of money for chores, mainly because I don't keep a lot of cash on hand (and kids don't usually take checks!). But on the other hand, if you don't do the chores you are assigned, you get penalty chores as a consequence. As for chores, my kids at that age were doing all the trash, unloading the dishwasher, setting the table, and doing some of the sweeping & mopping, and yes, doing their own laundry. If you want them to be successful at doing their laundry when they get older, this is a good time to let them start, even if they only do part of the process, like starting the washer, sorting the clothes, or putting the clothes into the dryer. Hmmm. Good question. I’ve never really given much in the way of money for chores, mainly because I don’t keep a lot of cash on hand (and kids don’t usually take checks!). But on the other hand, if you don’t do the chores you are assigned, you get penalty chores as a consequence. As for chores, my kids at that age were doing all the trash, unloading the dishwasher, setting the table, and doing some of the sweeping & mopping, and yes, doing their own laundry. If you want them to be successful at doing their laundry when they get older, this is a good time to let them start, even if they only do part of the process, like starting the washer, sorting the clothes, or putting the clothes into the dryer.

]]> By: Kim Lepper http://www.tobethode.com/2010/03/talk-chores-financial-peace-university.html#comment-5946 Kim Lepper Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:10:59 +0000 http://www.tobethode.com/?p=1699#comment-5946 you're a Dave Ramsey fan TOO?!? goodness I like you more and more every day!! :) I taught his class last year at a high school. The kids gobbled it up! Empty/fill the dishwasher put away clean clothes take out trash (like the little cans in the bathroom and bedrooms) put away leftovers organize fridge help you grocery shopping (?) cleaning toilet/bathtub etc (be careful of the cleaners, though- I use to get horrible migraines from the fumes- can be very toxic!) vacuum (move furniture while you vacuum) sweep/mop floor clean out car wash car mow/scoop snow (not sure where you live) sort laundry (doesn't involve touching the machine :) ) wash/dry dishes that's all I can think of for now! you’re a Dave Ramsey fan TOO?!? goodness I like you more and more every day!! :) I taught his class last year at a high school. The kids gobbled it up!

Empty/fill the dishwasher
put away clean clothes
take out trash (like the little cans in the bathroom and bedrooms)
put away leftovers
organize fridge
help you grocery shopping (?)
cleaning toilet/bathtub etc (be careful of the cleaners, though- I use to get horrible migraines from the fumes- can be very toxic!)
vacuum (move furniture while you vacuum)
sweep/mop floor
clean out car
wash car
mow/scoop snow (not sure where you live)
sort laundry (doesn’t involve touching the machine :) )
wash/dry dishes

that’s all I can think of for now!

]]> By: grace (graceslick91) http://www.tobethode.com/2010/03/talk-chores-financial-peace-university.html#comment-5945 grace (graceslick91) Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:10:31 +0000 http://www.tobethode.com/?p=1699#comment-5945 This is the first post I've seen of your blog... so not sure my thoughts will be appropriate for your kids (but rest assured... I'll be reading more... ). Chores for 3 YO: folding his own and perhaps something like towels, picking up his roon. 8 & 9 YO: close enough in age that their type of chores can probably be the same type... washing & putting away dishes (or loading/unloading dishwasher). Picking up their room. Folding their own clothes and putting them away. Folding sheets. Stocking the bathrooms with toilet paper (if you keep the TP elsewhere... like we do). Something like the TP is an on-going thing... no set day that it has to be done, so no payment PER event... just a weekly payment. I'm struggling with some of this myself. Our 13YO makes some money outside of the house (she refs soccer games) and the 11YO so wants her own money too. They both have chores that they are required to do as being members of the family/household. So how do we add extra 'chores' so the 11YO can get paid? One way she gets paid is that the 13YO has a chore that she fails to do quite often (take the trash to the curb on trash day). The 13YO leaves for school before rest of us do. So there is many times that the trash isn't down to the curb when 11YO is ready to go to school. If she takes trash to curb then 13YO has to pay her for doing her (13YO) job. We had hoped that would be the incentive for the 13YO to DO her chore... because if she doesn't .. then 13YO has to pay 11YO to do it for her. It works about 1/2 the time. We are still struggling with what to have 11YO do that is an extra chore that is a consistant income for her. HTH... and I'll be back to read more when I have a few extra minutes. 3, 8, and 9 year old This is the first post I’ve seen of your blog… so not sure my thoughts will be appropriate for your kids (but rest assured… I’ll be reading more… ).
Chores for 3 YO: folding his own and perhaps something like towels, picking up his roon.
8 & 9 YO: close enough in age that their type of chores can probably be the same type… washing & putting away dishes (or loading/unloading dishwasher). Picking up their room. Folding their own clothes and putting them away. Folding sheets. Stocking the bathrooms with toilet paper (if you keep the TP elsewhere… like we do).
Something like the TP is an on-going thing… no set day that it has to be done, so no payment PER event… just a weekly payment.

I’m struggling with some of this myself. Our 13YO makes some money outside of the house (she refs soccer games) and the 11YO so wants her own money too. They both have chores that they are required to do as being members of the family/household. So how do we add extra ‘chores’ so the 11YO can get paid? One way she gets paid is that the 13YO has a chore that she fails to do quite often (take the trash to the curb on trash day). The 13YO leaves for school before rest of us do. So there is many times that the trash isn’t down to the curb when 11YO is ready to go to school. If she takes trash to curb then 13YO has to pay her for doing her (13YO) job. We had hoped that would be the incentive for the 13YO to DO her chore… because if she doesn’t .. then 13YO has to pay 11YO to do it for her. It works about 1/2 the time. We are still struggling with what to have 11YO do that is an extra chore that is a consistant income for her.
HTH… and I’ll be back to read more when I have a few extra minutes.
3, 8, and 9 year old

]]> By: Stefany http://www.tobethode.com/2010/03/talk-chores-financial-peace-university.html#comment-5938 Stefany Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:44:10 +0000 http://www.tobethode.com/?p=1699#comment-5938 Thanks for the idea Lacie! Sadly, because of their mother's negative influence, I am not sure this will work for the 8 and 9 year old but it is worth a try for sure. It might be better than the money because at least this way we can afford it easier. The one thing is that I still need to have a clear set of chores they need to do. I can promise you they will not do anything if it isn't laid out ahead of time. Thanks for the idea Lacie! Sadly, because of their mother’s negative influence, I am not sure this will work for the 8 and 9 year old but it is worth a try for sure. It might be better than the money because at least this way we can afford it easier.

The one thing is that I still need to have a clear set of chores they need to do. I can promise you they will not do anything if it isn’t laid out ahead of time.

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