Recent Family News
Do your kids get an allowance?
A recent survey conducted for the American Institute of CPAs revealed that 61 percent of parents pay their kids an allowance. In addition, the average American child is paid $65 each month - or about $15 a week - and puts just 1 percent of their earnings in savings.While the amount that some kids are paid for doing chores at home may surprise some, it may also motivate others to consider starting an allowance program for their little ones.
Many experts say that giving your child a regular "paycheck" will help him or her learn money management skills that will prove helpful throughout their lives. In addition, making your son or daughter pay for some items with their own money will help them learn how much things cost and appreciate the value of a dollar.
When it comes to deciding how much to pay, experts often suggest a dollar for each year of age. It's also important to decide whether getting an allowance is dependent on completing chores around the house or not.
Parents are also encouraged to help their children learn how to save by opening a bank account for them and limiting how much of their allowance they can spend each week.
Those who want to help their kids make their hard-earned allowance money go further should consider taking them shopping for used toys, used kids clothes and other secondhand items.

