'Tween 12 and 20 by Dr. Robert Wallace

Wouldn't you hope so.

Favoring allowances. If your parents gave you allowance, what would you think you should be paid for doing. Make a list. Then your parents, esp your mom whom I am sure does 200% of everthing--should submit her bill to you as well. Starting with the 9 months she was an incubator prior to birth. And the fact her body was changed forever. And the months and years of raising you under many different titles of professionalism. Or did you come from a test tube, all grown up, smarter than anyone else, had the answers and did not need a mother and father.
Some kids don't have either, don't get a chance to say thank you for what they were given. My kids never had an allowance. If they wanted money, they found a lawn to mow, rake, sidewalk to shovel, someone who needed a mothers helper to play outside and watch the kids--I had all boys and were the best babysitters on everyone's lists. Wonderful as adults with all children and 1 works with special needs adults.
I hope if you convience your parents for allowance, they bill you for meals prepared, whether you ate or not. And if you help yourself to food in the house, you pay the same amount as you would at the fast food place.


I think allowances are just another welfare hand out--never minding how rich your parents might be. You can learn to budget and save right along with what you make doing odd jobs. At 8 & 10 my 2 youngest made themselves indespensible to the owner of the theatre. Odd jobs, cleaning up the morning after a movie, not only got them free passes and a wage, but recommendations for other people looking for a student to help out too. They got their first aid and CPR early, so that being mother's helpers was a wonderful creative play in the yard job. One of my son's summer jobs as a 12 year was to ride with a 'little rich boy' on bikes to his summer rec programming. Mom came home and made meals or left them money for the DQ or fast food place in addition to his wages. 4 days a week for 8 weeks. Not bad for a 12 year old saving for his first pickup by age 15. Not only that, he saved, bought and restored a 1970 impala convertible before age 16 too. All his own money earned.
Did you know that your savings account grows and then you buy a CD and when it builds, transfer it to a higher yeild CD, etc. My kids were 10--16 in the later 80s, early 90s. They could rebuilt a tranny or engine, sold out their services to friends who needed help or oil changed, etc. My kids all had their trucks they bought by age 16. Not a penny of my money went into their toys. Now, their toys are bigger and they if they want something outside of a budget expenditure, they get a 2nd job to pay for it. Eldest bartended after his regular work hours to help pay for his wedding. Another (as stated) works in a group home and also did management of a swimming pool--You get your certification and keep it, jobs flow. You can't sit in front of ANY TV or GAMES and whine about what you don't have. You can't get it if you don't get off your whining butt.