How can small children contribute to the "family economy"?

Question

As part of children learning the value of money, I believe it is important that they learn to earn their own money. While I could assign arbitrary monetary values to household chores such as cleaning, yard work, etc., I'd rather find something they can do with an objective monetary value. And I'd like to do so at as early an age as possible.

Yard-work is actually very close to what I'm after: I could have a child find out how much a lawn service charges and what services they provide for that, then propose that I pay them what I would otherwise pay (a competitively priced) service (less gas & machine upkeep). That's close, but then they could then make the same offer to others in our neighbourhood, and bring money into the household, and that would accomplish the goal.

What other possibilities are there? What about for younger ages?

Answer 1

Another suggestion I heard on the radio was to give the child the difference between the name brand they want, and the store brand they settle on. Then that money can be accumulated as savings.

Saving money is as important a feature of the family economy as earning money.

Be careful with what you have a child do for reward vs what you have them do as a responsibility. Don't set a dangerous precedent that certain work does not need to be done unless compensation is on the table. You might have a child who relies on external motivations only to do things, which can make school work and future employment hard.

I would instead have my child do yard work, but while doing it explain opportunity costs of doing the work yourself vs hiring out. I would show my kid how saving money earns interest, and how that is essentially free money.

Answer 2

Similar to the lawn care you mentioned: if you have space, you could have the kids create a mini-farmstand. They could grow flowers for cutting, some vegetables, etc. It would be a different twist on the classic lemonade stand.

If the kids are into animals and space and zoning allows, you could keep chickens and add eggs to your mini-farmstand.

Upfront costs for the garden would be small enough that they can learn about how investing in a business works at a very small scale.

Along with learning about money, they also learn responsibility because it requires commitment and daily attention.

It's also seasonal in a way that meshes well with school (though having animals is a constant year-round responsibility).

Answer 3

@MrChrister - Savings is a great idea. Coudl also give them 1/2 the difference, rather than the whole difference, as then you both get to benefit...

Also, a friend of mine had the Bank of Dad, where he'd keep his savings, and Dad would pay him 100% interest every year. Clearly, this would be unsustainable after a while, but something like 10% per month would be a great way to teach the value of compounding returns over a shorter time period.

I also think that it's critical how you respond to things like "I want that computer/car/horse/bike/toy". Just helping them to make a plan on how to get there, considering their income (and ways to increase it), savings, spending and so on. Help them see that it's possible, and you'll teach them a worthwhile lesson.

Answer 4

There is also babysitting, dog walking and house sitting. Depending on their age of course.

You should also investigate what is required to get them the ability to setup their own Roth IRA. I know one of the requirements is you can't put more into the Roth then was earned in income in the year. They might also have to file an income tax return (not sure about that one). Just think of how far ahead of the game they will be if they can get a couple of grand or more in a Roth account while in their early teens.

Answer 5

If you're trying to teach them the value of money and quantifying the dollar difference between prices, one very effective way to do this is by using bar charts. For instance, if a toy is $5, and movie they really want to see is $10, and a vacation they want to go on costs $2000, it can be a useful tool to help explain how the relative costs work.

Answer 6

(Although I disagree with the idea of getting a child working a real job to early, (I think kids should learn at school, learn manners, learn what the world offers and have responsibility)

Here is a list of ideas that a small child can do. This is all assuming the child is to young for a work permit and a "normal" job. I am assuming your live in the United States.

1. Run a lemonade stand at a garage sale. Offer the stand at other family sales.
2. Work with a family member at a local fair
3. Small kids used to run the concession stands at my baseball little league park.
4. Offer chores to neighbors. Take trash cans out and back, yard work, haul away recycling
5. Recycling the pop cans for the deposit
6. Pet sitting
7. Some sort of family business. You run a wood cutting business and have your kid help for example

Comedy Answer:

Amway. But forget about getting invited to birthday parties.