How much allowance should a kid get?
There's no required amount. One possible starting budget is $1 a week for each year of age, or half that. The table below illustrates those options; it is not a survey of what parents pay or a recommended rate. Choose what you can afford and what the money will cover.
| Age | $1 per year of age | Half that | What it often covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–6 | $5–$6 a week | $2.50–$3 | Small treats, saving up for a toy |
| 7–8 | $7–$8 a week | $3.50–$4 | Treats, toys, trading cards |
| 9–10 | $9–$10 a week | $4.50–$5 | Plus games, small gifts for friends |
| 11–12 | $11–$12 a week | $5.50–$6 | Plus outings with friends |
| 13–14 | $13–$14 a week | $6.50–$7 | Plus some clothes and their own phone apps or games |
Decide up front which optional extras are theirs to buy. If an older child manages more categories, revisit the amount together. Adults remain responsible for basic needs; this is practice with choices, not a reason to withhold food, necessary clothes, or school essentials when money runs out.
Weekly, every two weeks, or monthly?
Weekly money is one manageable starting routine: a short cycle makes the next payday easier to picture. As your child is ready for a longer planning period, you could try every two weeks or monthly. Readiness matters more than a fixed age; pay on the same day every time.
Should allowance be tied to chores?
Three approaches to consider:
- Allowance plus unpaid family chores. Everyone helps because they live here; the allowance is for learning to manage money. Simple, but kids don't learn that work earns money.
- Pay only for chores. Money is earned, never given. Clear, but a kid who skips chores has nothing to practise with, and every request to help becomes a negotiation.
- A small base allowance plus paid extra jobs. Everyday chores are expected; bigger or extra jobs earn money. This gives kids something to manage and a way to earn more.
Chores by age
Use these as ideas, not milestones every child must meet. Demonstrate tasks, adapt to ability, and supervise as needed. The AAP's chore guidance emphasizes manageable expectations and support while children learn.
| Age | Everyday chores | Bigger jobs worth paying for |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 | Put toys away, put dirty clothes in the hamper, help feed a pet, set out napkins | Help water plants, match socks |
| 6–8 | Make their bed, set and clear the table, feed a pet, put away groceries | Water plants, sort laundry, rake leaves with you |
| 9–11 | Load and unload the dishwasher, take out trash and recycling, fold and put away laundry | Vacuum a room, weed a garden bed, wash the car with you |
| 12–14 | Keep their room clean, learn laundry, help cook with supervision | Sweep a patio, organize a cupboard, wash the car with you, bag leaves |
For paid jobs, agree on an affordable reward and what “done” means beforehand. Check completed work at a predictable time. Keep power tools, harsh chemicals, and unsafe tasks out of a beginner's chore plan.
Help them save for something
- Let them choose the goal. Saving for something they picked — a toy, a game, a scooter — teaches more than saving because you said so.
- Make progress visible. Kids stick with a goal when they can see how close they are, and how much a chore gets them there.
- Count the tax. A $20 toy costs more than $20 at the register in most states. Let them discover that once.
- Consider a match. Adding 25 or 50 cents for every dollar they save toward a goal — the way an employer matches retirement savings — makes saving feel worth it.
Talk about money
The allowance is the practice; the conversation is the lesson. Once a month, look at what came in and where it went together. Ask whether that purchase was worth the chores it took — without judging the answer.
Put this into practice with KidsLearnCash. It's a free family ledger: set up an allowance that pays itself, chores kids mark done and you approve, and savings goals that show how close they are — with real sales tax, and no bank account or debit card.
Sources and scope
General educational ideas, not individualized financial or developmental advice. Amounts and job suggestions are examples to adapt, not averages or safety clearance. Background: CFPB Money as You Grow and AAP: Age-Appropriate Chores for Children. No affiliation or endorsement is implied.