Harmonious labour relations

Last night we sat down with our daughter to discuss her weekly allowance and the chores she does for it. Daughter adopted the unorthodox negotiating tactic of turning up for talks in her nightie with Bunny as her union rep 🐰

We then discussed what she already does (tidies her room, vacuums the floors, cleans the car every other week, washing up), and what she could do in the future as she grows older and more responsible (laundry, preparing family meals without wrecking the kitchen, washing windows and other places that her shorter parents cannot reach 🥴).

Our girl is very enthusiastic to try new things and take on responsibility. Less sure about how she should price her labour. She accumulated such riches over the summer holidays through babysitting and dog walking that I had to open another bank account for her as she had exceeded the upper limit on her junior savings account. She has no expensive vices beyond a marshmallow habit. She doesn't want a fancy phone. Most of her sports clothes and equipment are paid for from a bursary. We mainly replace school uniform with hand downs from her cousins or from a school swap shop.

We agreed a 50% uplift, well above inflation and no doubt highly irresponsible in the current economic climate. Birthday season is coming around and she will have some extra outgoings on presents for family. More importantly, she's happy, we're happy, and surplus wealth has been redistributed a little more efficiently.

This is how things pass in our little socialist commonwealth. Jobs are allocated according to preference and ability and we all share in the fruits of our collective labours. Workers are happy and properly rewarded, we can all sleep soundly in our beds at night 😌

JoyfulSilence · 46-50, M

I was fortunate. My only chore was to do my homework. My parents never trusted me to do anything else. I tried to clean once because of some filth I found and my dad had a fit. We think he might have mild OCD.

I got no allowance, my parents spent little on treats or extras, I seldom had money in my pocket to spend, and I never had a job.

JoyfulSilence · 46-50, M

@Musicman

My parents were friugal, which rubbled off on me.

Except restaurants: I spend a lot of money on those.

I put a lot in my 401k and it is doing well. Except for the financial crisis. I lost at lot. But I got it all back, and then some!

I want to stop work, and live off savings until it is all gone. Nothing left for relatives. Except Mom if she is still around.

NotMy1stRodeo · 56-60, M

Had an allowance until old/big enough to hire on for farm work at 13. On my own for most things ever since, though my folks helped during college on what I did not earn/borrow.

Be warned, as they get older, they often become much more shrewd negotiators. My oldest now negotiates /manages contracts as a part of his day job. ;-)