It's Chore Time! Where are the Kids?

I am looking around my house right now and see that the floor needs to be swept, the laundry needs to be folded and the dishwasher needs to be unloaded.  Where is my housekeeper?  Oh yeah...I don't have one!  Alrighty then...time to gather the kiddos and get this house in order.  Do your kids help you maintain a clean house?  Do you pay them for those chores?

From D Sharon Pruitt's photos on Flickr

Many people are opposed to paying for tasks that help run the family household. Other folks use money to encourage kids to complete the tasks and compare it to getting a paycheck as an adult. I personally don’t think there is a right or wrong answer to this age-old dilemma. I think each family has to find the method and theory that works best for them.

Our Approach:  The Best of Both Worlds

It's Time for a Laugh!

Don't let the holiday stress get to you!  Share a laugh with your family and friends with these wacky Thanksgiving pictures...

From Daniel Morris's photos on Flickr

From editrixie's photos on Flickr

from Chris.corwin's photos on Flickr

Happy Thanksgiving from our house to yours!!!

No Presents on Thanksgiving??

Photo by Brittany Whitlock

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. There isn't the pressure to find the perfect gift or throw the biggest backyard barbecue. It is a time to enjoy being with family and to take a moment to be thankful for the good things in your life. I have read many articles recently about the sense of entitlement and what a parent should to do to make sure their kids avoid this “affluenza” (term borrowed from Clark Howard!). I think that one of the best ways to teach and model gratefulness is to create family traditions that honor this quality.

Pam's Picks of the Week

My favorites from around the web recently...

Suzanne at Growing Rich Kids has written a wonderful blog post this week about the items kids should pay for with their allowance.  She was kind enough to email me and ask how we handle this with our kids.  Her advice and hints cover all the ages, from childhood through those crazy teen years.

Speaking of teen years...do you have to buy your teen a car?  Does it need to be a brand new, top of the line, sports car?  Squirrelers has recently tackled this topic in their post, Cars for Teens:  Don't Spoil Them with Expensive Vehicles.

Free Books for Kids and Teens

Image from Flickr.com

Everyone who knows me knows that I love books for kids!  And...I love a good bargain.  So when I can find free books for kids and teens, it makes me want to do a happy dance.  Here are 12 books for kids and teens that are completely free!

Important:  The books were free when I published this blog post.  The prices may have changed.  Please double check the cost before you download!

Pam's Picks: Habits, Grades & Character

My favorites from around the web recently...

Your Teen’s Habits with Money Have Everything to Do with How They Think about Money by Jill Suskind on YourTeensMoneySkills.com

You had the "money talk" with our child.  You pay them for jobs so they can learn the value of a dollar.  That should be enough, right?  Not so fast!  Jill points out a wide range of financial misconceptions that she developed from childhood.  These misconceptions were gradually built from observing lifestyles and actions of those around her. It's not what you say; it's what you do!  Jill shares an honest examination of her journey with money and finances.  All parents should read this article. 

Should You Pay for an 'A'? by Beth Kobliner on MintLife.com

Paying for grades is one of the most debated topics relating to kids and money.  Beth presents all sides of this issue in her three part series.

• Part One:  How to Motivate Your Child
• Part Two: Parents Weigh In
• Part Three:  The Experts Weigh In

Character Counts by Brian Page on FinEdChat.blogspot.com

Brian Page is an award winning teacher from Reading, Ohio.  He teaches economics, creates Financial Literacy curricula and is a proud dad to three beautiful children.  In Character Counts, Brian connects financial literacy goals with strong character traits and discusses how they go hand-in-hand.

And...thanks to the following sites for including MoneyTrail in recent articles...

• Bank Accounts for Preschoolers on SmartMoney.com and MarketWatch.com
• Just for Parents:  Teaching Kids about Money on OurMomSpot.net
• MoneyTrail App:  Saving Money for Parents and Teaching Kids about Money on SavingMoneyApps.com