May Palacpac, Storyteller

Money has always been a touchy topic, but recently it feels like it’s everywhere – in podcasts, parenting discussions, and even in casual conversations. Years ago, I wrote about paying my kids to do chores so they could learn the value of money. Back then, it felt like a practical solution: teach them responsibility, let them work for something they want, and help them appreciate how hard it is to buy the things they love.

But now that I’m deep into motherhood (and have grown a lot since then), I see things differently.

Back Then: We Worked Hard for What We Wanted

I still remember the 90’s when my brother would patiently save his allowance for months just to buy a pair of trendy sneakers. He even saved up enough to get me a pair of Tretorns – a grand gesture for a teenager who could’ve easily spent it on himself. Those days taught us discipline, delayed gratification, and the joy of earning something through hard work.

Today, though? Credit cards make it ridiculously easy to skip the “saving up” part altogether. People buy now, pay later, and repeat — until the debt piles up. Part of me is grateful that Jay and I never got into the credit card culture. But looking back, that childhood experience of saving made such a big impact that I wanted to pass it on to my kids.

So… Should Kids Be Paid to Do Chores?

A financial expert once said kids should get paid for every chore, like $2 for washing the dishes — so they learn how to manage money. Years ago, that advice made sense to me. In fact, we tried it. We gave Pablo ₱50 a week for helping with toy cleanup, mainly so he’d learn to value his beloved Transformers (because you KNOW those robots don’t come cheap!).

It worked here and there… but something about the setup bothered me. I just couldn’t articulate it clearly at the time.

Now? I finally can.

Today: I Don’t Believe Kids Should Be Paid to Do Basic Chores

Here’s my updated take, after experience, reflection, and honestly… maturity:

Taking care of your home is a life skill, not a paid service.
Chores are not “extra work.” They are part of living in a shared home. Everyone contributes, not because there’s money on the table, but because you’re part of a family.

I don’t want my kids growing up thinking:

• “I only help if there’s payment.”
• “Cleaning is optional if no one pays me.”
• “My parents owe me money for doing basic responsibilities.”

That’s not preparation for adulthood. That’s creating a transactional mindset inside the home.

And I don’t want to build a relationship where my children feel like they have to “earn” love, gifts, or support. I want them to know that Jay and I give them good things simply because we love them and not because they washed dishes or folded laundry.

But… Should Kids Still Get Allowance?

Yes but not tied to chores.

Allowances can be a learning tool:

• Budgeting
• Saving
• Understanding needs vs wants
• Planning for bigger purchases
• Learning natural consequences (“Oops, I spent all my money too fast”)

But the allowance comes because they are learning how to handle money, not because they scrubbed the bathroom.

Chores?
Non-negotiable life responsibilities.

Money?
A tool we can teach them to manage.

What About Hard Work and Earning?

Oh, absolutely! Kids should still learn the value of earning. But instead of paying for regular chores, we can give them opportunities for optional paid tasks that are above and beyond basic responsibilities.

For example:

• Washing the car
• Helping with a family project
• Assisting with a small home business task
• Organizing mom’s art supplies
• Editing videos
• Managing social media errands
• Yard work outside the normal routine

These mimic real work situations:
“You take on extra work, you earn extra pay.”

But the foundation remains:
Everyone contributes to the home because they live in it.

Where I Stand Now

I’ve come to realize this balance matters:

• Chores = responsibility
• Allowance = financial training
• Extra work = earning
• Gifts = love, not rewards

And this approach gives me peace — the exact peace I didn’t have back then.

So What Do YOU Think?

Parenting evolves. We evolve. And I’m okay with that.
How do you handle allowance and chores in your home?