Allowance/Family Life
Jim Peterson (kupete@KUHUB.CC.UKANS.EDU)
Thu, 7 Jan 1999 12:07:50 -0600
Hello Scoutellers!
Greetings for the new year! I have been reading the allowance/Family Life
thread and wanted to chime in on this....not necessarily from the MB point
of view but from the adolescent education point of view. This post may be
a little "off topic" for this group, but since we're all interested in
teaching our boys to be responsible, I think it might serve well here.
About two years ago, my stepson Chris was taking Family Life Merit badge.
When we looked at the "keep a budget" requirement we had a thought. I
talked with my wife and then we scheduled one of those dreaded "FAMILY
MEETINGS". We announced to our two sons that they would be given a budget
of $100 per month. Out of that money, they had to purchase their clothing,
pay for their entertainment, car insurance and put $15 per month into
savings. We agreed that as parents we would:
1. Pay for one pair of sports shoes per year.
2. Pay for one pair of school shoes per year.
3. Give them a modest additional allocation for clothing at the start of the
school year.
4. Give them $20 per week for school lunch/eating out.
They agreed that as sons, they would:
1. Clean their rooms well once per week.
2. Clean their bathroom once per week.
3. Do all the yardwork and snow removal.
4. Do additional family chores as assigned.
5. Keep a detailed account of how they spent the money.
THIS HAS BEEN THE VERY BEST TACTIC WE HAVE USED AS PARENTS!!!
Our boys, all of a sudden, became very careful shoppers. I'm not saying
that they don't buy some Ambercrombie and Fitch brand clothing....but the
Nike tennis shoes went bye-bye as did the two-a-week movies. And, there
was no more, "Hey dad, can I have $20 for this, that and the other thing"!
They knew they were "on their own" for the majority of their expenses. It
saved us TONS o Money!
Now back to the Family Life MB thang: Chris went into Family Life MB
thinking it was one of the most boring badges happenin....he came out
glowing with the information he'd gleaned!
Hope this wasn't too far off topic for Scouts-L! And again, warm and
fuzzzy wishes for a wonderful new year of scouting!
BLUE SKIES!, Any day above ground is a good day!
Jim Peterson
BS RT Comm, Pelathe Dist
Heart of America Council Eagle Class of 1963
ASM, T-55, Lawrence, Kansas Brotherhood, Tamegonit Lodge
email: kupete@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu Mic-O-Say: HW "Shieldmaker"
