Community Chat

[shoptilyadropagain]

I think my allowance amount was about the same as yours. It started out at 50 cents I believe and then as I got a little older it was a dollar. I think I even recall asking for a raise in my allowance and I went up to $2. I had a few chores to do like washing or drying dishes and dusting but that was about it. My mom was very particular and wanted things done her way and fast so I'm sure she felt it was better for her well-being to do most things herself....that way things were done and done right (according to her standards).

[candys mine]

Wow, That was a Long time ago.  I think it was $2.00 Dollars could have been less.  Was enough to to take to the Bowling Ally on Saturday afternoon and, every few weeks, The movie Matinee at the theater next door ( abutting the train tracks so there was usually a point in the movie when the the warning bells and the rumble of the freight cars going by drowned out the sound.).

We kids all had chores to do on Saturday morning. Vacuum then dust. keep your bedroom tidy. Sort laundry and put it away. Dishes, barganing with sis who would do them that night. ( The rare, toss the kettles into the oven so you could go out on a summer evening and do them when you got back in.  Never did find out if the parents knew about That one. )

When we ( and that encludes the neighbor kids as well ) got old enough to have summer jobs it was just a given and a point of pride that we "paid rent". to our parents. Not much, but enough to help. 

[Carolina925]

I never got an allowance and had chores to do around the house. My sister and I always had to do the dishes after dinner, then sweep the kitchen floor. My mother worked outside the home so we always had to do light housework before hitting the streets for play. During the school year, we had to do those chores on Saturdays. I never remember wanting for anything, we weren't into shopping much, but I always got money to go to the movies on Saturday afternoons. When I hear of people now saying they take away allowances for their kids in means of discipline, it always strikes me as strange.

[MeekLittleMe]

I also recall getting 50 cents a week in the early 1970s at age 11 or 12. After that I was able to earn my own pocket money babysitting and the allowance stopped.

[CalminHeart]

I did not get an allowance. I started babysitting and doing work for neighbors at age 10. I was never without a job until I retired. 

We were very poor. We never felt like we didn't have what we needed but I knew from a young age that it was tough. My parents could magically make 1/2 pound hamburger into an entree to feed all 7 of us kids. I remember my parents struggling to find nickels so we could go to the swimming pool. 

[Estellee]

I vaguely remember getting an allowance for simple things like drying the dishes and making my bed. Not too bad!

[LindaSal]

I remember getting $1 a week when I was young.  I had a lot of responsibility at a young age as my parents worked opposite shifts so I had a much younger sister to care for and I had to cook dinner for my dad, do lots of domestic chores, plus I would babysit and do extra housecleaning for neighbors on the weekends.   This gave me a bit more pocket money. 

When I look back it was not an easy childhood but we had loving parents and always had a nice birthday party and nice Christmases.  Who could ask for more?  Plus I feel it shaped me for adulthood and was helpful in my success in life.

[AngelPuppy1]

No, no allowance.  We were expected to do our chores around the house and help out doing other things that our Mom and Dad needed help with.  When we were young, those were back in the days when soda pop came in returnable bottles and so if you returned them to the store, you got a a penney or something for each one -- can't remember exactly how that went.  We rarely had soda pop at home but when we did, we got to "cash" them in for a few cents and we also used to walk around the neighborhood looking for stray bottles.  Then, we would be allowed to go to the little corner store and get some penny candy!!!  

[wilma]

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@SilleeMee wrote:

I worked as a teen and I had to pay rent and pitch in for food. 

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@SilleeMee 

My parents wanted me to concentrate on my studies so babysitting was my only job from middle through high school.

I lived at home & attended a local college so that was when I got my first real job working fast food. At that point my parents didn't give me an allowance anymore, but my father and my aunt paid my tuition. I was very lucky in that respect. 

When I started my teaching career I was still living at home so I paid rent to my dad and took care of all my expenses. I moved out a few years later. 

Have a Great Day! 

[PinkyPetunia]

I didn't get an allowance.  My parents were European and didn't understand the concept. 

When I was older I worked 3 nights a week after school and Saturday in a greeting card/gift store.  Then it was same schedule in Woolworth's till I graduated high school.