Hi Mag,

   This is great. Amber has her own saving account since was really little also - and next year - I will open a joint account checking - (since she will still be under 18) for her - as I said this January we embark on the budget learning stuff. Amber works for a friends mother - helping her clean and tutoring her daughter when she needs it. Oh and both girls do grade test papers for me - I had forgotten - they think that's great fun. 

I have never paid they kids for what they do around the house - I think it sets a bad example - no one pays me to do house work, take of the kids - etc. That's my responsibilty, and they as they live there they have a responsibilty to help - voluntarily. Or I get to charge them for parenting and rent and food etc. I like the barter system better - I fix dinner - you set the table. The team work approach.

                                            Trisha

> As a kid, I had an allowance, as well as I had chores, like weeding the yard,
> collecting and emptying the trash cans from all the rooms in our house,
> setting the table, feeding the dog. As a teenager, I graded test papers for my dad
> who is a professor of psychology, I also evaluated text books for easiest to
> read and best layout for my dad because he had students who were not the best
> readers. I got paid $2.00 -- $3.00 per hour.
> 
> In high school I took care of a friends garden while she was on vacation. I
> got a job somewhere along high school typing "p" cards for our library. They
> are the cards that tell which magazines and articles the library has.  This has
> probably been computerized now. I did that as a volunteer.
> 
> I had my savings account by first grade, and I prided myself on how well I
> could save my allowance, birthday and Chanukah money.  When I was 19, my mom
> helped me set up my first checking account and taught me how to balance my
> checkbook.  Later on, when I wanted to borrow money from my parents, I was always
> good about paying them back.
> 
> Mag