Why Should Kids Get Allowances - The Top 7 Reasons
by Rachel Incoll

The question of whether allowances are right or wrong, is one that has been argued for many generations. Now it's your turn, as a parent, to decide whether or not an allowance is the best way to educate your child about financial responsibility. There are many reasons given on why a regular payment of money to a child should or shouldn't be done – ultimately I believe there is no right answer, it is up to each individual family to decide what is the best option for them. Through many years of working with parents and educators, these are the top seven reasons I keep hearing on the question of why should kids get allowances.

1. They learn to be wise with how they spend their money. It may help to teach them how to prioritise their spending, & learn from an early age what things are a waste of money.

2. They learn how to save money. Having a regular amount of money, may make it easier for them to establish good saving habits, as a certain percentage of the money from each payment can be placed into a savings account/piggy bank. Without an allowance, any money they receive, may simply be spent, with nothing going to savings.

3. They learn how to donate their money. A certain percentage of their money can also be allocated to donations to the needy, hopefully encouraging your child to be more thoughtful of others, & not greedy with their money.

4. They will learn how to budget their money so it lasts between payments. Eventually, most children will learn to be careful how they spend what limited money they have, so they don't run out of money. This will only happen, if the parent doesn't give in to the initial whining for more money when the mistake is first made!

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In My Head I?m Still 20
by A Dude's Guide on Aug 6th

I’ve been thinking about age a lot lately. My mother-in-law is going to be 70 this year. My parents are both going to be 68 on their next birthdays. This can’t be possible. I mean, 65 and up is filled with decrepit old geezers just waiting out the end of their lives, not lively, fun, energetic parents who haven’t slowed down.

Of course, I used to think the same thing about 40-year-olds. *turns head and whistles tunelessly for a few seconds as no one contemplates just how far over 40 he really is* I’m sure to my little dudes, I’m this olde dude who’s edging into Methusela territory. But in my head I’m still 20.

When I think of myself, I think of that dude, just out of his teens and hitting his stride as a (semi) adult and learning more about the world with the passing of every day. Full of vim and vigor and who’d never be caught saying something so darn old as vim and vigor.

I like to think we’re living longer because we’re all eating better and (if we can afford it) getting better medical care. And maybe all that is working together to — to strangle a cliché — make 50 the new 40 and so on. I really don’t know what’s causing it, but I must say it’s causing me a lot of trouble having to adjust my way of thinking about people of different ages. Of course, now I’ve got more time to get that adjustment in, so there’s that.

– Richard

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