Our oldest is five and has been asking about doing chores around the house. While the children have always had certain family responsibilities, we decided it was time to make things a little bit more structured in hopes of them learning the value of money. We know they are young, but we appreciate their interest in wanting to earn money by doing some daily chores. Because the official allowance is now beginning {can’t believe my kiddos are old enough for this already!} we wanted to be sure to start out with a system that teaches them to save, spend and donate. ……………………. saving money 
I picked up these jars at the dollars store. With the addition of scrapbook paper and chalkboard labels we are set to go. I simply sprayed vinyl paper with chalkboard paint a while back. I now keep a roll of it on hand. Comes in handy quite a bit! 
I also spotted these sweet jars at hello, Good Gravy! Just darling. She even has these “save, give, and spend” tags ready for you to print if you have little ones at home {although even the adults need these, right!} 
From Hello, Good Gravy! …………..……….earning money Both children have a dry erase chore chart that I created. It lists age appropriate chores such as making the bed, setting the table, and bringing dishes to the counter. My daughter has begged me to let her fold laundry. Um, ok!!! The girl has some folding skills! Who knew? She even sorts. Now before you think I am some sort of slave driver, it’s an optional chore . . but so far I am loving this new trend! 
So now when the children receive their allowance on Sunday, they divide it into these three jars. We have talked about different ways we might donate when they fill their jar. During the week the jars are kept on their shelves in their rooms. 
So what about you? Do you have a way any tips for teaching your children or grandchildren the value of a dollar and how to save? As we venture down this path I am sure we have a lot to learn! Sharing this idea with: My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Love this concept, Courtney. Now if Grandma sends money, I'll know they realize the value of it and will use it wisely. 🙂
Grandma Sue
Courtney, this is such a great idea. I love the idea of teaching them to save, spend and share. We don't have children yet–but I will definitely be using something similar when the time comes. And as far as your daughter folding laundry—too cute. And hey, if she enjoys doing it, by all means. 🙂
This is such a great lesson to teach kids! Love it!!
Courtney our kids are now 12 & 15. We started the same three jar practice when they were around 5. It has been a great tool and we are so proud of how giving they are. It is a wonderful system and still in use at our house.
Cute idea! I love how you use the chalkboard labels – great idea to have a roll on hand!
Such a fun idea…and love that they get to learn about earning and giving! 🙂
I really like this idea… I could use these jars at home!
My eldest is almost five, I can't believe it might be time for an allowance! A financial advisor friend of ours got her the spend, save, donate piggy bank a year ago, but this is much cuter and more hands on for the little ones:)
Hi, Courtney! I've been a BAD, BAD blog reader…and have missed a ton of amazing posts, I'm sure! This is adorable…as always. I laughed about letting your daughter help fold. I got over "perfectly folded" clothes a long time ago. I'm so appreciative of the "help" my children give when they fold that I really don't even care WHAT it looks like as the finished product. Haha!
I've tried sticker charts for chores/behavior…but when it fills up, I never get around to making another one. I think a dry erase board is the way to go.
Looks like I have some catching up to do. Can't wait to dig back in. 😉 Hope you've been well!
This is super cute! The jars alone make me want to get going with an allowance system, but you really got me thinking. Our girls are 7 and 4 and we've never done an allowance, nor do they have a set chore chart. I think it's time to get going! 🙂 I am curious, though, how much do people pay??
This is so cute! I love the labels and the concept is just so great. I need to make some for myself 🙂
Hi Katie! Great question. I would love to know as well. We are doing $3 a week. We happened upon that number because we knew dividing either dollar bills or quarters . . or a mix would be easy at this age. Would be curious to see what others do.
Thanks for writing me back Courtney! (I love your blog – totally drooling over the Target find, by the way :)). I think $3 a week makes total sense. Especially for their age. 🙂 I'm going to get started on this soon! Thanks so much for sharing your great idea!
What a great idea! Too late since mine are now 18 and 22, but will remember for the grandkids! LOL We never really gave ours a "set" amount. There were just certain things they were expected to do, just like we didn't pay for good grades (yes, parents do that!). Our girls knew if they wanted something they had to ask, we would carefully consider it (was it a need, a want, something worth the money?). As they got a bit older and made their own money, we let them manage it. I am glad we did. I have so many friends who handled their kids money up until they left for college only to find out they had no idea how to manage it. Yes, our oldest spent her babysitting money too quickly, hard lesson learned, but it made her more aware and she become quite the thrifty shopper! I have heard of people giving a dollar per year of age. Let's face it, even at 16 ($16 a week) most teens couldn't go to the movies and get a popcorn! At times like that we looked at our kids behavior that week, was it a treat that was earned?
You are a smart mom!! This will lead to great habits when it comes to money…Janell
Girl, you are an inspiration on all levels…I am definitely needing to do this with our little ones! My son has really been on a money earning kick, too (he's also five), but I've been reluctant to give him money because I just didn't know what exactly he would *DO* with it! (c: This is totally perfect!
I love this idea and will definitely implement when my girls are older! I may even let them each design their own jars as a fun activity! I think $3 sounds totally reasonable and I also agree it helps divide it into the 3 pots.
What a wonderful idea!! I'm going to share this with my sister who has 3 little ones. Also, great tip for the chalkboard labels. thanks!
Awww, your blog is A-dorable!! I'm a new follower and can't wait to read more. These save, spend, donate jars are such a cute idea! I'd love for you to come over and follow us! 🙂
http://www.jenandjercook.blogspot.com
xoxo,
~Jeni
Oh my word I am loving this idea. I definitely think I need to do this as well. Thanks for sharing! xo
I came from iheart organizing, looking for more info on your chalkboard labels.
First want to say that I have an awesome book for my kids. I think it's called Three Jars, from Thomas Nelson publishing. It's about this concept, but it's written specifically for kids. We gave it to my daughter for Christmas this past year, along with 3 jars and her first chore chart (and hence, the ability to earn a small weekly allowance).
I went back to your first post about the labels, where you suggested using contact paper or paper vinyl. How well is contact paper supposed to stick? I'm trying to ascertain whether mine is faulty or if it is supposed to have a lousy stickiness factor. If that's the case, I wonder where you buy paper vinyl?
I really loved your pantry makeover, and I want to make mine look like that. Thanks for the great inspiration!
I've been doing the same with my 5 yr old and almost 3 yr old, although your jars are much prettier than the ones I made! Our kids automatically put 10% in the give jar and it goes to church, specifically for mission projects related to children. As for save vs. spend jars haven't quite figured out how to divy up the amounts/percentages, but the system overall is working really well!
We recently started a contribution chart at our house with spend, save, and share jars. You can see and reading about it here: http://dejongdreamhouse.blogspot.com/2012/07/chores-for-preschooler-and-high.html
My daughter is 6 months, so glad i read this what a great idea for savings, spending and donating!! i'll start this when she's older!!! love love love it
We also have the book Three Cups by Tony Townsley. Great way to introduce the idea of dividing money three ways. Our daughter received the book and three cups from a family friend and we love it.
We have also told our daughter that we will personally match any money she uses from her "give" cup. She is 6. She recently made her first gift from her cup. She gave $15 to buy mosquito nets for kids in Africa (after they discussed this in school), so we gave $15, and she was able to buy 3 nets for kids ($10 each). Great way to show what she can do, even at 6 years old!
Can I ask where you got those jars? I want to make my sister some for "dream" jars for her new house she just bought and I really like the style!
Not to sound dumb, but is vinyl paper and contact paper the same thing? I love the idea of making those cute labels.