Should you ask kids to do chores in return for getting a fixed amount of money?

When it comes to money, topic A for discussion between parents and children is allowance. No single allowance system works for every family. But any system will work if you follow a couple of basic rules.

First, don't start handing out money until your children are old enough to manage it, which means at least first grade. Second, keep the system simple so that you can manage it.

One of the most contentious issues is whether to ask kids to do chores in return for getting a fixed amount of money on a regular schedule. Pose this question to a group of parents and you'll find they inevitably split into two camps.

On the "yes" side are parents who don't want to hand money over to their children without getting elbow grease in return. For these parents, pay without work sounds like a free lunch. And how else would they get little Billy to make his bed?

In the "no" camp are parents who think that kids should do chores free because they're part of the family: If they make a mess, they should clean it up. If you start paying for chores, you could end up raising a gang of little mercenaries who demand "How much will I get?" every time you ask them to help unload the groceries or set the table.

Besides, some children aren't motivated by money, so cash won't coax them into taking out the trash. And a system that's linked to chores can be an administrative nightmare for Mom and Dad, who can lose track of whether little Billy has actually made his bed every day.

To help find a workable solution to the allowance-for-chores quandary, I offer a couple of alternatives.

If your main goal is to teach your kids to manage money (and, I confess, this is my preference), give them a basic allowance that isn't linked to chores but is tied to certain spending responsibilities.

For example, you might require them to pay for their own video games and CDs, movie tickets and mall excursions with their friends. It's the easiest system to manage, yet the allowance isn't just a handout; it's directly tied to financial "jobs" your kids take over from you.

If you still want to teach them the value of working for pay, you can always let them earn extra cash for extra jobs, such as raking leaves, washing the car or cleaning the garage. That also gives youngsters a way to supplement their basic allowance.

How do you decide which expenses your kids should cover? Start small. For example, put young children in charge of the one thing they most like to spend money on, whether it's stickers, crayons or mini racing cars. Once they're accustomed to making their own purchases, you can expand the allowance as they get older to cover snacks after school, entertainment and clothing.

If you're set on making chores the quid pro quo for getting an allowance, go ahead and do it. But often it's tough for you to keep tabs on whether your kids have actually done the work.

To make the bookkeeping easier -- and to make the connection between work and pay more direct -- consider paying your kids as soon as a job is done to your satisfaction instead of waiting for a designated payday. Or put your children in charge of keeping track of chores completed. If they fall down on the job, their pocketbook takes a direct hit.

Here's another tip: Attach a value to each household chore and post a list. Then let your kids select the ones they want to do.

To avoid turning your children into money-grubbers who refuse to do anything without being paid, expect them to do some basic chores free -- say, making their beds and cleaning their rooms. And if they ask how much you'll give them in return, tell them what I've always told my children: They'll earn your undying love and affection.