Zone Defense!

We had FHE tonight to accomplish 2 things. First we want to take a small family vacation this summer. No grand plans but we will be going to Boise to spend a long weekend with my SIL Sondra! The kids will want to go to the swim park and school shop etc. Well vacations cost money and I am unwilling to just pay for it without them earning it.

We decided how much money we will need and how many months we have to earn it. We then decided the kids will do chores. We have attempted this before give them jobs, they earn allowance. They always start with a bang and end with a fizzle. They do have to do chores around here and have responsibility but we haven't been doing the allowance. Tonight that is changing.
We broke the house down into zones. Discussed what rooms go in what zones and what has to be done in that zone weekly/daily. Plus they are responsible for cleaning their rooms daily. In return they get $5.00 a week a person to add to the vacation jar that will be sitting out. If they don't do it they lose a dollar that day a privilege and get put on the wall of shame. Each zone is posted with the daily/weekly jobs that have to be done so there will be no excuse but mom... I didn't know I had to do that... Some zones are of course easier then others but each week we rotate so it is fair to everyone and with 4 zones you pretty much only have to do that job one week a month. Hope will still get the allowance but she really won't have her own zone each day she will help 1 person in their zone.

I am really excited, it teaches my kids they need to budget to save and earn for what they want. We will have an amazing vacation with Sondra and Brady (Yeah) and best of all my house will be clean without me busting my butt or yelling at them all the time. They were told they still have to be responsible if they make a snack etc, they still need to clean up after themselves instead of assuming the person who has the zone will do it for them. Here's looking forward to a new way of doing things!