Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 250, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1912 — Give the Child an Allowance. [ARTICLE]

Give the Child an Allowance.

Experience confirms the opinion allowing the children a stated amount of spending money and, as they grow older, money for their entire expenditure, tends to form independence of character, just sense of values, selfrespect and keen business ability. Being a mother of six, I awoke to the fact that a serious problem was. confronting me. My method of allowing the children to come to me for every penny needed was making them extravagant spendthrifts; with no sense of real money value. The problem was solved by giving each child a stated weekly allowance and an account book, in which to keep a strict account of money received and expended. To create interest, once a week we had our "Business Hour,” when books carefully looked over, mistakes noted and instruction in book-keeping given. Soon there began to be rivalry, in regard to the neatest account books were balanced, and the biggest return from money expended. I did not try to control the manner of spending, believing experience vto be the best teacher. I let them suffer the consequences of their own mistakes, giving advice about spendlng only when consulted. In consequence, they are developing wise forethought, strength of dharaeacter, economy and business-like, systematic habits, which I trust will be of untold benefit through their lives. —Mrs. E. W.