The Mommy Buck System

 

I love the mommy buck system! I can not take any credit for the idea. The master mind behind it is Jeff Kinney, the author of the "Diary of the Wimpy Kid" series. The concept was presented on the second book "Rodrick Rules" and since then I have seen mom's all over get creative with it. Here is our version of it.

 

 

 

On an attempt to not spoil the kids and teach them the value of things, we have them earn "mommy bucks". They are also working on their math without realizing it. The "bucks" are not anything fancy, monopoly money size paper that I hand write "Mommy Buck" on. For the sake of saving paper, we have three denominations $1, $5 and $10. They earn them by doing all their chores for the day (they usually have four of those a day), by eating all their food and making happy plates (that's what we call empty plates) and the other ones I kind of make it up as
I go along.

If one of them has an exceptionally good day, or work extra hard on a project I give them a mommy buck. Since they come to work with me everyday, I sometimes use a timer and tell them that if they can play without fighting until the timer goes off (I usually give them an hour) they each get a mommy buck. Whenever they don't succeed and fight, I restart the timer so they can still have a chance and I can get even more work done.

The other great part about it, is that if we go out and they want something, we don't just get it for them, we ask if they would like to work fr it, and if they do, we buy it and put it on the mommy buck shop.

The "Mommy Buck Shop" has toys as well as perks. Next to the shelf with the toys, taped on the wall, is a list of "other buys" that they can use they bucks on. They also only get to shop once a week, normally on Saturdays. and sometimes they don't buy anything at all, they save up for a bigger thing.

The kids are little and I'm sure the system will change as they grow. They will eventually have different ways of earning it and eventually they will earn it for different things. But for now, I'm really happy it is working.

Anyone else using mommy bucks? Is it working for you?
I would love to hear from other moms out there.