Allowance Chart Template
A chore-to-money allowance chart for kids. Match each chore to a rate, check off the week, and split earnings into save, spend, and donate jars.
Use this templateWhat you get
- Chore × amount table with a running weekly total
- Three scenes: earn-by-chore, weekly fixed allowance, and save-spend-donate
- Editable rates, chores, and jars — replace the examples with your family's rules
What this template is for
An allowance chart is the difference between paying your child for chores and actually teaching them what money is for. It turns 'how much did I earn this week?' into a table where every chore has a rate, every row has a check, and the total adds up at the bottom. The core idea is the chore-to-money match: take out trash earns $1, wash dishes earns $2, and each amount sits right next to the chore so the link is impossible to miss. This template gives you three scenes to adapt. The first is an earn-by-chore allowance chart — a list of chores, each paired with a rate and a done check, plus a running weekly total. The second is a weekly fixed allowance, where a base amount is paid regardless and bonus chores add on top. The third is the save-spend-donate split: whatever they earn flows into three jars — save 50%, spend 40%, donate 10% — with a labeled purpose in each. Every rate, chore, and jar is a replaceable example, so you can tune it to your child's age and your family's rules. This chart structures the money; it does not tell you what to pay — that is a conversation for your family. Build the chart around your real setup: which chores earn money, whether the base is fixed or earned, and how the week's total gets divided.
When to use this template
- Earn by chore — pair each chore with a rate and check it off for the week.
- Run a weekly fixed allowance — a base amount plus paid bonus chores.
- Split earnings three ways with a save, spend, and donate jar.
- Set different rates per chore so harder jobs pay more.
- Show the running weekly total so the child sees the sum, not just the rows.
- Adjust the split and jar purposes as the child's goals change.
How to use it
- 1Decide the model first: earn-by-chore, fixed weekly, or a mix of both.
- 2List the chores and assign each one a rate the whole family agrees on.
- 3Set the base amount if you use a weekly fixed allowance.
- 4Add bonus chores with their own rates for extra earning.
- 5Check off chores as they are done and read the weekly total.
- 6Split the total into save, spend, and donate jars with a stated purpose.
Quick example
Weekly allowance chart
Related resources
How it compares to similar tools
Allowance chart vs. chore chart
A chore chart tracks who does what; an allowance chart adds money to the equation. Every chore gets a rate and a running total, so the child learns the link between work and pay rather than just checking tasks off.
Earn-by-chore vs. weekly fixed allowance
Earn-by-chore pays only for what gets done, which teaches effort-tied income. A weekly fixed allowance is paid regardless, with bonuses on top, which teaches a steady base plus optional extras. Many families blend both.
Allowance chart vs. allowance app
An allowance app automates balances and payouts. A printable or whiteboard allowance chart keeps the numbers visible on the wall where the whole family sees them — useful when you want the totals in plain sight and editable by hand.
Common mistakes to avoid
Chores without rates
A chart that lists chores but no amounts never connects work to money. Put a rate next to every chore so the child sees exactly what each task earns.
Changing rates every week
If the rate for washing dishes moves around, the child learns the number is negotiable rather than earned. Set rates, write them down, and stick to them for a season.
No total at the bottom
Rows alone hide the sum. Add a weekly total so the child watches the number climb as chores get checked off.
Paying without a split
Handing over the whole total teaches spending, not saving or giving. Route the money through save, spend, and donate so a portion is set aside by habit.
Ignoring the child's age
A rate chart for a six-year-old should not look like a teenager's job board. Match the number of chores and the dollar amounts to the child's age, and revisit them as they grow.
Frequently asked questions
What is an allowance chart?+
An allowance chart is a visual table that pairs each chore with the amount it earns, tracks what is done each week, and totals the money at the bottom. It teaches kids the link between work and pay in one glance.
What is a good allowance chart for kids?+
A good allowance chart for kids keeps chores on one side and rates on the other, adds a done check per row, and shows a weekly total. It should also split earnings into save, spend, and donate so the money goes somewhere on purpose.
How much allowance should each chore earn?+
There is no single right number — rates depend on the child's age and your family budget. A common starting point is $1 to $2 per chore, with harder or longer jobs like mowing the lawn paying more than quick ones like taking out the trash.
What is a chore allowance chart?+
A chore allowance chart is an allowance chart built around chores: each task lists an amount, and the child earns the total of the chores they finish. It differs from a fixed allowance, which is paid regardless of chores.
Should allowance be tied to chores or paid weekly?+
Both work, and many families combine them. Tying allowance to chores teaches effort-tied income; a weekly fixed amount teaches a steady base. A blended approach pays a base weekly and adds paid bonus chores on top.
Does this chart tell me what to pay my child?+
No. The template gives the chore-to-rate structure and example amounts, but the actual rates and rules are yours to set. What you pay depends on your child's age and your family's values, not on the chart.
Start editing online
Open the template in CodePic, replace the sample content, and make it your own in a few minutes.
See examples: /templates/allowance-chart/examples
