Funny Money
©2005 Julie Ryals

Being a busy mom of six, I had to come up with something that would make my children want to do extra chores around the house, but with excitement and without being asked is always nice.  We created what is in our house called "Funny Money".  Each "bill" is worth fifty cents or 20 minutes of video game time.  They can cash them in right away or even better... save them until they have a bunch which is worth more to them.

To earn the "bills", they can do anything that is extra.  Things like playing with the baby while mom works, cleaning up someone else's toys, cleaning up the bathroom, taking out the garbage, feeding the dogs, etc.  Their every day stuff like picking up their room, making their beds and so on, do not count since that is part of life.

To get the kids to do anything extra, all we have to do is remind them that there is a stack of "cash" in the kitchen.  They are eager and ready to "work".  It's a great way to earn their allowance each week and have fun while doing it.  It's also a really good way to limit game time.  We seem to have a problem with that in our house.  My kids tend love their video game systems a little too much.

I've created a page full of Funny Money to share with your family.  One page will print 10 "bills".  I print on card stock and they can be reused once they are cashed in.

I hope this works for you as a good as it does for our family. 
Click to print your Funny Money.