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We've have started asking Cooper and Elizabeth to help out with chores around the house. We don't give them an allowance yet.

I know that when I was a teenager I received an allowance and I can't remember whether I did before that or not.

What is your feeling on allowances? Would you rather them learn to share in family responsibilities w/o a pay-off or learn lessons about earning and saving/spending?

Well, My kids only get money for chores if they do the "hated" ones witout being told to do it. Like mowing the grass of doing dishes..etc. I believe that everyone should do their share and if they do it with responsibility and without being forced to do it..then I will reward them with money or buying something they have been wanting within reason. I believe if we just hand them stuff all the time...they will never know what it is like to work for something you really want.

We started giving Caleigh an allowance just after her 4th birthday. We had her begin 'helping out' before she was 2, but it was simple picking up after herself. As she got older and showed more interest in 'helping out' we gave her more responsibility. Our decision to give her an allowance was based on how much she does and to teach her about money.
I make a chart for the month, but we pay her weekly. Her list includes: making her bed, getting dressed, brushing her teeth, put toys away, put clothes away, bath/shower, bed time with no problems, school (as long as she attends and has a good day), good morning (no problems with getting up and ready for school); and overall good day. Each item she does without being told, she gets a sticker, then on Sunday morning she counts her stickers. then she gets the calculator and multiplies that number by 10 (for 10 cents) and thats the amount she receives.
She has learned about saving her money to buy something she really wants, or sometimes we have split the cost evenly with her. Our decision to do this was to begin teaching her about money and cost of things. As well as why we can't always afford everything whenever we want it.