I never got into that with my kids. We buy what they need regardless. Actually it would be cheaper on us if we did do allowances and made them spend their own for those things kids call necessities and we call frivolous...like 900 gel pens, etc. Exaggeration, but you get the drift!

That said, and since she is asking to make money, you might put a list of "extra" type chores on a big poster board and make slots for quarters to fit beside each chore. If she does the chore she gets the quarter. Things like using the hand vacumn on the car floor or vacuming the couch, putting away brother's toys since he is a baby. . .that sort of thing. Just a thought. I'm with you though, some things are expected for no pay "just because its how families do when you have this many people in a house".