Our girls have been geting an allowance since about that age. Right now DD12.5 gets $10.00 a week and DD16.9 gets $15.00 a week. We don't pay for regular chores/housekeeping or for grades, although we do occasionally "supplement" low funds for a specific item/event by paying for "above-and-beyond" tasks (ie: DD12.5 needed about $8.00 "more" to buy a specific piece of software so she swept and washed the proch, deck and sidewalks) and we often set a reward for reaching a goal...DD12.5 wants to eat at The Melting Pot so that will be the reward for meeting some learning goals/tasks that we'll set for her first grading period in 7th grade(first year in middle school here.)

Some of our guidelines are: if an outing is our idea (DH and/or I), we pay. If we are included in the activity, we also pay. If we drive but are NOT included, they pay. We pay for meals on outings. We don't buy "toy" souvineers. Ever.

We cover the costs of school and scout related activities (except for junkfood, snacks, etc.)

They buy their own music, software, batteries, etc.

We have given DD(almost 17) a budget for all her "senior-year" related stuff and will let her decide what the priorities are: the more she spends on pictures, the less she has for prom, etc. She also has two BIG trips this year (Florida with the band for Spring Break and Europe with my mother after graduation!) so she know she needs to be saving for that.

Both of our DDS seem to be thoughtful spenders...possibly because I don't "shop" for fun at all. Both will research and compare prices before buying, and DD12.5 expecially LOVES to get a bargin! That's my girl!

Blessings!
Lenora