Extra Chores + Free Printables

Now that J has steady employment, we've been discussing how to handle the issue of allowance with the kids. In the past, we gave them a small weekly sum simply to teach them how money works {and to stave off the gimme's that always struck while going through the check out at the grocery store} but now that they're older, we feel they're ready to earn their money, as well as become serious about paying their tithing and putting away savings. 

We discussed which household tasks {separate from their daily chores} we'd be willing to pay for, then made up a reference chart with the appropriate sums. We also decided we wanted to put them on an old fashioned envelope system: each child having an envelope for giving {10%}, saving {10%} and spending. 

Instead of paper envelopes {which wouldn't last 24 hours in this household}, I found several inexpensive mesh cosmetic bags in the dollar section at Target and bought blue for the boys, pink for Little Miss C. I then made color-coded 'Give', 'Save', and 'Spend' tags {a different color for each child, corresponding with their color coded chore charts-- geeky, I know}, laminated them, and placed them inside the mesh bags.

Next, I hung them in the pantry + command center with the chore charts.

I've talked about their chore charts in a previous post, but made a modified version for their extra chores. Each time they do an extra chore, we write down what the task was, how much they earned, and on which day the task was completed.

Once a week {after Family Home Evening} we add up their totals and they get paid, immediately placing the appropriate amounts in their corresponding envelopes.

It's only been a week so far, but so far they're so excited to earn money that they've glossed over the fact that we don't give them an allowance any more. :) Orderly stuff like this makes me ridiculously happy.

What about you? Do you give your children an allowance? Have them earn it? Do you put a cap on what they can earn {like we do-- or we'd go broke}? Do tell.

PS If you like, you can print the modified chore charts here or the Give, Save, Spend tags here.

DIY Under-bed Storage

I've been meaning {for years!} to buy some storage drawers to slide under the boy's beds, but most options seemed to be either prohibitively expensive, unsightly, or both. So when I saw this DIY idea from Better Homes and Gardens, I had to give it a try. I purchased a few mismatched drawers from my local ReStore, slapped some paint, casters and fresh knobs on them, and voila! Rolling under-bed storage!

Here's the cost breakdown: 

Drawers: $2 each

Rolling Casters: $3 each {for 8, this was the most expensive part of the project}

Knobs: $1 each {except for the Anthro one I already had}

Paint: already had on hand

Cork Shelf Liner: left-over from organizing the pantry

Total: $32 for both.

I love them. They roll smoothly, look expensive, and work perfectly. I plan to make some for Little Miss C's bed as well. :)

Do Your Chores

Even though I'm used to having the kids around me all day due to homeschooling, the intense Arizona summer heat means that they're spending much more time indoors. In an effort to ensure that they don't drive me completely nuts {or spend every waking hour in front of the television} I'm re-evaluating how much cleaning they're capable of and am making new chore charts accordingly. These ones are simple, customizable, and pleasing to the eye. :)

Pantry Makeover

Beautifying the pantry has been on my to do list since January's fit of organization. Six months later, I finally got around to it! Remarkably, once I went through the most time-consuming portion-- gathering glass jars and enamel containers while on a budget-- the rest was accomplished in just a single afternoon.

I started with a rather ordinary collection of baking supplies, cereals and the remains of my non-staple food storage.

I cleared everything out, {and should have taken a picture of it all on my countertops! I had no idea so much stuff could fit in a small pantry!} washed all the shelves with a damp rag, and painted the walls with some paint I had on hand. {Martha Stewart's Beach Glass, from her old Sherwin Williams line}

Next, I sorted everything according to what I use nearly every day for cooking, baking or snacking, and the rest went in to our longer-term food storage pantry. Most dry goods were put into jars, while boxed goods and packages of pasta hid out in enamel file boxes.

Voila! Relatively instantaneous improvement. There is still plenty of room to add jars as I need them, and the floor space is perfect for my step stool from Ikea, also painted Beach Glass. I have plans to add a cork board or something to the back of the door for my menus and shopping list, but that's for another post. :)

In the meantime, I need your help! I used cork shelf liner for one of the shelves. Though it's expensive {about $10 a roll, and I'd need three more rolls to complete the pantry} I like the 'cushioning' effect it has under all the heavy glass jars.

However, J thinks the cork isn't as clean looking as plain white painted shelves:

What do you think? Worth the expense or an eyesore?

Glass Storage Jars

I've been dreaming of a pristinely organized pantry {like this one from the woman behind EmersonMade.} One with glass jars, vintage metal baskets, and enamel bins. Especially now that I'm doing so much cooking and baking. Wouldn't it be heartening to open the door to this every morning?

However, glass jars {and wire baskets, enamel bins, etc} can be expensive. I've been keeping my eyes open at thrift stores for interestingly shaped or large glass jars, saving and washing out spaghetti sauce jars, and collecting canning jars.

The smaller ones are easy to find, and economical choices are available at places like IKEA. The large ones are elusive and often cost upwards of $20 each. I wanted two {for my white and wheat flour} and was thus thrilled when I found these at Cost Plus World Market:

I can't find them online, but in the store they sell for $15 each. They are 12 inch tall, 2 gallon capacity jars and hold about two bags of flour {or a whole lot of freshly ground wheat flour!} Best of all, you can use this coupon to get $10 off of your $30 purchase, making them just $10 each. 

Now to make some simple labels {I want something similar to this, but with frosted decals instead of etched glass} and I'll be well on my way towards finishing my pantry makeover!

How do you store pantry items? Did I miss any great resources?