Nickel Noodles

We had struggled for a while with how we wanted our kids to earn money. We didn't like the idea of allowance but we felt they were ready to earn a little bit. We started nickel noodles.

Here's how it works.

On my counter is a small bowl of macaroni noodles and a bud vase.
Whenever the kids do anything we want to acknowledge and reward we ask them to "put a noodle in". They earn a noodle for anything good. Good grades, good manners, kind speaking, being helpful, making good choices, really, anything good. One noodle. That's all.


The first Sunday of every month the noodles in the bud vase are counted and divided equally amongst the kids. It's collective. This way they encourage each other to make good choices and are excited for each others good achievements.


They earn a nickel for every noodle. The noodles go back in the bowl and they start over.


What's nice? The pay out is never huge but it's always enough to please even my 9 year old.

They like trying to earn more noodles then they had in the previous month. They are always proud of themselves as the number of noodles directly reflects their actions and behavior.


There are times when Bailey comes to me and says "I love you mom. Noodle?" To which I always reply "of course". Hey, I'm not going to question the motives behind niceness, goodness, and helpfulness. I just need them to happen.