Guide

By the MyListResort team · Updated August 10, 2026

How to set up a kids’ chore and allowance system that sticks

The simplest chore-and-allowance system is an adult-managed board: list the chores, put a value on each, assign them, record what is done, then approve and pay out. Eligible household members age 13+ can use their own accounts; adults manage the board for younger children. Here’s how to set one up in a few minutes with MyListResort, without a debit card. The chore and allowance features cost nothing; the board itself is an ordinary list, so it counts toward your plan like any other.

The five-minute setup

1. Make a chore board
   Create a new list in MyListResort and pick the Chore board template. It sets up an owner planning Backlog that the standard member board UI hides, then To Do, Doing, and Done. The hidden lane is not for confidential information.
2. Add chores and give each a value
   Add each chore as a card and set an amount: a dollar value for allowance, or plain points if you reward with screen time or privileges. Whatever fits your family.
3. Assign the chores
   Assign each chore to an eligible household member age 13+ using their own account, then release it to To Do. For a younger child, keep the board adult-managed and record progress from the adult account.
4. Record what is done
   Eligible household members age 13+ can move their assigned chores from To Do to Doing to Done on their own accounts. An adult records completions for younger children. Non-owner members cannot edit, delete, or take another person’s chores.
5. Approve and pay out
   When a chore reaches Done its value adds to that child’s running total. On payday, one tap records who earned what and resets the board for the next round. MyListResort keeps the tally; you settle up in cash.

Points or money?

Both work. Give a chore a dollar amount for real allowance, or plain points if you’d rather reward with screen time, privileges, or a treat. Running totals and payouts behave the same either way, so you can start with points and switch to dollars later.

One kid or a whole crew

Eligible household members age 13+ can join with their own accounts; assign each person’s chores and MyListResort keeps separate running totals. For younger children, an adult keeps the board on the adult account and records progress. Nobody using a member account can grab or complete another person’s assigned chore.

No card, no bank

MyListResort isn’t a bank and never moves money. It records chore values and payout totals, and an adult settles up outside the Service however the family prefers. No bank or card connection is required.

Make it stick

The systems that last are visible and consistent. Keep the board where kids can see their progress, pay out on the same day each week, and keep values small and predictable. Because the board is live, eligible household members can watch their total climb on their own accounts, while an adult can show younger children the progress recorded for them.

Start a chore board

More on the feature: the family chore chart it’s built on · it runs on a progress board (the feature page).