The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-11-10
THE JOHNSON CHIIDREN'S
 POCKET MONEY

Last Saturday was transact
 ing some business in the local
 hank when who should walk ip
 but Mary and Claire Johnson. They didn't see me at first 50 l waA
 able to watch them march up to
 the savings deposit window and
 hand In two shiny metal banks.
 The young clerk evidently knew
 the children, for there was q them, and he made a great to-do over counting the nicklea and
 dimes and over entering the amounts in the two books. His "Good morning Miss Johnson;
 good morning Miss Claire" sound
 ed very business like and grown
 up, so I took my cue from him
 when the youngsters finally did
 see me. How do you do" l
 said; 'do you always do your
 banking on Saturdays?" Not
 every Saturday." replied Claire always the first with an answer
 You see, doctor." she went on, "we have to wait till the bank is
 fuli.-and it takes an awful lot of
 AZ we walked up the street to- gether Mary explained that they
 were all saving hard for Christ
 mas. There would be an extra
 present to buy this year. because
 Of Baby Johns arrival.
 When we got to the Johnson home lunch was on the table so
 Mrs Johnson pressed me to stay.
 After lunch. when the children had
 gone out to play. I asked her
 about the children's allowances.
 and she told me that she and MT Johnson had agreed long ago that
 each child should have an allow ance just as soon as he was able
 to understand what money was.
 They wanted their children to toward both saving and spending. and must say they have succeed
 cd remarkably well. l asked her if she would mind telling me what each child's al-
 lowance was. mnd she did so will ingly, It appears that Baby John l doesn't have any allowance as yet
 which after all isn't strange! Three year old Robert has six
 cents week, five cents of which
 he usually spends either for q chocolate bar after lunch on Sat- urday or at the flve-and-ten cent store. The old penny goes into
 Roberts own little bank, e money pig made of china, which sits up on shelf in Roberts room and
 gets heavier each time Robert pops another penny into him. Seven year old Claire has ten
 cents . week--five to spend and five to put in her nickel bank.
 Mary, having reached the advanced age of eleven. has 26 cents . week
 to spend and ten cents to put In
 her bank, but Mary pays out of her spending allowance for her own note books, pencils, and such
 little things as she needs at school. Bills finances are more complt- cated. Ever since his 18th birth day this summer he has had $25 q month which he is learning to buy most of his clothes--shirts, pay for his own entertainments and hobbies. His father and mother are ready to give him ad- vice if asked. But he is expected to save at least ten percent each month, and more if he Is saving for some special object such as Q new suit. Bill also supplements his allowance on occasions by do- ing odd jobs during ais spare time. Recently he bought himself new football outfit by acting as handy
 man for the old ladies next door.
 For several years he has made ex- tra money by selling magazines 10 the people in the neighhorhOod, | 10 he knows how to earn as well
 as spend. Mrs Johnson told me that Bill quito enjoys making up
 his monthly balance sheet, and that he is learning fast how to
 use his money to the best advan-
 tage.
 She also explained that sine and their father never bribe the chil- dren nor pay them for doing their share iu the house and garden. Each child has his special 1ob (which he performs as q member of