OHIO — Doing chores around the house is often times the last thing kids want to do, but families are now finding that an app which keeps track of chores is a great incentive. That's because there's money involved. 

What You Need To Know

  • The BusyKid app allows children to get paid every Friday after parents approve the chores and payroll

  • Parents choose the amount for each chore 

  • Money is automatically split between personal spending, savings, charity and stocks 

  • Kids get their own debit card for spending 

While some K-12 school districts teach financial literacy, there are a number of others that don't. That's why business owner Gregg Murset created the BusyKid app. With six kids of his own, he said it was important for his kids to learn about money in a real way, while developing a good work ethic.  

Jeanette and Brad Hayes said their family started using the app a few years ago. In the app, they can load the chores and then their kids can check off each one as they complete them. While doing chores around the house was nothing new for their kids, doing them took on a whole new meaning.

“Initially you know they were like, 'Oh we got money!'" said Jeanette Hayes. "'Let's buy this! Let's buy that.' And (somewhere) along the way they kind of discovered like, "Hey you know, I don't have the money saved up for this or that.'”

With a new reality check, she said, they started to learn about the value of a dollar, spending and saving it.

For the few that had a hard time holding onto money in the beginning, that changed over time. As the spenders realized they didn’t have money for certain things or saw the savers getting more expensive things, they started to take note.

Parker Hayes, 11, used to be a spender, but he eventually learned that sometimes you might like something now, but not so much later. So spending money on certain things immediately can end up being a waste. He said things have changed now as he thinks about how he chooses to spend his money. Older brother, Riley Hayes, was a saver from the start. He spent three years doing chores and finally saved up enough money to purchase his own laptop. 

Brad Hayes said overall, the app helped all of his kids become more responsible.

“The biggest benefit has been a way for the kids to like keep track of their money without us worrying up they're gonna lose it.”

Not only do kids become more conscious and responsible, but creator and CEO of the BusyKid app Gregg Murset said it gives the chance to see what's really happening financially in your home. He suggests not just giving kids money or buying things for them when they have their own debit card with money in the account. Instead, he said to try the following: 

  • Teach them how to put a little into something they can appreciate like stocks when using the app regardless of the market going up and down.
  • Let them experience buyer’s remorse after making purchases for things that get broken quick.
  • Let them experience the pain of spending when they buy stock, and lose money as the market drops because those are the life lessons they’ll need for later.
  • Teach them how to give back to something they care about and that makes the world a better place.
  • Let them use their own card to buy stuff and let them make mistakes.
  • Let them experience buyer’s remorse because it’s better to learn it at age 11 versus 24 when they’ve bought something they can’t afford.
  • If you lost a job or your pay was cut, then cut their pay as well as a way for them to understand that the family finances have changed.
  • Be transparent with your kids about how much the bills are in your household, so they can be more conscientious when there is an economic downturn.