I was browsing the Web last night for tips on using coupons and being frugal, and I found a page offering an interesting challenge to readers: What has couponing taught you?. There were lots of responses, but the one I liked best came from reader luvmyk9mags:

I started my love affair with coupons as a young girl. My “allowance” was based on the amount of money I saved our family in coupons each week – my mom would pay me cash for the amount of money I saved the family. This was an awesome way to learn the value of coupons early on. I encourage everyone to include their kids in the experience – the knowledge will save them thousands of dollars over the course of their lifetime.

What a brilliant idea! I absolutely love the fact that the kids get to earn their own money in a simple, safe, and easy way, and be rewarded with an allowance that ends up costing the parents nothing, because it’s money saved. And what a great way to instill frugality, respect for prices, and a love of coupons in a child early on. That’s a lesson that will stick with him for years.

I’ve already told my sister to keep this tip in mind when my niece is ready for an allowance, and I plan to tell all my friends. Boy, if my folks had used that trick on me as a kid, I would’ve been rolling in the dough.

Have any of you guys got any other fun ideas for determining kids’ allowances? I love it when parents get creative, and I know our other readers would love to hear your ideas, too.