IMHO.

It's nice to see that your family feels so comfortable around each other that they can do this. They trust each other, and that is good.

The real world isn't so good, and I shudder to think what their "friends" do when they aren't loooking or paying attention. They are too old for a piggybank, but a bank account with no monthly fee's might not be out of the question. That way, the bulk of the money is safe from sticky fingers.

I never got an allowance myself, and I will always remember my dad telling me that if I wanted something I had better start saving for it. Though, a good primer for me were the old S&H green stamps they used to give out, and the returnable Coca-Cola bottles. Both of these were great ways to teach a kid about the value of money.

Today, it's a mostly cashless society, so young men and women can't/don't see the real deal green stuff changing hands and making the world go 'round. It's just numbers on paper anymore. If we were on the gold standard today, it would be easier to explain the value of money.