I can relate to the 7 days a week working and tightening your belts, since we have one in college and one headed to college in the fall. I am in school 3 nights a week, run a business as an esthetician/makeup artist in new practice and run a business from home. Plus, we have 4 children, a son 20, and 3 daughters 17, 12 and 11. But we don't pay for chores to be done. We all share the use of our home and we all must care for it. From the time they were small starting with folding laundry and setting the table we all have our part to do in the care of our home. By the time my son was fifteen he could cook a 4 course meal for 10 and he did for my birthday that year, very much to my surprise!
We have tried to teach them pride in being part of the family and doing their part is what helps keep the household running smoothly.
Skip your chores lose a privilege...your choice.
Have alot of homework tonight??? Then someone else will help you out just remember to help them next time they need it or take their turn next time.
Now, I do pay my girls for helping clean my office (I am an esthetician and my practice is near home), they wash (1.00 per load) the linens and fold them (1.00 per load), vacuum 1.00, dust 1.00, and emptying the trash $1.00. If they are at the office when I am finishing with a client they now know how to clean an reset the room while I am checking the client out. And helping with filing for my at home business is $5.00 per hour! They love to help with this one! BTW, they are 11 and 12. They have learned the value of work and they divide their income in half with 50% to savings and then from the remaining portion they put 10% in giving.
When my older two were younger, since I have always worked from home I paid them to do things related to my business as well. Labeling things, filing, cleaining my work space etc.
We do pay for things like cleaning the garage or basement, raking leaves, helping maintain the property since these are not everyday chores that are just part of running the household. But we have the same money split system with whatever they get paid. They love going to the bank and enjoy the thrill of giving to others and then having some money of their own to keep or spend on something of their choice. We also explain that we have our money split too...some to taxes, savings, giving and the rest for what the family needs.
For household chores we rotate them according to family schedules. That way no on person is over burdened at any one time but everyone has their role to play. It isn't always perfect but it is a system and as Flylady says (check out Flylady.net), "a job done imperfectly still blesses". So I try not to obsese over the things that are not done or done the way I would like them...they are still a blessing.
Hope this helps in some way and blessings to you.
G.~~~