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I had chores growing up. It was my job to feed the cat and dog, walk the dog three times a day (once before school, once after school, and once after dinner), mow the lawn, take out the cat litter, and shovel the driveway. Merely being reminded of one of my duties was grounds for at least a week of grounding. I got an allowance for about three weeks at $1 a week (roughly 1990) and again for a few weeks in 1993 at $3 a week. If I asked for money when going out with my friends I was always told "no". I was expected to buy Christmas presents and birthday presents for other family members, and my only source of money was birthday money--so I usually ended up spending my birthday money on presents for other family members throughout the year (if my sister or father didn't steal the money from me). In 1994, sophomore year of high school, I got a job against my parent's wishes and finally had some money.

My sister had no chores. Ever. She got paid the same allowance I did for the same brief periods. Because she never had to be reminded to do chores (as she didn't have any) she rarely got grounded. (I was grounded frequently.) If she asked for money for going out with her friends, she usually got it. She never bought gifts for other family members. She stole my birthday money when she found it. She didn't get a job until after graduating from high school. After I got a job, she would occasionally steal my checkbook and write herself checks. I bought a lock box to keep my check book and loose cash in. She stole the lock box and hid it.