A chore points chart makes completed work visible and gives a household a shared way to celebrate progress. It can help organize a routine, but it does not replace an agreement about who does what. Start with a small set of chores and rewards people actually want.
Set points from a consistent effort unit
Chores Weekly defaults to minutes: one minute of estimated chore effort equals one point. A 10-minute task earns 10 points; a 30-minute task earns 30. Estimates are agreed values, not a stopwatch measurement. A household can use another custom unit, but everyone should understand what it means.
| Chore | Cadence | Points per completion | Weekly points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen reset | Three times a week | 15 | 45 |
| Vacuum living room | Once a week | 25 | 25 |
| Fold shared towels | Once a week | 10 | 10 |
| Take out trash | Twice a week | 10 | 20 |
This list offers 100 points across the household, not 100 points to every person. If two people split it equally, each has a target of roughly 50 points. Larger chores or different availability may make the split uneven in a particular week.
Choose rewards that fit the earning pace
Ask members to suggest rewards, then check that their costs match the points they can realistically earn. In the two-person example, a 50-point reward is about one week of effort for each person. A 200-point reward takes about four weeks if they earn 50 each week and save those points.
| Reward idea | Example cost | Agreement to make first |
|---|---|---|
| Pick the weekend movie | 40 points | Set the date and agree on available choices |
| Choose a shared dessert | 60 points | Agree on budget and dietary preferences |
| Pick a family outing | 150 points | Choose from outings the household can afford |
| Swap one chore next week | 80 points | Confirm who takes it and rebalance the plan |
Keep rewards specific and achievable. A chore swap is an agreement with another member, not permission to leave necessary work undone. Avoid setting costs so high that a reward always feels out of reach, or so low that every completion requires a new negotiation.
Keep lifetime progress separate from spendable points
In Chores Weekly, completed chores contribute to lifetime progress and household levels. Reward redemptions spend available points without erasing lifetime progress. For example, someone with 120 earned points who redeems a 60-point reward has 60 available points, while their lifetime total remains 120.
Recognize consistency as well as totals. A member with limited availability may complete every agreed task while earning fewer points than someone with more time. Treat the leaderboard as a progress view rather than a judgment of someone's value to the household.
Try a two-week routine
- Agree on effort values and each person's availability.
- Choose two small rewards and one longer-term reward.
- Complete chores and check them off after the work is done.
- Review the earning pace at the end of each week and change unrealistic estimates.
Build the chore schedule in the free splitter first, then save a household account to track completion and redeem custom rewards. For a worked effort split, see the roommate chore schedule example.