We use chore markets! We have a board on the fridge where we log chores as we do them, then settle up every ~10 days, trading off against each other. Since we perceive the burden of chores differently, the “prices” aren’t fixed: we negotiate and adjust them over time. e.g., unloading the dishwasher started at ~1.33x taking out the trash; it’s now ~2x, because the dishwasher needs to be done more frequently (more repetitive = more chore-like) and with more timeliness (more urgent = more chore-like)
Some advantages I’ve observed
Price encodes the standards gap. If you care more about something, you’ll negotiate it higher. The market naturally surfaces who has higher standards for what, without it needing to be a direct conversation about “you’re not doing enough.”
It sidesteps the nagging dynamic. The person with higher standards (me, usually) doesn’t need to convince the other that the chore needs doing. They just log it and it counts.
It’s not perfect since prices are subjective and the accounting relies on good faith. But within our established level of trust, we’ve found it more adaptive than fixed assignments or schedules.
We use chore markets! We have a board on the fridge where we log chores as we do them, then settle up every ~10 days, trading off against each other. Since we perceive the burden of chores differently, the “prices” aren’t fixed: we negotiate and adjust them over time. e.g., unloading the dishwasher started at ~1.33x taking out the trash; it’s now ~2x, because the dishwasher needs to be done more frequently (more repetitive = more chore-like) and with more timeliness (more urgent = more chore-like)
Some advantages I’ve observed
Price encodes the standards gap. If you care more about something, you’ll negotiate it higher. The market naturally surfaces who has higher standards for what, without it needing to be a direct conversation about “you’re not doing enough.”
It sidesteps the nagging dynamic. The person with higher standards (me, usually) doesn’t need to convince the other that the chore needs doing. They just log it and it counts.
It’s not perfect since prices are subjective and the accounting relies on good faith. But within our established level of trust, we’ve found it more adaptive than fixed assignments or schedules.