Parents do not directly type over a family member’s S’mores balance.

They use:

• Bonus to add S’mores
• Penalty to remove S’mores

These actions create a Wallet record so the family can see why the balance changed.

Manual Bonus

A manual Bonus adds S’mores to Spend.

It may be used for:

• Recognizing extra effort
• Correcting a missing earning
• Celebrating a family contribution
• Supporting a special goal
• Giving a parent-approved adjustment

The S’mores can later be moved from Spend to Save or Goal.

Penalty

Penalty removes S’mores from Spend.

It does not remove from Save or Goal.

Use Penalty only when the family rule was clear before the action.

Examples may include:

• A known family consequence
• Correcting an incorrect extra balance
• Reversing a parent-approved adjustment through the supported process

Avoid using Penalty as a surprise reaction.

Bonus Is Not a Bonus Chore

These are different.

Bonus chore

An optional chore a family member claims and completes for S’mores.

Manual Bonus

A parent Wallet action that adds S’mores directly to Spend.

A completed Bonus chore can follow chore allocation behavior.

A manual Bonus always enters Spend.

Penalty Is Not Late Penalty

These are also different.

Late Penalty

Reduces the S’mores earned when a chore is completed late.

Wallet Penalty

Removes S’mores from the family member’s Spend balance.

Use the correct tool for the situation.

How to Add a Bonus

The basic flow is:

1. Open the family member’s Wallet.
2. Choose Bonus.
3. Enter the amount.
4. Add a reason if supported.
5. Review the person and amount.
6. Confirm.
7. Check the Spend balance and Wallet history.

Exact steps should be verified.

How to Apply a Penalty

The basic flow is:

1. Open the family member’s Wallet.
2. Choose Penalty.
3. Enter the amount.
4. Add a reason if supported.
5. Confirm there is enough Spend balance.
6. Review the action.
7. Confirm.
8. Check Wallet history.

Confirm what happens when Spend is lower than the Penalty amount.

Use a Clear Reason

A reason helps the child understand the balance change.

Examples:

• Extra help preparing for guests
• Missing S’mores from an approved chore
• Family agreement for replacing a damaged item
• Correction for an earlier duplicate Bonus

Avoid labels such as:

• Bad
• Because I said so
• Be better

The adjustment should connect to a clear action or correction.

Keep the Amount Fair

Before adding or removing S’mores, compare:

• Normal chore values
• Reward costs
• Child’s Spend balance
• Family conversion rate
• The purpose of the adjustment

A 500-S’mores Penalty may be very large in a family where daily chores earn 5 or 10.

Protect Save and Goal

Penalty removes only from Spend.

This means the child’s protected savings and Goal remain untouched.

Families should not move Save or Goal into Spend only to make a Penalty larger unless that rule was already agreed upon.

Use Wallet History

After the action, check:

• Correct family member
• Correct amount
• Correct type
• Spend balance
• Reason, where supported
• Date and time

If the action was wrong, do not create several opposite adjustments without checking whether a supported correction or reversal exists.

Common Problems

Bonus went to Spend

That is expected.

Penalty did not remove from Save

That is expected.

The amount was entered incorrectly

Check reversal support or use in-app Help.

The child does not understand the adjustment

Explain the reason and family rule.

Parents use Penalty often

Review whether chores, reminders, or expectations need to be clearer.

Common Questions

Can parents overwrite the balance?

No. Use Bonus and Penalty.

Does Bonus follow automatic allocation?

No. Manual Bonus goes to Spend.

Can Bonus be moved to Save or Goal?

Yes.

Where does Penalty come from?

Spend.

Can a Bonus or Penalty be reversed?

Verify current support.

Does this require Premium?

Wallet is not behind Premium.

Best First Action

Use a small manual Bonus for a clear extra contribution.

Show the child the Wallet entry, then decide whether to keep it in Spend or move part to Save or Goal.

Related Articles

• How Wallet Transactions Work
• How Spend, Save, and Goal Work
• How Many S’mores Should a Chore Be Worth?
• How Bonus Chores Work