In these recessionary yet acquisitive times, families are wrestling anew with an age-old issue: the allowance. And — the perennial debate — should allowance be tied to chores? Parents, psychologists and financial experts are split on that one. "It teaches kids negotiation skills," says Marsha Weinraub, a professor of psychology at Temple who has written about parent-child relationships. "If it turns out a decision about allowance is not working, you can have a discussion to talk about a change."