Do you charge your adult children who still live at home?
- Thread starter darknite
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Man of Honour
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I'm 14 years older than my sister and I only found out last year my Dad used to take every penny off her. Within a year my Dad left but my Sister still had to put 100% into the home.
When I was 16 my Mum & Dad buggered off to Nigeria leaving me in a bungalow for the next 5 years. Fair enough I didn't have to worry about bills but I was left alone.
I did agree to it but I didn't really want it.
I suppose my experience is why I've never charged my kids one penny.
When I was 16 my Mum & Dad buggered off to Nigeria leaving me in a bungalow for the next 5 years. Fair enough I didn't have to worry about bills but I was left alone.
I did agree to it but I didn't really want it.
I suppose my experience is why I've never charged my kids one penny.
Soldato
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And anecdotally it may have worked for your kids which is great. I do think that on the whole it is better to ease them into reality and paying a fair rate for accomodation once they begin to work is a good way to do this.
That would have been a dream for me!
But I see were you coming from, but no make them pay their way but not suffer like I did.
I'd charge them a good chunk of their wages and put it in a separate account towards a house deposit.
Thanks to previous governments absolutely screwing over younger generations they'll need all the help they can get. That way they'll still learn that they have to pay their way, and hopefully get on their own two feet a little sooner than most.
Thanks to previous governments absolutely screwing over younger generations they'll need all the help they can get. That way they'll still learn that they have to pay their way, and hopefully get on their own two feet a little sooner than most.
Generation ********* also has to pay a lot to actually move out on their own.
I'm 20 taking a year out of uni and paying £30 a week, although I am also trying to save as much as I can to go back to uni.
Soldato
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Until recently I was earning around £1000 and I was paying £350 a month. Not gonna lie, i thought that was far too much and for the following 6 months or so I'd rarely speak to my parents.
While I understand full well it would cost more than £350 to cover rent bills etc. that wasn't really the point. There's no way I cost them that much a month and i was laughed at when I suggested £250 was a fairer figure.
While I understand full well it would cost more than £350 to cover rent bills etc. that wasn't really the point. There's no way I cost them that much a month and i was laughed at when I suggested £250 was a fairer figure.
Perhaps a cultural thing as I grew up in India, but find this concept so bizarre (as do my parents when I speak to them). Never been charged rent for staying at home and indeed, parents were helping out with my rent once I began living on my own (would've continued living with them but mom moved back to India and I stayed here since was at uni). Can't imagine charging my kids rent either. If the family needed the cash for anything then I/expect my kids would contribute towards anything the family needed, but would never pay rent so to speak. Was always taught to look at what the family had as a single pot.
I'm relatively careful with money (no debt etc) and don't think that making a kis pay rent is the only way to teach them responsibility.
I'm relatively careful with money (no debt etc) and don't think that making a kis pay rent is the only way to teach them responsibility.
Man of Honour
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Until recently I was earning around £1000 and I was paying £350 a month. Not gonna lie, i thought that was far too much and for the following 6 months or so I'd rarely speak to my parents.
While I understand full well it would cost more than £350 to cover rent bills etc. that wasn't really the point. There's no way I cost them that much a month and i was laughed at when I suggested £250 was a fairer figure.
I don't get why parents act this way, you didn't ask to be born.
Man of Honour
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I gave my kids a choice what to do with their money, save it, squander it or do a bit of both - they chose the latter and saved up a lot of money for their houses.
If parents want their kids to move out they should do the following:
Take control of bank account that gets earnings from their work.
Transfer a sum of money into a second account they can use for food and social.
The rest placed in an ice account or savings.
This will build them up a house deposit super quick.
This will also teach them how to live on what would be left over after paying a mortgage and bills.
If they refuse then tell them to leave. Tough love
Take control of bank account that gets earnings from their work.
Transfer a sum of money into a second account they can use for food and social.
The rest placed in an ice account or savings.
This will build them up a house deposit super quick.
This will also teach them how to live on what would be left over after paying a mortgage and bills.
If they refuse then tell them to leave. Tough love
Caporegime
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So basically you want full control over THEIR money and dictate how they spend THEIR money.
They should pay for a fair share of what they use plus a bit on top to cover maintenance or replacing items wearing down quicker. E.g. the washing machine, etc are all getting more use equals more leccy and will need replaced quicker.
£120 a month would cover food. I think £250 a month sounds fair for everyone.
They should pay for a fair share of what they use plus a bit on top to cover maintenance or replacing items wearing down quicker. E.g. the washing machine, etc are all getting more use equals more leccy and will need replaced quicker.
£120 a month would cover food. I think £250 a month sounds fair for everyone.
We have an 18 year old mooching off us, supposdely taking a year to defer before going Uni, they are working in that year and take home around £1k a month.
We are taking £10 a week for bills, and a further £200 a month that will be put away if they actually go to Uni and then returned, if they don't we will keep it and the monthly bill will go to £300 a month.
I'd love anyone else to explain where they get full run of a house, all bills paid, food, clothes washed, room tidied (Very sore point, Mrs is far to weak) for this pitiful sum
We are taking £10 a week for bills, and a further £200 a month that will be put away if they actually go to Uni and then returned, if they don't we will keep it and the monthly bill will go to £300 a month.
I'd love anyone else to explain where they get full run of a house, all bills paid, food, clothes washed, room tidied (Very sore point, Mrs is far to weak) for this pitiful sum
Where else would they be living with their parents? I've never paid anything when living with parents (they'd be offended if I even offered) and would never expect my kids to pay.
Of course this is caveated on the fact that you/the parents don't actually need the money and are struggling as a result. If yes, then would expect the kid to contribute (though for me it would be just that - a contribution towards costs, not rent). If you aren't, then really don't see the reasoning.
Was never charged rent. Fortunately my parents didn't struggle with money. Personally I find the idea patronising.
Won't be charging my children (if I ever have any) rent either. They are my children. Their parents house is a home they can live at. Not rented accommodation with their parents.
Won't be charging my children (if I ever have any) rent either. They are my children. Their parents house is a home they can live at. Not rented accommodation with their parents.
When i first starting working at 16 thats back in 2000 now, i only paid £50 a month, i was earning no more than £400 a month if i was lucky. But as i started earn more with job changes etc it increased to £200 a month before i moved out here i was earning between £700-£1000 depending on over time. What i think was fair, as it went towards the bills. I only wish my parents are encouraged me to save as well, but they didn't i spent it all, now trying to get on the property ladder is so hard.
I personally think its best to have a fixed rate in line with their earnings, over a percentage of earnings. As in the real world you have a fixed amount, ok sometimes it varies but no matter what you earn you have to find X to pay all the bills. When my kids are old enough to go out and work i shall do the same. Only differences are i will encourage them to save 10% of earning and to pay rent/board what ever you want to call. But i will save what they pay us to help them to buy a house, in the future.
I personally think its best to have a fixed rate in line with their earnings, over a percentage of earnings. As in the real world you have a fixed amount, ok sometimes it varies but no matter what you earn you have to find X to pay all the bills. When my kids are old enough to go out and work i shall do the same. Only differences are i will encourage them to save 10% of earning and to pay rent/board what ever you want to call. But i will save what they pay us to help them to buy a house, in the future.
My parents didn't want to take any money off me for rent as they would rather I saved up to get my own place in the future, also they have the space and we all take it in turns to cook/clean. I pay £200/mo towards bills including food but not luxuries, then put aside a further £550/mo which is how much a mortgage would have been on a 2 bed flat here when this rate was agreed.
As a single person on an average wage I can't get a mortgage on anything local now so I'm stuck at home, will spend on what I enjoy but still keep enough saved should an opportunity come along.
As a single person on an average wage I can't get a mortgage on anything local now so I'm stuck at home, will spend on what I enjoy but still keep enough saved should an opportunity come along.
Caporegime
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It's not exactly rent your charging them more for what they actually use. Paying their way. I'm sure you could rent their room out for double - triple what most are charging especially since it includes all bills, cleaning, washing, etc.
Like in OP's instance £120 a month. I'm sure he could charge that per week for what he is offering to a 3rd party.