What's the going rate for 'keep' from your children once they start work?

adecor · 25 April 2008 at 11:24PM

Our daughter has started work & is earning £19,000 p.a. We don't really need to take anything from her, but feel that we should (will probably put it in a savings account). We think she needs to learn some sort of value regarding money as she is in debt up to her eyeballs. There was no need for her to get into this situation from being a stay-at-home uni student. We did mention it to her tonight & she said that her best friend paid either £50 or £100 p/m depending on what she could afford. We thought that amount was unrealistic - I can remember paying £50 30 years ago!!

Any help regarding this will be much appreciated, as we are in the dark regarding what to ask.

Ephemera · 25 April 2008 at 11:26PM

My parents used to charge 1/3 of take home...

1/3 for keep
1/3 to save
1/3 to spend

Very fair!

LittleTinker · 25 April 2008 at 11:27PM

I had to give 25%.

adecor · 25 April 2008 at 11:35PM

She does spend most nights at her boyfriends & thinks she is entitled to some sort of discount due to this. I guess she eats at home about 2-3 nights, but all her washing, etc. is still all done here.

dizzydolly · 25 April 2008 at 11:58PM

Id take 25% ,thats more than fair.

Pink_butterfly_3 · 26 April 2008 at 12:03AM

How old is she?

meester · 26 April 2008 at 1:02AM

% is not really relevant, you should charge the local going rate for a comparable house share, plus money for food, phone, etc. If this is above what she earns, then scale it down.

mademoiselle_2 · 26 April 2008 at 1:04AM

One third. One third. One third!

It always was; it always should be. Why are parents so afraid to tell their children to contribute? They truly are like cuckoos in the nest: overgrown, parasitic, growing more selfish by the day. It's your responsibility to tell her, HER responsibilities. Before she is totally spoilt.

And what's more, you should be telling her the rule: Spend a third, give a third for upkeep, save a third.

This post reminds me of the lovely signature someone on here uses:

TEENAGERS

Fed up with stupid parents?
Act quickly!

Move out, get a job, pay your own bills, while you still know everything!

jak · 26 April 2008 at 1:21AM

My sister paid £100 pcm but that was 9 yers ago. Most friends who live at home pay at least £200pcm.

shellsuit · 26 April 2008 at 1:26AM

I gave HALF of my wages when I left school and started full time work. (£40 a week in 1990)

I never complained and I'm an only child too!

Spendless · 26 April 2008 at 6:58AM

I'd go for a % rather than £xxx amount. My mum once put my board up by exactly the same amount my pay rise had been

. After that I used to keep shtum about pay rises;)

Something to consider is that travel expenses *may* be a lot more than when you lived with your parents, so you *might* wish to take that into account when deciding how much she should pay.

What's the going rate for 'keep' from your children once they start work?

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