teenager starting full time work - how much 'board' to pay for living at home?

northern_star

17 year old DS has decided to quit college and take a job in a warehouse. He will be earning around £190 per week (take home). What's a reasonable amount to ask as 'board'? His decision has meant the loss of tax credits and child benefit worth around £63 to the family purse. We don't expect him to make up the shortfall but do expect him to make a contribution. OH and I have a joint income of around 17k and no mortgage. DS makes use of, but doesn't abuse, the household facilities and - suprisingly for a teenager - doesn't eat much. We thought of asking for £35 per week from him (£20 towards bills and £15 for food). Does this sound reasonable? Too little? Too much? Any help/thoughts on this appreciated.
Thanks

robpw2

wow can i come and live with you for £35 a week ?
i would say £50 a week would be more realistic ,
thats what i used to have to pay.

I think it depends what your happy taking , have you explained to him that his actions have redudced the family budget by around £63 and whilst you dont expect him to contribute it all you would like some board and lodging etc
You never know he might suprise you and offer to pay it all , i would

If he was to move out he would be paying about 63 a week just for rent ..

Oldernotwiser

You'll find an enormous range of views on here but, personally, I think that he should pay at least a third of what he earns, which will cover your shortfall. If he pays much less than this you'll have the crazy situation where he'll have more pocket money for himself than you and your partner have to run the whole household. £35 is definitely far too little!

belfastgirl23

Unless you know for sure he's salting some of the money away for something you consider worth saving for, £155 a week is a LOT more spending money than I have and I consider myself reasonably well off. Would you not just be encouraging him to go out and live a dissolute lifestyle

In my view you have a responsibility to take much more money off him. Otherwise imagine the shock he'll get when he moves out and realises what it costs to live. By all means put the money in a high interest account and surprise him with it when he goes to buy a house but I would reckon £80-£100 a week would be more realistic...

Volvic

I think it depends on what he is paying out ie. mobile phone, car payments, lessons etc. If he has to pay for a few things personally, £35 is definitely fair. I don't earn as much as your son, and I pay out monthly installments on my car insurance, phone bill and board of £100. If I had to pay £200 a month, I'd move out. I could get a half decent rental for £200 a month.

Greenbynature

Hi I take £60 a week from my son and his take home pay is £320 a week. he has his car insurance etc to pay for but he also has a savings account and an ISA that he puts quite a bit into each week. Glad he's not like me with money.

shadej

Volvic wrote: »

I could get a half decent rental for £200 a month.

Where???????

robpw2

yes let me know too we pay 595 a month

Oldernotwiser

Volvic wrote: »

I think it depends on what he is paying out ie. mobile phone, car payments, lessons etc. If he has to pay for a few things personally, £35 is definitely fair. I don't earn as much as your son, and I pay out monthly installments on my car insurance, phone bill and board of £100. If I had to pay £200 a month, I'd move out. I could get a half decent rental for £200 a month.

All the things you list are spending money items, rather than essetials. The fact that you think that you'd be getting a bad deal by paying £50 per week for your keep illustrates exactly why it's important to charge young people a realistic amount as keep. You obviously have no idea how much it would cost you to live in the real world!

Oldernotwiser

robpw2 wrote: »

yes let me know too we pay 595 a month

Ignore him; he's probably never heard of council tax and electricity bills either!

Rikki

Personally I think he should pay you a third, save a third and then the rest is his.

Saving now while he has less bills to worry about and he will have money for a holiday, car or anything else without having to get credit.