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

Lynn11

I used to pay my parents about £200 per month when I was working and living with them. As my wage increased, I was able to save and spend some of it letting me buy my own flat at the age of 26. When I first left college I was unemployed for 3 mths and my mum took £10 per month from my job seekers money to enable me to know the value of money. When I got a job, we negotiated and it went up to £150 per month and increased every so often after discussion. I think you should have a talk with your son and say you are considering whatever amount you believe correct and see what he thinks.

LittleMissRolo

Im 22, working and have been since i left college aged 19. I only pay £100 a month - Mum does still get £100 a month off dad as maintenance though we've told him to stop - so that pays my rent so i don't technically pay a penny.

That gets me my washing done, food, water bills (we're on a meter so don't use much, we have a water butt too) and heating

I know people that pay £245 rent a month+

oystercatcher

I seem to be unusual in that I don't charge my 19 yr old Policeman son any rent.
We worked out what rent, bills and food would cost if he moved into a room in a shared house. Added on a bit and decided that he'd put £600 a month into a savings account towards the deposit on a house. He actually saves quite a lot more than this and is very moderate in his going out/drinking habits, although not living the life of a hermit by any means.

I had been planning for him to go to Uni so in my mind he is saving me money by not going and we can afford to still feed him etc
If I thought he'd be going out and drinking his wages away then I'd definitely be charging him rent and saving for him but have found I've brought him up to be careful and know the value of money. If I was struggling financially then I would charge him rent too, look up the cost of a room in a shared house in your area and knock off a decent amount , add on food as you think and charge him that amount. Explain your workings and hopefully he will see that he's still saving.

My son has done really well so far and I'm happy that in another year when he's no longer probationary and , hopefully, the housing market has settled then he will be able to buy his own house at the age of 20 !

Oystercatcher

naturally_2

I think it depends on what he is using money for. I dont' think its fair to tell him that his decision to get a job has "cost" the household income £63 - surely you don't want to give him the impression you'd rather he didn't have a job?!

I think £35 a week is too little, I would say £50 and if you feel you don't need the extra £15 then put it in a kitty for him for when he'll need money, like buying a car or furnishing a house.

To give you some idea of what that relates to, When I was a student 5 years ago the cheapest I paid was £50 a week rent - and all that got me was a small bedroom in a shared flat with communal facilities - it didn't include CT (didn't pay as a student) but did include all gas/electric, and I bought my own food at about £20 a week. So at £50 a week he would be getting a very good deal.

naturally_2

oystercatcher wrote: »

I seem to be unusual in that I don't charge my 19 yr old Policeman son any rent.
We worked out what rent, bills and food would cost if he moved into a room in a shared house. Added on a bit and decided that he'd put £600 a month into a savings account towards the deposit on a house. He actually saves quite a lot more than this and is very moderate in his going out/drinking habits, although not living the life of a hermit by any means.

I think Oystercatcher has a very good point, providing you don't need the money, why not discuss this as an idea with your son?

LittleMissAspie

Well, how much are your bills? I spend £175 a month on bills and food (excluding rent as you say you have no mortgage). You are proposing to charge £151 a month, so that seems reasonable considering that the whole point of living at home is that it's cheaper than moving out.

Oystercatcher's idea is good though. Or maybe you could say you'll keep the rent reasonable as long as he saves x amount for the future. Possibly making x amount the same as he would pay for a rented room. That way he pays the same as moving out BUT gets his housework done and gets his "rent" back in the future.

Oldernotwiser

naturally wrote: »

I think Oystercatcher has a very good point, providing you don't need the money, why not discuss this as an idea with your son?

The OP has a total household income of £17K! What on earth makes you think that they might not need the money?

Oldernotwiser

naturally wrote: »

I think it depends on what he is using money for. I dont' think its fair to tell him that his decision to get a job has "cost" the household income £63 - surely you don't want to give him the impression you'd rather he didn't have a job?!

.

She might well prefer that he was still in college rather than doing a dead end job! In fact, if she charges him more he might even choose to go back and finish his course.

Savvy_Sue

He's 17. That's old enough to sit down and look at bills with you, discuss what it costs, look at his own outgoings, and work out together what's reasonable. As long as you have a bottom line in mind, he may be inclined to offer more if he follows the maths!

Oldernotwiser

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

He's 17. That's old enough to sit down and look at bills with you, discuss what it costs, look at his own outgoings, and work out together what's reasonable. As long as you have a bottom line in mind, he may be inclined to offer more if he follows the maths!

Although I agree about looking at outgoings together, I don't see that it's a question of what he offers. OP needs to decide what to charge him and then stick to it; it shouldn't be voluntary.