How much to charge 18 year old for board & lodge

System

Our daughter pays us £30 a week.

Sweet_Pea_2

I think a percentage is reasonable, OH had to pay 10% and so did his sister so that proportionally they paid the same. His parents did say that if they could see he was wasting his money or getting into debt he would have to pay more.
I paid housekeeping too, I cant remember how much but I was paying more than OH and I earned a lot less. I always knew before I started work I would have to pay it and I didnt resent it at all as my mom hadnt got a lot, and she tried to be fair.
I will be doing the same with my daughters when they start to work.

ReportInvestor

One of the reasons for the precipitous decline in the Spanish birthrate (apart from less obedience to the pope) is the rising cost of accommodation and the phenomenon of "kidults".

One answer to the OP's question is "as much as it takes to get them out before too long".

The "Kidult" phenomenon has only just started in the UK.

It will grow rapidly. The house price boom has given it momentum but it will accelerate once we get graduates going into the real world who have paid £3K+ pa for their uni fees (total debts of £25K?) - and that is still three years' away.

y9jcbcrb

Nearly two years ago i left school at 18 and took a job as an office junior earning about 6500 p/a. I still live at home and my dad intially charged me £80 a month rent (altho he increased it when my wages increased). It's not that much but he wanted me to save money so that i would be in a better financial position in the future (i suppose benefitting him in the longer run) but it really has helped me get some cash saved.

System

Thing is about taking a percentage off them though is the fact it dont actually encourage them to get a better/higher paid job if they think they have got to hand over more dosh to mum/dad at the end of the month. Thats my thoughts though and obviously a child with a bit of common sense would see beyond that.

in_my_wellies

I had paper rounds (am, pm + sunday) from age 14, then a Saturday job. Once I started earning I had to pay for everything except family meals. IE, bus to school, school lunch, clothes, swimming etc. Looking back there really was little incentive to earn my own money.

Left school on my 16th birthday, and started work the next week (having to miss the family holiday because of work.)

I earned £8.10 (1972) and mum asked for £5.00, literally as soon as I walked through the door! After a year went back school but still had to pay the same board as my employer gave me Saturday and Sunday work which because it was 'overtime rate' paid £6.90. So I went back to my paper round to make it up.

Went to uni with minimum grant as I found my parents were higher rate tax payers! Never lived at home again.

Consequently I have never expected my children to have Saturday jobs if I can see them working hard on their studies. My son (at uni) worked in the summer but I let him keep it or else what is the insentive for him to bother. He was sensible and put it in an ISA.

If, after uni, they come home and are earnng a proper wage/salary I will charge them but I suspect I will be too soft following my experience.

FriendofDorothy

in_my_wellies wrote:

I will charge them but I suspect I will be too soft following my experience.

After all that. I sincerely hope you will be too soft,but I think you had it quite tough.

moonbeam682

I have two grown up sons living at home & they both contribute £30 a week each which I know is not a realistic amount of what their fair share should be but as they are both hoping to move out & saving deposits etc I think it is a fair compromise even though I'm out of pocket money isn't everything.
When I was living at home I had to pay 1/3 of my wages (£9 a week) showing my age now!

pippy_2

I have just been reading this with great interest as my husband thinks I don't take enough money from our eldest working son.
I take 10% of his wages but he gives it willingly, I never have to ask twice and he never need to borrow it back before he gets paid again!

freebie_junkie

i just found a great word for it- kipperr

kids in parents pockets eating retirement revenue!

hehe!

my story with money is similar to in my wellies' i always got a minimum of pocket money and had to do five jobs for it anyway so i always can up with ideas tomake my own cash at 14 and 15 i did kids parties for £60 a pop and i paperround for £10 a week and made jewellery and sold them at craft fayres and also did car boots with my dad

after school i went on an educational exchange to america and whn i can back it wasnt quite time to start college yet- about may i think- and my dad gave me £10 to last me till i found a job so of course i spent it all on photocopying my cv and stamps!

then when i was homeless i sent off to all these charities to get stuff for whn i was re-housed and got a washer and a few grants

not having it all given to you on a plate gives you the incentive to be creative!



my fellas a kipperr i remind him all the time! his mum and dad dont take any cash from him and i hate the fact hes tried giving it to them but tehy refuse to take it!