Son starting work - how much should he contribute ?

lcrp53

My son is starting work and will earn c£200 per week ?
What do you think would be a reasonable amount to ask for rent ?
What do you do ?

jamespir

£50 a week i would say seems fair

CH27

I'd ask for £50.

DirtyDick

Assuming you are not living hand-to-mouth as a family, £50. 25% of his take-home pay. Allows him to save and reap the rewards of working (which I think is an important incentive in getting into the 'work ethic') while presumably covering most of the actual cost in utilities, food etc.

If he was clobbered with 'real world' expenses on that income, I think he might get disenchanted.

Dunroamin

If the £200 is take home pay, £70 pw would seem to be more realistic.

gibson123

Our family rule is 25% to the house, 25% to savings (for holidays etc), 50% fun money, you are only young once after all, but £50 seems fair.

arlybarly

My son is on 230 apprentice rates as an electrician and im lucky if i get 20 pounds a week, think im going to have to have a serious rethink.

MummyOfTwo

short changing yourself boardwise wont do them any favours when they do move out and realise that to begin with your money will come in on one hand and go back out with the other... dont underestimate what they cost as well for an all inclusive food and laundry service! Congrats to your son also on the new job:D

HappyMJ

Another vote for £50. That's reasonable.

TeaCake

If hes not the saving type, ask for £60 / £70 and put aside £10 / £20 and give the result back to him when he moves out.

daviecol

Depends on your circumstances really.

My son first got an apprenticeship and he was getting £90 per week, so I told him his board would be £25 per week but, if he got stuck in and got a job for more money I wouldn't take any more off him thereby giving him the incentive to try to get a better job which he did.

He doesn't drink or smoke and has bought his own car having paid for his own driving lessons. His car insurance costs him £250 per month so it seems a bit mean for me to take more from him when I don't need it as much as he does.

I'm actually the only parent I know who gets board off his kids, most seem too soft to ask these days.