What would you make your 17 year old pay for?

snozberry

I was 17 when I got my first part time job and I had to pay for everything that I could possibly need with it (I was at sixth form at the time and went onto university). However, if I had a 17 year old who was still in education then I would not expect them to pay for bus fare, school lunches, stationery and other essentials. I'd also encourage active money saving, having a cheaper tariff and having some degree of a guilt free social life before they are bogged down with mortgages/rent and the other stresses that being a grown-up brings!

jackieblack

My 17 year old DD has also just got a part-time job. She is just finishing her first year at college (Year 12) so I still get CB for her. From this I pay for her mobile 'phone (£20 per month, 2 year contract taken out almost a year ago. Once the contract has ended she will have finished college and any new contract will be her responsibility), bus pass for college and basic essentials. Also things like college trips and other college related expenses.
Regarding toiletries, any 'essentials' (shampoo, tampons etc) I will buy for her while she is education, anything else (make-up, hairspray etc) she can buy herself.
She is saving up for driving lessons and paying for her own social/leisure activities from what she earns.

Jo_F

My daughter has just turned 18, she has worked part time since leaving school, and also attended college.

We decided from the day she started work that she would pay me 25% of each wage for her housekeeping. As her hours changed each week, it was easier to do this than a fixed amount.

She pays for her phone contract and she pays for her Virgin box (she got the spare box when we got V+ so that's only £5.50 a month for hers)

She also buys her own clothes etc, but anything that was needed for college we bought (we could claim the money spent on school/educational stuff back from the trust set up from her dad's pension)

Big things she gets as birthday/Christmas presents, for example we bought her a tablet for her birthday rather than her buying it herself.

Shampoo and stuff like that gets bought with the family shop, but make up etc she pays for herself.

Spendless

When I was 17 in sixth form and with a Sat job, the things I was expected to pay for where more in line with what balletshoes has said.

I got a free bus pass as my Secondary school had no sixth form so had to travel several miles to school.

A school dinner was paid for as was school uniform, a coat and at Christmas I would receive amongst my presents a new top or skirt and a stash of new underwear so clothing I never had to buy anthing because I needed it only if I wanted it.

Socialising was done to me to pay for though that didn't cost me much as I had a 1 yo boyfriend with a f-time job. He didn't drive so I had to pay bus fares but back then a single fare was only 10p.

I had to pay for birthday and Christmas presents to my friends and family.

make up and toiletries over and above what was already int he bathroom, so I could use the house deodarant but if I wanted the M & S peach bodyspray I remember being so fond of I had to buy it. Mobile phones didn't exist then.

jackieblack

Spendless wrote: »

I had a 1 yo boyfriend with a f-time job. He didn't drive

:eek: :rotfl:

Sparkles87

I was earning at 17 but was given my child benefit on top for essentials - clothes for work/college had to be bought first. I paid rent and for my own Sky box and mobile phone.

shellsuit

You pay for what she needs, she pays for what she wants.

CH27

I paid for what son needed ie shoes, underwear etc.
He paid for what he wanted ie fancy tshirts or extra pairs of converse.
It taught him to save up for what he wanted & appreciate it. I used to say to him how many hours will you have to work to buy it & is it worth it?

aliasojo

Spendless wrote: »

............... but back then a single fare was only 10p.

Showing your age girl.

fireyfirenze

LondonDiva wrote: »

I would get her to:
Set aside an amount that would go into savings (even if only £20pm)
Pay her phone bill - seems very high, it's possibly worth sitting with her and using it as a learning opportunity to renegotiate or review what other options are out there.
A token amount to you for her 'keep' (and no' saving it up and giving it back').
Fares to work and socialising (and any associated costs)
Lunches (if she wants a meal for school etc, needs to use stuff from the kitchen or buy her own)
Clothes / accessories that aren't 'parental issue / standard'
Make up

I'd also stop giving her money.

Good luck - whatever you do, you'll be told that so & so's mum would never think about being so harsh, so you may as well do what works for you.

I think this is really harsh - she's only going to be earning £120 a month so after she's paid her phone bill and her own bus fare, lunches etc she'll have barely anything left!

I don't have children of that age yet but I remember when I was 17 I earned £30 a week and the only thing I had to pay for myself was phone top ups (so probably £20 a month) and any clothes/make up/nights out I wanted. What's the motivation for her getting a job if she has to spend it all on nothing exciting? I understand learning financial responsibility etc but she is only young! let her have some fun :-/