How much board should I be paying?

thorsoak

Person_one wrote: »

Why though?

Living with family is not comparable to renting from a landlord, a landlord is in business to make profit from you, and you have a set of legal rights and responsibilities relating to the property.

If and when this young lady finishes her studies and gets a job that is away from her home town, she will then have to find her own accommodation - and she will then have to live in the real world. From her post she has absolutely no idea as to what it would cost her to live elsewhere, her friends pay nothing towards their keep, and in my opinion, it is part of the growing up process that one does at least know what things cost.

I'll bet that she knows the exact cost of where she will get best value in DVDs, clothes, etc!

At no time have I suggested that her family should profit from her continuing to live there - that is not what families are about.

Person_one

She already lives in the real world! Where else would she be living?

Honestly, that expression infuriates me.

I don't believe that just taking money from somebody teaches them anything, actually.

poet123

Person_one wrote: »

She already lives in the real world! Where else would she be living?

Honestly, that expression infuriates me.

I don't believe that just taking money from somebody teaches them anything, actually.

It leaves them with less disposable income and simulates what would happen if they were living independently.

I think the practice is dying out though.

liney

nimbo wrote: »

I have to say that £120 free from her wage plus ALL her student finance could well be a rather large sum.

I can't see where the OP mentioned her Student Finance at all?

She is either not claiming/entitled, or she is not 'disclosing' it here as income.

duchy

I think that's why she's had some robust replies ...people feel she's not telling the whole story.

nimbo

jadeappleby wrote: »

I live at home with my Mum, her partner and my younger brother. My mum works part time and her partner full time. I work part time as well as studying at university. My take home pay a month is £600. I pay for all my car insurance, tax, mobile phone, sky tv and also buy my own food and toiletries etc totalling around an extra £200 on top. There's also travel to uni which costs a bit as I live about 15 miles away from it so I usually put around £30-£40 petrol in a week.

My Mum charges me £130 a month board which I think is reasonable, however she wants to charge me more in the region of £150/£170. Can someone please help me on this? As I don't really think I can afford to pay more. I'm in my final year at uni and would love to save some money to move out which I'm trying to do with my loan. However, my Mum can't accept this and when I try to explain I'm trying to save and the bills I pay out a month she doesn't want to know.

it was in the first post - it could equate to upwards of £1'000 a month - depending on what course they are studying etc, as well as parental income etc.

The thing that stood out for me is that her parents may not be well off - don't get me wrong they could be millionaires - but they could need the money, and it isn't such a large amount extra to ask when it comes to inflation of things like bills.

The point I was trying to make was I personally don't feel it is an unreasonable sum, which was what the OP had asked.

Prothet_of_Doom

I think the fact that you are student, taking on loans for fees, and I assume a maintenance loan and possibly a grant?
I wouldn't charge you at all if all you were consuming was heat and light. If you were studying away from home would they sub-let your room.
You should not have to work part time, and study full time, because you will not get a First if you are working too.
No tell your Mum that you are giving up the job to concentrate on your studies, and see what her reaction is.

But in all seriousness, you have a good deal if you pay less than £350 a month. Negotiate with your mum based on, the fact that you will need to reduce the part time work as you get closer to your finals.

[Deleted User]

Thanks again to everyone for your replies.

I think from all the replies I guess I need to sit down properly with my Mum and work out from her how much she needs to cover my costs. I always thought £130 was reasonable when I was covering my all other costs such as food, toiletries, laundry products and the fact I'm rarely in the house due to working so much and studying (whenever I'm not at studying I work). Any ways, we have never sat down and done this which is why I don't understand how much I need to pay to cover myself (hence my post on this forum). I intend to do this tomorrow with her that way I can see and I'm willing to do this.

With regards to my loan, my dad is really pushing me to save this as well as he doesn't want me to live at home much longer. I'm not going to delve into the personal reasons behind this.

duchy

Not sure why you came here before sitting down and talking to your Mum but hey

Rather than say to your Mum "I need to save as much as possible and Dad agrees" (presume Dad is not resident and isn't bothered if Mum can cover her living costs or not) how about working out what your saving target minimum and maximum goals are and show her what you need to save to reach those goals. Then you have a starting point - she knows what she needs to cover your costs -and perhaps you can meet in the middle. Showing her figures is likely to come to a fairer figure than her saying she wants more and you saying you don't want to.

mumps

nimbo wrote: »

it was in the first post - it could equate to upwards of £1'000 a month - depending on what course they are studying etc, as well as parental income etc.

The thing that stood out for me is that her parents may not be well off - don't get me wrong they could be millionaires - but they could need the money, and it isn't such a large amount extra to ask when it comes to inflation of things like bills.

The point I was trying to make was I personally don't feel it is an unreasonable sum, which was what the OP had asked.

Sorry I am a bit confused. Are you saying student finance would give her over £1,000 per month? I don't think it is that much, remember you get less if you are living at home. I should know what it is as I still have one at uni but a rather traumatic visit to the dentist seems to have affected my brain. I think he froze my brain instead of my tooth.