child paying keep/rent

knithappens

My 18 year old daughter has just finished college and got her first full time job.

I am not in a finacial position to not allow her to pay rent/keep nor do I want to as I want to teach her financial responsibility and paying her way yet I don't want to be too lenient or too strict.
She is glad to have her own money, and will be taking over her mobile phone bill now she is earning and she wants to pay her own way also which is a bonus.

I know there was a thread a few years back about this but I cannot find it now.

For those with children at home how much do you charge keep in relation to their wage? Is it a set amount? A percentage?

Any information woudl be helpful so that I can discuss this with her and we can come to an agreement.

Thanks
Sharon

74jax

My DD is only 16 and just has a job for the summer holidays, from when she started looking I said the 'keep' in my house is a third, I would like her to save a third and can spend a third.

Obviously I'm not charging my 16 year old 'keep' but it was a really good time to let her know that when she leaves education and gets a job that is the percentage I am looking at taking.

Maysie

We are just going through this as well. My daughter has to factor in exspensive bus journey every day so we have been fair and taken that into consideration. £78 for a monthly pass. Its a month trial at the moment then an apprentiship if everyone is happy. I have said will pay her mobile and make her a packed lunch into the workings out as well. I am worried she won't budget properly so will show her how i used to work things out. Its harder these days when everyone seems to be paid monthy. Weekly seems so much easier till you learn that bit of common money ssense.

Emmamumof2

I had a really good job when I was charged 'keep' - and the third taken was more than a mortgage payment at the time so I bought my own house instead! My husbands parents asked for £20 a week from him when he was earning circa £120 a week, then when he got a better job and was earning nearer the £1K mark, it was £100 a month.


I think a third might be a little steep personally, but I guess it's about working out what's best for you in your circumstances....could she take responsibility for paying a bill perhaps as oppose to a %. An electricity direct debit or something similar so she feels she's paying towards your house hold and understands just how much it costs you to run your home as oppose to handing over cash? Maybe ask her to buy a weeks shopping once a month?

Lunalovegood_3

I am a full time student earning £400 a month and I have to give my mum half of that. I also buy all my own food, toilet roll, washing powder etc. I think that's too much as it forces me further into my overdraft every month.
If she's working full time it sounds fair though

Fosterdog

Everyones circumstances are different.

I didn't have to pay anything with my first job because it was only part time while I was in full time college, my parents agreed that while I was still in education I could live keep free but did start buying my own clothes, paid my own phone bill and other bits and pieces.

When I left college and started full time work I paid £25 a week and bought everything else myself including an extra contribution to food or buying my own. When I got a better paid job that increased to £50 a week.

My brother always paid more started at £50 a week and eventually £100 a week because he left school early and wanted things like sky sports and multiroom which my parents were fine with as long as he paid the difference from the basic package. I never really watched TV and had no sky in my room so never had to contribute to that. My brother didn't leave home until he was 30 I left at 21.

knithappens

She has been in full time education until this past month. She wants to work and I supported her whiel she studied.

She will be earning approx £10500 per year £875per month before tax national insurance. I think 1/3 is too steep also. Work is not too far but she will need a weekly bus pass. I dont mind dropping her off or picking her up on late early shifts. she will have a meal provided at work also which is a bonus.

I have a contract phone for her which is up in december she wants to take over the payment of £26 per month then wants to get a new contract in her own name once this one is up.

Keep is inclusive of all bills and food.

What ever she has left after I charge keep and she has factored in travel she plans to save half and the rest is hers to spend.

neon_dannii

Just depends on circumstances.

I pay nothing on the instruction that half of what I earn goes into savings. So that's what I do. 50% of my wage goes into savings every month and I'm very nearly on my way to having a deposit for a house.

My parents are very happy with this and I'm very grateful. I also help out with the chores around the house.

JournalGirl

I would say something like £50 per week. She couldn't rent a room for less than that in a shared house, and would then have to pay food and utilities on top. If you can afford to put some of that away, then maybe you can support her for bigger purchases, like towards her first car.

But great that she expects to pay her own way.

System

My DD works full time but only just above minimum wage. She gives me a quarter of her salary plus £30 a month for her cat (I pay for the other 2 - insurance, food, vets etc.)
She helps out with chores, and cooks sometimes. I pick her up from work once a week and do the shopping while I'm waiting for her as her days are long. She also picks up bits of shopping if she fancies something different.
It works for us, we're both pretty flexible, and I'll miss her when she moves out so I don't mind doing more than half of the chores just now.

tillyenna

I would have a look and see what the cost of renting a room is (approximately) in your area, and then charge slightly less than that (The earlier suggestion of £50 p/week seems about sensible to me)


Also, bear in mind if you have other kids, being fair to all of them. I moved out of home 6 years ago, my older brother has lived there intermittently that whole time - and doesn't get charged anything... it used to drive me positively batty, as I'd be scraping by on my own, and he'd have only disposable income (none of which he saved) - we've both grown up a bit now, and I don't resent it nearly as much! (I like my freedom) but it's worth bearing in mind that fairness between siblings can avoid a lot of argumetns