Paying Board.

babyemily

Hi, I have 3 teenagers. One has started f/t work on 15k a year. One attends college and has a p/t job app 20 hours a week - circa £130 ish a week. The youngest attends special needs school.

They have no outgoings as such. They pay for their own driving lessons and a bus pass. Bus pass is app £50 a week each. Their mobile phone contracts are in my name and I pay the bill by dd every month, they are supposed to pay me back.

My husband works f/t. I stay at home. We do not get tax credits etc..

The point of this post is that I feel they should pay board. They think I am being mean. Last month I had to borrow money to pay their phone bills... I know I sound like a soft touch which I am not but I am not good at stuff like this.

The one in f/t work has said he will give £100 a month, I dont think thats a fair amount to contribute to the household. Am I being mean? The bills dont pay themselves & 3 teenagers eat an awful lot! The one in p/t work is refusing to pay anything inc the phone bill. App none of their friends do.

I know I am coming across as a muppet on this but sometimes we just need an outsiders opinion to give a bit of back up.

So, after all my waffle...Do you think they should pay board and what do you think is a fair amount.

Thank you

74jax

I think the one working FT should pay a third of whatever he earns, if he gets pay rise he ups his board etc.

Anyone in school/college etc I don't think should be paying board.

2gorgeousgirls

Definitely they should pay board. I would ask for 25-30% of their wage.

As for refusing to pay phone bill, cut it off!

When I lived at home I paid half my wages into the house. That was even with a 16 hour student job. I did think that was high at the time but, unknown to me, mum had saved half of what I gave her and handed that to me when I was moving out.

Caroline_a

Are you looking for work? I agree that they should pay board when they are working fulltime, but as your kids are all in school I think there isn't really any reason for you to be at home fulltime.

CH27

The one working full time should pay his own bills ie phone & he should contribute to the household. I would ask for 25% of his wages.

The one at college shouldn't contribute at all IMO. I would also be paying for the bus pass to enable them to get to college. You do still get Child Benefit for them I assume?

TheBairn

I agree with 74jax but i also think the student should pay for their phone plus all other bits & pieces - clothes/ trainers etc.
i would give them a month's notice, cancel the phone contracts and let them arrange it themselves.

Re the employed one, have you looked at the going rate for accommodation in the area? £100 pm is too little.

I think you need to have a proper conversation about your situation.
The alternative is to move out if they don't like it.

HTH

19lottie82

I agree with the others, yes, the eldest should be paying a lot more than £100 a month, even if you can afford to only take that amount, you won't be doing him any favours in life, by not taking any more.

£15k = almost £1100 a month take home pay. I wish I had a grand a month pocket money!

I'd ask (no, TELL) him that he needs to pay £300 a month. Even if you put some of this aside in a savings account for his future and don't tell him about it.

If he argues about it, ask him to price up a flat share, bills and food. Then to tell him to think again.

If they don't pay their phone bills, get a bar put on the lines until they pay. Why should they pay, if they know you will?

But as someone else ahs asked, is there a reason why you don't work?

19lottie82

babyemily wrote: »

They have no outgoings as such. They pay for their own driving lessons and a bus pass. Bus pass is app £50 a week each

£50 a week for a bus pass?????

babyemily

Caroline_a There is a reason I am home f/t I would rather not share it on here. Plus I dont see how it has any bearing on my question.

CH27 We used to pay their bus passes but we stopped as we had a huge bill that needed paying. So even though he has over £500 a month, with which they pay nothing, you think I should pay for the bus pass? This is not confrontational, I am genuinely interested as I really want to be fair.

2gorgeousgirls I cant cut it off as a certain madam phoned up pretending to be me and upgraded her phone 2 months ago to a more expensive plan. As its a 2 year contract I am stuck with it.

January20

Caroline_a wrote: »

Are you looking for work? I agree that they should pay board when they are working fulltime, but as your kids are all in school I think there isn't really any reason for you to be at home fulltime.

This is not what the OP is asking about. She is asking whether her children should be paying board. I'm sure that although she stays at home she works in terms of looking after her family and her home.

OP, I think both your eldest children should be paying for their phone bills. If they don't want to then cancel their contract if you can or take their phones off them as legally they are yours.
The one working full time should also be paying board, but the one in college should be using their money for whatever they need ie phone, entertainment, clothes, bus pass, etc.

It may sound harsh but it will be a good lesson for them to learn. We all have to pay our way in life. You're already providing them with a roof over their head - cheaply - and food on the table.

babyemily

19lottie82 wrote: »

£50 a week for a bus pass?????

To clarify, Its 2 buses there & back. They are run by different counties hence the need for 2 passes