Allowance for 18 year old

Savvy_Sue

theoretica wrote: »

If you want him to do more around the house you could make his allowance dependent on doing certain tasks.

You can also make agreements about what you will / will not do for him.

For example (and I know I've said this before!), when mine started 6th form I stopped doing their washing. That way, they not only learned how to use a washing machine, but when, ie before you put your last clean pair of pants on! I don't iron, so anything they wanted ironing was their own affair (and they knew it!)

I also expected them to clear the table and wash up, not necessarily on a regular basis but certainly whenever they wanted a lift from me! And they had to cook if I was going to be late home from work.

And I had a 'basic shopping list' on the fridge door: they had to check supplies and tick off what we needed from time to time.

Vacuuming was another job I'd ask them to do.

Their rooms were their own affair, so I didn't put their clean clothes away, change their sheets or stuff like that. And woe betide them if they took food or crockery into any room other than the kitchen / dining room and I found the evidence (plates / wrappers left lying around).

DH and I both find cutting the grass very difficult (allergies / exhaustion), so we paid one of them to do that (far too well!) We have hired a gardener since they all moved out.

They all went off to Uni capable of independent living, and didn't find the transition too painful.

onlyroz

missbiggles1 wrote: »

That's great if -
a. you know what your future career will be
b. you can find something relevant.

Like most people I knew, I worked in places like Sainsburys, Littlewoods, M&S etc for as much money as I could get.

That's why I said "if possible". Many organisations offer summer placements, particularly if you are interested in science, engineering, media or politics. There are often voluntary positions available as well.

missbiggles1

onlyroz wrote: »

That's why I said "if possible". Many organisations offer summer placements, particularly if you are interested in science, engineering, media or politics. There are often voluntary positions available as well.

Placements and voluntary work tend to be only for those from comfortably off families, unfortunately.

[Deleted User]

missbiggles1 wrote: »

That's great if -
a. you know what your future career will be
b. you can find something relevant.

Like most people I knew, I worked in places like Sainsburys, Littlewoods, M&S etc for as much money as I could get.

Exactly - at that age you want to show you've got a work ethic - not necessarily the skills you'll need for your 'future career' (because you won't really know what that's going to be at that age)

Kernow666

welcome to the real world he is 18 and an adult but expects pocket money from mummy

Dill

If you are able, I would give him an allowance. Someone living at home with their parents can't need that much money, surely? Obviously if he wants to go out clubbing and pubbing he should earn his own money, there's no reason why his parents should fund things like that, but normal day to day living could be covered by an allowance.

samroo

My son is 17. In full time education - year 13. Hevhas had a part time holiday and weekend job since he was 16. We agreed that we wouldnt give him an allowance from when he got his first job but would pay for hus driving lessons which are now in progress.

This has given our son a great amount of independence about how he spends his money.

Caroline_a

My three daughters all had part time jobs while they were at school, the older two from the age of 14 and the younger one from 16. They had their essentials such as school clothes, trips etc bought by me but everything else came out of their wages. They learnt to save up for things as well as how to budget their money. In addition they had to help with jobs around the house.

None of them think that this was unfair or wrong, in fact they all say that it gave them good work ethics and all are in successful careers and did well in their education. The saying 'if you want a job doing, give it to a busy person' is as true for young people in education as it is for adults. By giving an 18 year old an allowance you are enabling him not to have to look for a job - he's old enough now to marry, drink, go to war.... so he should be well rounded enough to be able to find a part time job. It will stand him in good stead if he wants to apply to university or for when he comes to apply for 'proper jobs'.

hannerrbabes

onlyroz wrote: »

That's why I said "if possible". Many organisations offer summer placements, particularly if you are interested in science, engineering, media or politics. There are often voluntary positions available as well.

I highly doubt that many organisations will offer a placement to an 18 year old who's never had a job before.

hannerrbabes

£100 per month?! Wow that would have been a dream to be just given that at 18!
I started making money for myself at 13 through Ebay, working in the local corner shop, delivering leaflets, etc. I got my first proper job at 16.
When I was 18, I was paying for everything myself, studying A Levels 5 days a week and working as many hours as possible at weekends and in the evenings. I had no support from anyone else but myself, and that was completely okay with me. It taught me a lot.