When to charge board for room

sevenhills

When your child gets older, when is the right time to make them contribute to the bills?
I had a lodger, now my 17 year old daughter has come back to live with me.
I have a mortgage, I work full time; she will be starting university in September, with the appropriate loans.
She is not working at the moment, she has before, and may in the future.

mattpaint

It all comes down to need - if you need it and they're earning, then yes. If you don't need it and they're earning then it's up to you. Don't be under any illusion that charging board will magically turn your children into monetarily well-adjusted adults over night - it doesn't.

goodwithsaving

If she's starting university in September, I wouldn't charge. I'd enjoy having her home before she becomes completely independent, this may be the last time she lives with you. She's only 17.
You'll find so many views on this though. My parents wouldn't have charged me whereas my peers were charged whenever they went home, even for university holidays. I just thought that was plain tight to be honest, but then some parents need the money more than others.

Doodles

If she isn't working, where would you expect her to get the money from to pay you any board? In this situation, I wouldn't expect any board from her, but more an expectation that she should clean up after herself, put the hoover round, do her own washing etc.

If she starts working a part time job, then maybe charge something minimal to cover food

carlislelass

I was charged on starting work as were the children

panagia

I wouldn't charge a child who is still in education, but I would expect them to do their share of the cooking and cleaning.

silvercar

just be delighted that your 17 year old daughter has come to live with you. Don't charge her for the privilege.

System

Charge when they are earning but not if they are at college/uni.

Tabbytabitha

sevenhills wrote: »

When your child gets older, when is the right time to make them contribute to the bills?
I had a lodger, now my 17 year old daughter has come back to live with me.
I have a mortgage, I work full time; she will be starting university in September, with the appropriate loans.
She is not working at the moment, she has before, and may in the future.

If she's going to be living at home when she's at university then she'll receive a reduced loan but that should still give her enough money to pay a reasonable amount for her board.

Alikay

I'd start taking board money when she finishes uni, but if you need the money to make ends meet, it may mean she'll have to make a contribution from her student loan.

Spendless

Started again because I mis-read your original post.

I wouldn't charge for offspring who are still in sixth form. If they have a part-time job as well as their studies, let them use that for things like socialising, clothes, additional toiletries, things like that.

When it comes to Uni, I think (for me) it would depend on the amount of loan they were receiving. Our son will receive the minimum due to our household income. If he lived at home I therefore wouldn't charge him, but would expect him to pay his commuting costs out of the loan plus things I've already mentioned. If our household income was low and DS was going to be in receipt for the maximum (living at home) amount loan, then yes, I may ask for a contribution towards the bills.

Once they start working, yes a contribution towards the bills.