What's the going rate for 'keep' from your children once they start work?

bestpud

busiscoming2 wrote: »

Just to change the scenario a little, do any of you charge keep to your teens who work part time? My son is doing A levels and gets EMA which he saves for uni, but works most sats and suns in a shop, we don't take anything. Comments please.

Personally, I wouldn't take anything from him, not least because he is being sensible and saving his EMA for uni. Also, you will still be getting cb and presumably ctc/wtc for him so you have not 'lost' money by him being at college iyswim?

If my child were working then I would definitely take 'rent' from them. I haven't got as far as thinking how much but I guess it would depend on their income and our circumstances at the time. If I could afford it, I would save the money but not tell them. 25% seems fair to me but again, it depends on the going rate, and the family circumstances.

Riq - Maybe you could move out? I think you are doing pretty well tbh, with the amount you are managing to save. Your parents may not need the money now, but who knows if they will in the years to come?

haylibo

Sarahlouz wrote: »

. I moved out at 23 so by them being so called soft it certainly didn't encourage me to live at home for years!!s

To me staying at home until you're 23 is staying for years lol. Horses for courses:D

arthur_dent_2

I was 21 when I moved out and after paying £50 a week (+ some food and lots of luxuries: earnings about £150 a week) to my parents it did help soften the blow of being POOR a little when I moved out. OH on the other hand didn't really know what had hit him. He paid a fiver a week I believe.

slash69

Kantankrus_Mare wrote: »

Im sat here speechless! Not quite sure what to say even.

What a very selfish attitude and to say you will never charge your offspring rent is crazy :rolleyes:

Its not a case of whether your parents need the money or not, its the principle of you paying your way.

My kids are teenagers and have a few years to go till Im in this dilemma but even if at that stage we didnt need the money i would still make them pay something.

Have you been spoilt all your life?

well said km :T what a spoilt selfish brat riq sounds...... grow up mate open your eyes and join the rest of us in the real world ... how do you know you're parents dont need the money,just because their mortgage is paid off the way prices of everyday stuff is going up they may well need it...get a life and grow up.

*Louise*

My mum started charging 'digs' when we started working full time. My first job I got £100p/w and paid £25p/w for my keep.

When I got pregnant, my mum put the money away for a few months, then used it to buy things for DS1.:D

when my mum lived with her parents (1970's) she handed over all her wages every week, then just got enough given back to cover buses and lunches. I considered myself lucky.


I think a percentage of pay is reasonable....20 or 25% depending on how much is earned.

laurajayne

I'm 24 and live at home (still :rolleyes: ).

I earn just shy of £18k, and pay my mum £200 a month for Housekeeping, and my dad a futher £20 for power (as I work from home, so obviously the leccy is on all day). I have even offered more, but they are happy with the level that I pay, as my mum says 'I'm not out to make a profit from you'. I know this sounds low, but we also live in a occupational let property, so no rent/mortgage.

I do all cooking/baking, and organise menu plans. I also tend to treat everyone to a take away a couple of times a month. It works for us...Good luck OP x

nearlyrich

My two pay £150 each per month, they get food, washing etc(sometimes they have to cook and wash I don't do it all LOL) DD got her bedroom refitted last year DS is deciding whether he wants his doing (it involves getting rid of all his junk LOL). Both have an interest free car loan which they pay seperately. We never charged them any board whislt they were studying though both had decent jobs, DS lived away for 3 years whilst at uni. DD did one year away and one living here then got a job l.ocally

Millionaire

I paid £250 a month 4 years ago to my parents in full time employment. Household Bills, food etc all included. I thought it was reasonable.

I never paid anything towards the house when I worked parttime(weekends) as I paid for my expenses at uni with the money I made.

mademoiselle_2

Whoo, I'm full of opinions tonight! But there's something about this idea - that strapping, fully-grown, well-paid adults should somehow be given a free ride off of middle-aged/ageing parents, simply because of the blood link - that gets me going!!!

Let me tell you about my friend. She is in her late thities and still lives with her parents! She gives the reason as the 'unaffordable' housing in the city where she lives. She earns a really good salary. She spends it all on herself: buying clothes, food and makeup. She has only a small amount of savings.

She cannot see what a selfish person she has become. She has no conception of sacrifice, of making do, or even of saving up for something she really wants. She is a nightmare to go anywhere with: she fritters money away at a frightening rate, living off Starbucks coffee, cakes, ready meals, cigarettes. She sees it - she wants it -she buys it. She spends hundreds of pounds at a time on the stupidest things (75 euros for face powder!!) - and is blindingly unaware that others do not - cannot! - live this way. Yet she is infuriatingly full of self-pity that she 'cannot' afford a house of her own. As if they grow on trees!

When I try to discuss it further with her - pointing out that, on her salary, she could afford to buy her own place, but it would have to be a flat on the outskirts of the city, and she'd have to commute (a not unreasonable premise, to my mind, in exchange for your independence and emancipation from your parents!) -she says sniffily that a 'tiny flat' is 'not what she had in mind as a decent place to live!' And that she 'wants better'!

Perhaps this statement brings home to you, parents, what indulging children (by not making them pay) does to their world view. They grow to think the world owes them; and only the best is good enough. With that kind of outlook, they are going nowhere! They are grotesque.

These 'kidults' (adults with the mindset and selfishness of children/teenagers) are not going to adjust well into a society which expects you to pay your way.

kr15snw

A third is a good way to do it. And if you dont need it then stick it in a savings account and wait until she goes to buy her first property. Then she has the deposit sorted! This is what my boyfriends parents did, and he had a nice little 10k nest egg when he bought our place. BUT he didnt know about it, which was the best bit for him. It came as a bonus and made things easier.

My brother is 30 and lives at home (I left at 20) and pays about £250 a month (he earns about 18k). BUT this covers his basic shop and the utilities around the house. He has to buy all his own toiletries (dosnt come to much as hes a guy but for example I spend ALOT on this) and any special food etc. He doesnt get tidied up after and his washing is done, but then left in a pile on his bed. Hes expected to help with dishes etc.

I think this is perfectly fair and its what my mum did with me, meaning I was all prepared when I left home