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

d123

faded_flowers wrote: »

Hear Hear Yoni_One :T I was about to reply but you've said everything I was just thinking

I agree, I was going to reply direct to Riq, but I couldn't find the words without being totally insulting.....

Riq

You don't have to pull any punches. I can take it. It's only an internet forum after all. I wouldn't take it to heart.

Surfbabe

I've got two teenagers _ one at Uni, one in 6th form. They have both had part time jobs since age of 16 and they are expected to save half and spend half. I don;t expect them to contribute directly to the household - but they do both treat DH & I to a takeway occasionally or will buy us some thing yummy !!!. DS is going to be hugely in debt when he graduates through Student Loan and Tutition Loan but we are helping him with a weekly allowance whilst he is away (300 miles) and he is also working part time. He is the only one of his friends that has managed to stay around the £250 O/d limit that he was given when opening his student account. Everyone else has gone straight for the maximum £1k, are maxed out the whole time, get parental support (in some cases £100 a week !!!) and have a credit card maxed out as well. They both know that if they come home to live after Uni then they will be expected to pay keep of at least 25% of their take home pay, whether they think we need it or not !!!!

I would be appalled if my kids acted like Ric - what a selfish wotsit

Firehorse

My DD1 and DD2, both have part-time jobs to fit around school and will be going to college in September. They'll obviously have EMA and their wages. Both have been told that while I'm receiving maintenance, CB, CTC etc they will not be charged rent.

However, even now, before leaving school and earning a decent part-time wage they divide their money between three "pots": 1) spending, 2) short-term savings, 3) long term savings. When they go to college, the division will be after deducting any travel expenses. Obviously, one of the pots becomes the "rent" pot when they take on full-time employment and are no longer in education.

The girls have agreed to this and think it's a fair way of working things out and hopefully it's getting them into good habits for the future.

Sarahlouz_2

haylibo wrote: »

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

You think 23 is old!! welcome to 2008, I think I was very young. Only other friend I have that have left home are either older or in a council house. I could only afford to leave then by not buying a full 100% of a house, my original point being the fact that I had an easy life at home didn't stop me wanting to move out and certainly hasn't made me spoilt.

In reply to a couple of the other posters reponding to my first reply and who said I was ok because I had obviously always been good with saving money and had no debts unlike OP's daughter. Just to say my boyfriend was complete opposite, he to didn't pay much to live at home but had managed to run up 15k in debt. Even so that does not mean he is reckless with money now. He is managing living on hardly anything a month in order to pay it off as quickly as possible so it can be done. OP's daughter just need to realise the hard way and I certainly don't think she should be bailed out!

rjh090384

i always paid my parents something towards my keep from my first p/t job when i was 15. i didnt earn very much. they never asked me for the money but i felt it was my responsibility to offer it. even when i was giving over my £20 a week or whatever it was, i knew that my mum would still buy me things. we didnt have much money but she used to treat me (even when i refused!). our parents spend a fortune bringing us up providing food shelter toys etc why should we not pay them back a little!
oh and when iwas in a full time job, i think i paid £150 or £200. i was earning £11500. my mum put this into savings ofr me and helped me with deposit for my apartment, hjence i am now 24 and on my 2nd rung of the property laddder. forever grateful to parents!

duchy

I think that if a child is not earning fulltime *because* they are in education then unless the family budget really needs it-it isn't fair. The OP seems to be looking at her daughter living at home now she has graduated NOT when she was working towards getting to uni. Not a "little change in scenario" but a whole different situation. Any parent who wants to take their child's EMA is bang out of order in my personal opinion. Not saying you are doing this busi but the fact your son IS saving for uni-for me-would mean I'd congratulate him on finding the means to save AND earn some pocket money. He sounds like a very motivated young man. Leave his money alone !!

lucky_charm_2

I am 20 years old, in my 3rd year of uni and live at home with my parents. I recently had to quit my pt job as it was taking too much out of my study time, on top of which I have unpaid volunteering work for extra credit of about 6 hours. I'm now living off of my savings, but basically trying not to spend anything, as I do not want to ask my parents for anything. I appreciate that they have paid for a LOT of things for me including all my food, bills, and very extravagant birthday gifts like a laptop and double bed. They are also paying for me to go on holiday with them this year. Because they have done so much I would be happy to give them a good chunk of my wage when I start working ft, but I would have thought it out of order had they requested monet from my pt work. I was on minimum wage and a lot of my earnings went to books for university and travel expenses to get there. I did like to treat my family to take out or the cinema when I could but I tried to save as much as possible as I am not entitled to any bursarys or help with schooling and due to my parents income I could only get the minimum student loan, which is something like £500 a year and needs to be paid back. Moreover when I finish this course I need to do a £4500 postgraduate course to get into my chosen proffession (to qualify as a lawyer) and I have no idea where I will get this money from, as I do not want to ask my parents.

I have to admit I have been very lucky but I would say to parents with children in ft education, unless you desparately need the money, don't take any from them, as there are a lot of hurdles in getting a good education and if you encourage them to save the money instead this could be very valuable for them in the future. As for if your children work ft, you should try and think how much they will need (for transport, if they buy their own food, any work related costs etc) compared to how much they earn and take a fair amount, probably 1/3 would work for most.

LillyJ

I think you ought to look in to the loan situation again, I got over £3k a year and that was minimum loan (due to parent's income as well). So £500 doesn't sound right.

lucky_charm_2

Honesly, I have checked it out, and it's £500 if i stay with my parents, £800 if I move out. Maybe because I'm in Scotland so no top-up fees?