Should I pay my Mum 'keep' when I'm on holiday?

Sweetie__Pie_3

I am 20 and have just finished Uni. I have been working part time in a casual job while at Uni but living at home, and now i've left - I'm working full time until I get into my chosen career.

The problem is my Mum now says I have to start paying her £50 a week for 'keep'. I have said I will do this but she says I still have pay when I'm on holiday for 10 days.

I think this is unreasonable as I wont be there and I am paying to stay at a hotel.

My 'average' monthly income is around £700 but I dont always have work because its casual.

Am I wrong to think that I shouldn't have to pay when I'm on holiday?

whitewing

Sweetie_Pie,

Yes, when you move out from home you will always have bills to pay even if you're on holiday.

£50 a week is on the cheap side for rent-a-room anyway. Round us it is about £85. We charge mum-in-law £65.

If you feel really strongly about it, and food is part of your package, you could try to negotiate a small discount on the basis you will be missing meals. But don't be surprised if your mum has already taken this into account.

dmg24

Agree with whitewing, there is no reason why you should not pay whilst you are away. You would have to if you lived anywhere else.

MrsTinks

Hate to break it to you but when you leave home and pay £500 a month rent then being on holiday away from your place doesn't mean you don't have to pay your landlord... or when you buy a house you can't say you don't want to pay your mortgage for the times you're on holiday.
Personally i think your mum is trying to make you see what life in the "real" world is going to be like...
Ofcoure if you don't like the rules... You could always find a flat somewhere

whitewing

I sound like I'm firmly on your mum's side from my post above, don't I?

I'm not because I don't know either of you. However, I grew up completely unable to have any meaningful discussions with my parents about money, careers etc. I made a lot of wrong decisions. I wish I had had the opportunity to have learnt properly about money while I was still at home.

Gforce_2

Yes you should pay, and be glad your mum doesn't charge you more. If you can afford a holiday on casual hours you can afford to pay your way at home.

celyn90

Hi OP,

I'm afraid I agree with the other posters - you should pay when you are away because the household doesn't stop in your absence. If you lived in priavte accomodation, it would be the same. Maybe you might pay a tiny fraction less because you won't be using the gas/electric/phone/food etc, but these sorts of things still have a standing charge often which you would have to pay. Things like council tax, TV license, insurance, rent and/or mortgage payments don't change.

I agree with whitewing, if you want, try and negoiate a small discount, but to be fair your "keep" is very very low compared to what you would pay in the private sector and I doubt even if you pay the full amount it would actually be reflective of how much it would cost your mum to "keep" you. Sadly, even if you wage is low or variable, this wouldn't be taken into account anywhere else so it isn't really an issue. Roughly 3/4 of our income goes on household expenses for example and this can't be avoided I'm afraid. Rent in our area for a room in a shared house would be cheap at 350 a month (excluding utilities), so your doing well. Holidays count as a luxury and should be budgeted for separately once you have taken your obligations into account.

best wishes, cel x

belfastgirl23

Agree with the others, you have to pay. Simply because it's the right thing to do.

OrkneyStar

Hi there,
I agree with the others- you don't get time off other financial obligations when you go on holiday, so welcome to the real world. I don't mean this in a harsh way, just that this is how life is. Enjoy your holiday and bring your mum back something nice.

Fourcandles_3

Hun, in my opinion it probably costs your mum more than £50 to keep you most weeks anyway between electricity, food, heating etc especially if she still buys some of your wardrobe and you use the phone etc.

I know it seems harsh, but try to look at it from both sides.

Have a great holiday.

liney

If you only want to pay for accomadation while you are actually there you need to find a bed and breakfast... of course you couldn't leave your belongings there while you went on holiday though if you were not paying.

Your mother is probably still subsidising you living at home if you are paying £50 total per week. If i were you i would pay up, or she might decide to start splitting bills which would most definately cost you more money weekly than your flat rate.