How much board money should I charge

My two adults each pay roughly 300 pcm. One pays the council tax and internet which adds up to that. The other pays the gas, electric and water bills. Which is about similar. They settle up the difference periodically. They each pay for their own foods, toiletries etc and their own car or buses taxis etc. I pay the mortgage, insurance, repairs, new appliances, (we seem to get through vacuums and crockery and pans). As I see it, we are 3 adults. I work part time now as getting on and have too many aches and ailments to cope with full time anymore. They still have more disposable income than me. 🤣

Read OP’s posts. That’s £1300 including the £800 she gets from 2 DCs, ie. £500 without.

Could you afford to feed 4 adults and spend £100 a week on petrol on £500 a month?

If you think about it there is also wear and tear for which I do not charge. The armchair ds sits in is falling to bits. They cost a great deal to replace.

19yo earns £19,500 and pays me a nominal £100pm which probably covers the loss of the 25% council tax discount plus a share of utilities.
He buys his own food & toiletries, he says it averages about £50pw.
Cooks for himself.

Ds earns £1795 pcm aged 20. Pays me £300. I have no mortgage and this pays his food electric share and 25 per cent council tax. He also saves tor a property investment and runs his own car. He is good with his money.

My advice is always to have a look how much it would cost to rent a room in a house share, and then also think about food costs on top.

Do this with your young adult so they can get a real feel of the financial costs of living independently.

If your board charge is lower than shared housing and food costs then you are charging a reasonable amount. They also aren't living with random people they don't know.

I have to say years ago on Mumsnet charging board seemed like sacrilege when it came up, it's been nice to see this thread has lots of posters agreeing it's fair to change board and to charge a good chunk.

OP if you are struggling to afford dentist and glasses etc and have working adults in the house please do not feel bad asking them to contribute!!

I charge £200 , dd earns about £1200 after tax but she’s saving for a house deposit.

you could continue the £400 but put £200each away for the future. And give it to them when it will help them.

i think you should be able to work hard to save for dental work
i dont take that much from my dd but i want her to be able to save money to leave, i guess that isnt such an issue with your eldest ?

£400/mo seems very reasonable. It's the equivalent of £10/day for water, electricity, gas, petrol, council tax, insurance plus £30 a week for food.

They will never again have such a good deal!

I would continue to charge them the £400 each. But if you can manage it, maybe save £100 for each of them per month to then go into a fund when they do buy a car or move out. You could maybe let the middle one know this as he sounds responsible with his money.
But I certainly wouldn’t charge less to the older one or let him know about this until he is ready to use it, as it sounds as though he would just waste it away.
But if they’re costing you that much in food, electricity, fuel and council tax etc then just keep the money. I think it depends how much you’re actually profiting rather than just being reimbursed.

Honestly OP I would just leave it as it is and not worry about it. Everyone is ok with it and it means you can provide a home for everyone. Your DC are great to so grownup and practical.

Keeping it at £400 will encourage them to try and earn more.
if you can, you could always put money aside for them - essential saving towards them moving out.

I think a % is the fairest way to go.

Also what are they getting for their contribution? If it is full board and lodging or are they buying their own food / toiletries etc?

If they are working I hardly think a 100 a month is a huge ask towards everything, you then have the option to save some or treat them now and then or put it all towards bills. Right until me and my siblings left home we did a 100 and I always thought what great value 🤣

£12 an hour is not ‘great’ for 20. It’s OK - but only £2 above the minimum wage and 12p under the minimum wage for a 21 year old.

Id have charged them both 20% of their income. But if you need more then you need more.

She has £1300 a month to live on! I end up with about £400. Even when I was single and earning well I didn’t have £1300 a month to live on

Tbh i wouldn't take £400 if I could afford not to. It's the one time in your life you can save up or enjoy yourself without finanical strain.

I'd say £250 each would be and gives you £750 a month. Not too much of a strain on your middle son who earns less either.

I'd take the money anyway and spend the extra on Christmas and birthday gifts or set up regular savings accounts to contribute to each month.

I would make it £100 a week, which is £433 a month. If you are happy with £400 then leave it at that. The 28 is most definitely an adult who could be standing on their own 2 feet. They would not be able to live anywhere else for £400 a month.

Even the 20 year old, if has £400 a month to himself, that's a lot of money when he has no other costs.

I would save any excess money and then if you want, you can help them out sometimes if they have unexpected costs, but don't make them aware of that.

ignore anyone who says that you shouldn't be charging them, they aren't living your life with your expenses.

Slightly off topic but for glasses I use specsavers and pay via zilch so I can split the payments, like this

I think a lot of adult DC take the micky. My parents took 50%. My sons friends on £70k still pay too little.

I've got on tight fisted one (charged his friends petrol money back in the day. Uses spreadsheets to record his family input. Notorious, so I'll say no more on mumsnet. The other one is kind and generous. She offered me her £50 natwest bonus the other day whilst I was waiting to be paid. I didn't need it but it was nice to be asked.

So taking the board money put you have £500 left a month?
Keep taking it, honestly. It must cost that in food, energy, petrol, and losing the 25% council tax discount.

If you have to, charge a percentage of their earnings so the ones earning less aren’t disproportionately affected. £12 isn’t that great of a wage if he isn’t working full time hours.

Alternatively you could not charge them anything but they have to do their own food shopping / cooking - if this is the largest expense you have as a result of them being at home this will help you and get them used to looking after themselves.

Another thought: charge them less than the £400 on the condition they spend the rest on driving lessons. Their job prospects will be far wider if they can drive

400 a month is a great deal for both DC especially as fuel and lifts are included.
You might ask the older one for a little more, perhaps a small increase every year.
Scotch any idea that you are making money out of your kids at this level You really are not! If they moved out the younger in particular would be using every penny they earn just for rent and food, and probably be in debt too.