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Original poster

I may have the only teenager who agreed this was fair....

179 replies

DoorstoManual · 15/08/2020 01:47

He has landed a job, it is full time he will be on £10 an hour, he asked what we required for bed and board.

I said £400 a month.

He said, presume that includes food......... I said it includes everything, he said that is a bargain, thank you so much.

We will save it for him, but I was so impressed that he already knew it was good value.

He sat down and worked out income, tax, NI, travel, phone etc., it was a revelation.

For the record, we have been very fluid financially for the last ten years of his life, but he has clearly not forgotten the tight times, not bone crunching tight, but tight.

OP posts:
CaffeineInfusion · 15/08/2020 09:23

30% was the magic number in our house growing up. Didn't matter what your wage was. Even the £17.59 YTS rip off was subject to 30%🤣

Teaching a young one to pay their own way is a serious responsibility and shouldn't be underestimated.

ScrapThatThen · 15/08/2020 09:36

That's great.

BeaUnder · 15/08/2020 09:44

I did the same with my DC. Although he left home 3 years ago (to move in with GF) they are now buying and I've just given him 15k that I'd saved from his 'board' when living with me as an adult.

He had no idea about the money.

ExclamationPerfume · 15/08/2020 10:26

That's far too much to take off him. £200 would be more than enough.

hellswelshy · 15/08/2020 11:29

Well done op, I think it's fair and right that he should contribute. Honestly don't understand why parents who can't bear to ask for keep think they are being the 'better' and more loving parents Confused

Isn't it our job as parents to teach our children about the real world?

DoIneed1 · 15/08/2020 11:32

Brilliant idea, Op, to save the money on his behalf.

Parker231 · 15/08/2020 11:35

@ExclamationPerfume - why do you think it’s too much? It’s less than he would pay if he was renting and paying bills and he still has loads of cash for himself.

VinylDetective · 15/08/2020 11:41

@Oblomov20

Laughing at the 'I'd never take money off my precious darling' posts. Hmm
It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? I bet a lot of the cocklodgers we see reported here had parents who said that.
backseatcookers · 15/08/2020 11:55

[quote Parker231]@ExclamationPerfume - why do you think it’s too much? It’s less than he would pay if he was renting and paying bills and he still has loads of cash for himself.[/quote]
Exactly! AND he'll have a sizeable chunk of savings when he does move out because OP stated she's saving it all up for him.

iklboo · 15/08/2020 11:58

How is he ever gonna save for his own house when you're taking £400 a month off him? That's really expensive.

She's saving it for him.

Original poster
DoorstoManual · 15/08/2020 12:06

He did make me laugh last night, DH said to him have you factored in your X box subscription and he replied there are some things a parent should be proud to provide. Grin

OP posts:
roarfeckingroarr · 15/08/2020 12:09

That is LOADS to live at home... £10 an hour can't be much to take home each month after tax and NI?

KarenFitzkaren · 15/08/2020 12:09

Sounds like your son has some really good values. Very well rounded and level headed. Good for him. And to you for teaching him those skills.

Original poster
DoorstoManual · 15/08/2020 12:09

Sorry and to those that asked, it is a full time job.

OP posts:
Holothane · 15/08/2020 12:15

My aunt who brought me up took so much of me I had so little money, I believe in paying your way but not when your left with £10 a week to cover bus fares clothes Personal stuff. It went down to five when the dole as it was went down to £25 I am talking 33 years ago.

Original poster
DoorstoManual · 15/08/2020 12:17

Just googled rooms in our nice town and they are a lot more, googled towns in a not so nice town in the next county and they are still more expensive than living at home.

He has just wandered in and told me he has set up a Plum account to sweep his loose change in his bank account into a savings account.

Who are you and what have you done with my child. Grin

OP posts:
KarenFitzkaren · 15/08/2020 12:20

He has just wandered in and told me he has set up a Plum account to sweep his loose change in his bank account into a savings account.

Love this. It's brilliant.

Bargebill19 · 15/08/2020 12:22

Fabulous! Brilliant parenting, be very very proud of him.

DoIneed1 · 15/08/2020 12:24

Do posters just not bother reading threads any more??

Deadringer · 15/08/2020 12:27

I take the same from my adult son, he is happy to pay it and would give more, no question. I can't afford to save it for him, i use it to pay household bills. He knows he is getting a good deal while contributing to the family coffers, and he still has plenty left to save for his own place. Win win.

Bollss · 15/08/2020 12:30

@Purpleartichoke

Excellent op

I do think parents should charge rent that gives an idea of the real world. 25% for housing, utilities, and food is a bargain. When a young adult moves out they are likely to be spending 30% or more of their income just on housing.

25% of what? His wage?

On a tenner an hour it's more than that.

sashagabadon · 15/08/2020 12:34

I aim to do exactly the same when the time comes.
I think £100 per week all in is great value and yes I will prob save for them anyway
Not only does it teach them to budget etc , it means they do not have too much money to waste on clothes , alcohol , other rubbish etc
A teenager with too much spare money is not a good thing!!

CrazyToast · 15/08/2020 12:43

Brilliant! You've obviously already raised him well because he will happily pay his way, but this is even more good stuff to teach him to be independent and responsible. I hope you dont tell him you are saving it, what an amazing surprise it will be for him!

People saying 'I would never charge my precious baby to live' or '£400 is loads'---adults have to pay their way and it is better they learn that early.. If an adult is earning money, why should their parents pay all their stuff? £400 is not loads, even the kid agrees that. The OP is saving it for him which is more than he asked for. Take a leaf out of OPs book!

noses11 · 15/08/2020 12:45

I think the OP could make money out of how to bring up a teenager given the response.

Change17 · 15/08/2020 12:52

I’m staggered by the amount of people saying £100 is a lot. Considering this includes food, bills etc.
I unfortunately had a pretty toxic homelife so my siblings and I moved out of home as soon as we got the chance. As a 22 year old graduate I was paying £750 a month for a bedroom in a shared 3 bedroom flat with 3 friends. Before bills food and everything else.

If I had been fortunate enough to have a healthy home life and had the opportunity to stay at home for a few years to save up, I’d have jumped for joy at the idea of paying £100 a week.

Anyone who thinks this is excessive, your kids will likely have a huge shock one day when they have mortgage and bills and food to pay for. This is preparing him for the real world and there’s nothing wrong with that

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