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Original poster

Paying board to my parents

75 replies

samjamsam · 14/09/2020 19:55

How much should I offer to pay a month.

I will start a new job on about 35k. DSis earns about 70k. Should we pay the same?

Parents mortgage all paid off so no housing costs, just bills.

OP posts:
BashfulClam · 14/09/2020 20:06

Your own food and a shate of the bills surely. If it’s your parents, sister and you the bills should be split 4 ways.

BashfulClam · 14/09/2020 20:10

Your sisters earnings compared to yours are irrelevant ,you should treat it like any house share. I paid half the bills when I lived with my parents for a short time plus my food and a bit extra as my mum did my washing for me.

lifesalongsong · 14/09/2020 20:13

It's a matter for you and your parents to agree something you both think is fair.

There's no right or wrong answer and no reason to do the same as other people do, everyone's situation is unique.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General money
Scrumptiousbears · 14/09/2020 20:14

As an example when I got my first job I earned £12.5k and paid £100 a month.

Sunnydaysstillhere · 14/09/2020 20:16

Ds paid 10 %of his monthly wage. He saved 10% for a mortgage. Standard rate I thought was 20 %....

Lobsterquadrille2 · 14/09/2020 20:17

My daughter is 22, works full time and pays for her own food and half the water/gas/electric bills. She also does probably more than half the housework, which I really appreciate.

TheStarOnTheChristmasTree · 14/09/2020 20:17

My DC pay 20% of their income up to a maximum of £200 a month each

JimMaxwellantheshippingforcast · 14/09/2020 20:23

Mine pay £173 a month each.

I've no idea how much they earn

LynetteScavo · 14/09/2020 20:29

How much your Dsis earns isn't really relevant.

What's the going rate for a room in your area? I would suggest you pay that.

Having said that, I wouldn't ask my DC for the going rate unless I wanted them to move out. Grin

Aria2015 · 14/09/2020 20:32

Although your sister earns more, you earn a decent wage and so I think you should pay the same. If you were renting a flat, the rent wouldn't be means tested based on your earnings so I don't think this should be any different (unless perhaps you were struggling on a minimum wage job).

As for how much to pay. You'd need to work that out based on the monthly bills etc...and split it accordingly.

AllsortsofAwkward · 14/09/2020 20:33

You're earnings are irrelevant you and the fact you're parents are mortgage free you pay the amount stated by youre parents. Tbh if you earning 35k and youre sister 70k I'm puzzled why you would continue to live at home and not get youre own places.

LBOCS2 · 14/09/2020 20:34

Blimey, my board was £250/pcm fifteen years ago and I was NOT earning £35k!

I think you need to strike the balance between 'cheaper than moving into a house share' and 'not taking the piss'. Your parents need to agree too 😁

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 14/09/2020 20:36

Usually I would suggest 20% of after tax salary but that's for school leavers on low income and no real need to move out.

Why on earth are you and your sister still living at home on those salaries?

Maybe suggest to your folks that all bills are split into 4 and you each cover a quarter. Then you and sister sort your own food/cars/mobiles on top.

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 14/09/2020 20:36

I'd only make it relative to earnings if the DC were under 25 and on a very low training wage. If doing an apprenticeship on 10k per year then no board or cover their costs (bills).

However once adult DC are earning an adult wage they're just housemates. The obvious thing would be to split the cost of running the house including a wear and tear/ repair/ replacement/ decoration fund, all bills, all food by the number of adults. Parents pick up the bill for any adult child who they deem unable to contribute (studying or training full time, long term ill, unable to work due to disabilities or health) then everyone else pays their equal share.

Aquamarine1029 · 14/09/2020 20:38

Why are you and your sister living at home? Confused

AgainstAllOdds1 · 14/09/2020 20:52

@Aquamarine1029, most probably saving for a house deposit I guess?

42daystogo · 14/09/2020 21:25

Personally i think it should be up to your parents to decide an amount, whether it be one amount all in or a cost for rent then you supply your own food etc.

Standrewsschool · 14/09/2020 21:33

You and your sister should pay the same.

Original poster
samjamsam · 14/09/2020 21:48

my parents don't mind but just want a little contribution. We are 22 and 24 by the way, so living at home to save for a deposit.

OP posts:
AlwaysLatte · 14/09/2020 21:52

We didn't charge my stepsons at all and we won't be charging the younger ones when they're grown up. I don't agree with charging your own kids personally...

BitOfFun · 14/09/2020 21:55

Would you mind giving us a vague clue of what your sisters does to earn £70k aged 24? Just out of interest (and I wish I'd had this as careers advice!)

Bahhh · 14/09/2020 22:01

I paid £200 a month 20 years ago while earning £14k. So, £500? £600? What does a room cost where you are?

polkadotpixie · 14/09/2020 22:31

@JimMaxwellantheshippingforcast Just 'cause I'm nosy...why £173? Just seems like an odd number!

nancyjuice7 · 14/09/2020 22:42

I think 20% is fair

You 230
Sister 360

If your salary goes up/ then you adjust the board, same for your sister.

Aquamarine1029 · 14/09/2020 23:18

We didn't charge my stepsons at all and we won't be charging the younger ones when they're grown up. I don't agree with charging your own kids personally...

I don't understand this mentality at all. If your adult children need support due to extreme circumstances, fine, but coddling adult children, who are working and/or who are perfectly capable of working, who should be standing on their own two feet, is madness. Not making them join the real world is doing them no favours. This is how cocklodgers and spongers are made.