To take some rent from DD

[Jayne35]

DD starts her first job soon, it's an apprenticeship so not fantastic money but more than I got for my first job - around £95 a week. I have asked that she pay £20 a week towards housekeeping costs and still do some jobs around the house if I ask (DH and I both work 40+ hours a week).

Is it now unreasonable to ask DC's to contribute? My XH has been telling DD her wouldn't take any of her wages or ask her to do chores etc the dole dossing entitled fuckwit which is really pissing me off and I think DC's should get used to 'paying their way' before moving out.

[Standinginline]

Think it depends on whether you still get benefit for her ,like child benefit tax credits etc ... I've been working since I was 13 and parents never took money of me until I left college and my child benefit stopped. I did however ,before that ,pay for my own toiletries and clothes.

[sashh]

I would give her the choice if I could (you might not be able to). She can pay board and still receive free toiletries, hair dye etc or she can keep it all but you provide just food no extras.

[Artandco]

I wouldn't actually.

I would talk to her like an adult and get her to see the cost of things. Then see how she could help there. Ie get her used to contributing in general to household. If she sees the house is low on milk/ bread/ etc then just pick up or say she's picking some up on way home so you don't buy double. She could cook few days of the week if in and buy ingredients for the dishes she wants to cook. And should be helping with laundry/ keeping house clean.

In the end that's around £20 at least anyway, but seems a better way of putting it.

[thegreylady]

We charged a small sum and saved half for them without telling them. It made a nice little sum when they moved out. However when some of them came back temporarily we didn't give them any back when they left as they were independent adults then.

[Lanabelle]

Not unreasonable, like you said it will teach her about managing her money and paying her way -and not being an entitled dole dosser-

[Randomeclectic]

What about getting her to look up a recipe for a meal, buy the ingredients herself and cook the meal twice a week instead of paying rent. That will help you out and teach her about budgeting. You can ban processed foods.

[bubalou]

When I was 16 I worked 30+ hours a week at a restaurant whilst at college.

I started paying my parents 20 pound a week. By the time I was 18 and passed my driving test my lovely parents handed over the 2,000 pound that I had paid them in 'rent' over this time.

Along with my savings I was able to buy a nice car that I had saved for myself and I had no idea they were going to do that. I was so grateful and they had also still taught me the value of money.

[falulahthecat]

Why not take it and put half into a savings account for her? Let her know you're doing it.
To be honest though, I suspect there has been a rather sharp rate of inflation since you're first job, and you may put her off work altogether if she's working for £2 an hour (depending on the hours of her job).
Internships sound easy but they're often a way for companies to employ people cheaply for work that would normally be paid a proper wage. So do be sure you don't jump the gun!