AIBU to think that charging rent from a child whilst in finL year of A-levels is not on?

[Pony74]

Is this normal? Thank you.

[Mehitabel6]

Very unreasonable

[Molio]

Utterly unreasonable since the adult/s responsible, if in need, will be in receipt of Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit. There's no excuse whatsoever.

[StrawberryMouse]

I don't agree either. They will still getting child benefit, tax credits etc because she is dependent on them.

[Tequilashotsfor1]

No one knows the finacal situation of the family.

Contributing to the family pot as soon as possible is not a bad thing and is not grabby. We own our own buisness so don't need the money but our dc still contribute.

[gamingmum]

My partners parents always charged 10% of whatever he and his sister earned irrespective of hours or age. It's Helped the pair of them respect money and learn how to budget, building towards both of them buying properties before 25. It's just another way to prepare them for future living.

[oddfodd]

If you have a part time job while you're a full time student, then you get to keep what you earn. As others have said, the parents will be getting CB and possibly other benefits too. And if they're not, they hardly need a cut of a minimum wage job

[maz210]

Do you know that the mum isn't saving it up for them?

That would be fine, otherwise not so in my opinion unless they are broke and the money is literally paying for the food on the table.

[Tequilashotsfor1]

Absolutly gaming

[whatdidthefoxsay]

My stepmother charged me when I got a job at 17, but she was mean, i wouldn't do it.

[Tequilashotsfor1]

How do you know they are recieving CB?

[WeAllHaveWings]

I started college at 16 (30 years ago) and as soon as I got my bursary in I started paying digs. Didn't feel it was unfair as my siblings had the same and so did my friends.

Ds is only 11, not sure how I will feel about it when he's older, I felt proud contributing to the home when I was younger and I'm glad that's something my parents taught me, but things have changed when it comes to young adults contributing and I'm not sure yet if its for the better. I suspect not, but ds might find it unfair if its not commonplace now, which will need to thought through when we decide.

Either way, what other families decide they want to teach their kids about contributing is not unreasonable, and you should mind your own business instead of making it sound like some sort of financial abuse.

[MangoJuggler]

Interesting povs here

I am erring towards saving the dosh for the child's future

[oddfodd]

Do people still give children that age pocket money? So why take rent off them?

I really hate the idea of taking money and then presenting it back at a later date. It's infantilising. Either save for them or encourage them to save.

I used the money I earned to pay for holidays and clothes etc. I didn't need to give my parents a tiny amount of cash to learn what things cost.

[MummaV]

I started work at 13 and until I left school I kept my earnings as it was weekend less than minimum wage(because I was under 16), which was essentially pennies. When I started college and got a part time job that paid properly I paid £30 a week rent. I also paid for my own phone contract/clothes etc. I later learnt that my mum had saved my rent and used it to help me pay for university as there was no way she could have helped me financially otherwise.

I was resentful of paying rent at the time however it taught me to budget and be financially independent. DH never paid rent at home and only moved out when he moved in with me aged 24. He is still rubbish with money 5 years later because he's always relied on me to sort out bills etc and just take his share from him on pay day, the left over money is usually spent well before the next payday!

I think if the child is earning enough to contribute to the household they should. It really will help when/if they go to university or move out.

[lunalelle]

I would never charge my child. Perhaps an unusual viewpoint, but I would rather she concentrate on education.

[Newbrummie]

I had more disposable income at 17 than 39 ... I've told my kids they will have to contribute if they want a roof over their heads tbh

[Newbrummie]

It's been proven hasn't it that kids who have a part time job do no worse in their studies than those who don't

[hedgehogsdontbite]

I did this with my DD from when she was 16. It wasn't about the money. She'd get more back off me through the month. It was about trying to teach her some financial responsibility. She was utterly useless with money and I was worried about her managing when she went off to university.

[Jessica2point0]

It depends on family circumstances. If you can't afford to support an 18yo then what do you do? Go without food or heating, stop paying mortgage? Have an 18yo with a part time job going out and spending all the money on 'luxuries' while you pay all household bills and saying no to properly fitting uniforms for younger DC? I'd ask an A level student for a contribution if I needed to.

[Supersoft]

If they are working part time I see no harm in charging them some rent. It's hardy likely to be what they would have to pay if they were rented in the real world plus bills is it? It's part of life I'm afraid and a good lesson to learn early on. Also how do you know that this rent the parents are charging isn't the difference between them paying their mortage or losing the house?

[lunalelle]

Should clarify - I wouldn't charge just because. If it was vital money, that's different.

[DonnaKebab66]

I had a Saturday job in Woolies at that age (30 years back!) and no, I wasn't expected to pay rent. It went on clothes and going out. I started paying rent when I started working FT.

[Bunbaker]

"Why is it unreasonable to contribute to the family home / regardless if your rolling in it?"

She is still at school FGS!

I started paying rent when I started working full time. Any money I earned from my newspaper round and Saturday job I got to keep.

Unless the family are in dire financial straits I think they are being mean and cheapskate.

[fakenamefornow]

I remember an 18yo I knew had to pay all her parents rent. She lived in a council house and was the only one working in the family, HB was cut away because she was working and she had to pay all the rent. I felt really sad for her because her friends with the same sort of jobs had peppercorn rents (if any at all) and lots of spare money for nights out, clothes etc, she didn't because she had rent and bills to pay.

[PookBob]

I got my first hotel job aged 14 and had to give parents 33% of my weekend wages, the same for any subsequent jobs I had until I left for university. I thought that was pretty normal tbh.

I know some parents who saved child benefit up to give to their children when they got to 18, but my parents would not have been able to afford to do that.