Would you charge 24 year old child rent?

[whyut]

Hello,

My daughter has just finished her degree. She has moved back home. She is now going travelling, but not proper travelling. Random cheap holidays away, etc.

She has money saved for this.

She may be at home for a few weeks at a time not doing much until the next trip.

Would you charge her for the time she is at home?

Thanks

And why wouldn't I want to give my children some time to enjoy themselves while they're young and see the world a bit? I don't need their money

Because in many cases it leaves them totally incapable of budgeting, laundry, cooking and other general life skills because they have been ridiculously molly coddled.

I don't get that though. She has been living on her own for 4 years at university, doing all of those things.

I’m not charging my 23 year old rent.

He’s just got his degree but is finding it hard to get a job, he’s labouring for Dh in his job but the money isn’t great.

Exactly OP, you know she can cope on her own and has life skills. Therefore if you can afford it, not charging her rent etc is lovely thing to do and shows you appreciate her efforts with her education.

The trouble is that too many people are graduating from university unable to find work or only able to find jobs that don't need a degree at all. I can't understand why a 24 year old who is already behind her peer group wouldn't be prioritising career planning rather than messing about travelling (not career related), possibly having her living arrangements subsidised by her mother and falling even further behind in the employment arena.

I would charge rent - not a lot but enough to cover her share of bills, food and council tax.

If you don't need the money, give it back to her in the form of a deposit later, or maybe driving lessons or similar if she needs them?

If she can afford holidays she can afford to pay some rent. There's no other place she can go where she'll only be charged £50 or so a week for rent, bills and food!

Because in many cases it leaves them totally incapable of budgeting, laundry, cooking and other general life skills because they have been ridiculously molly coddled.

I just don't buy that. In many countries (including where I live) parents never charge their kids rent, and children often live at home into their 20s, and yet they still get jobs, leave home, and live perfectly normal lives.

I can't understand why a 24 year old who is already behind her peer group wouldn't be prioritising career planning rather than messing about travelling (not career related)

Maybe travelling is more important to them?

Careers are mostly pretty boring and will take up most of a person's life. I'd recommend a 24 year old not rush into that if they don't need to, tbh.

Too many people are graduating from university unable to find work or only able to find jobs that don't need a degree at all.

While that might be true overall, the situation is different for engineering graduates. There is a shortage of qualified engineers in the UK.

I can't understand why a 24 year old who is already behind her peer group wouldn't be prioritising career planning rather than messing about travelling

Why should she base her life plans on what her 'peers' are doing?

She is an adult.
If she is visiting....No, I wouldn't charge her rent.
If she was staying for a while, yes I would

She is an adult, but the ops child. The op is perfectly able to use that word. Posters are being stupidly picky about this.

No I wouldn’t charge her rent.

if its temporary, for short bursts and she is cleaning up/buying bits of shopping etc then no i wouldnt. shes a guest.

just to add, providing you arent struggling for money! if her staying is putting you in debt then obviously a contribution is fine to ask for.

Absolutely

I gave my mum house keep as soon as I started work at 16- and it was only part time work as I was in full time college. The amount then went up when I got a full time job. She needed the money and I knew it so it wasn't a problem (I probably moaned now and again!) I was expected to help around the house too, cook my own meals regularly as she worked late etc.

I'll ask my own children for money when they're working too. If I'm in the position to save some of it to give back then I will do.

I think the most important factor is that they learn that you can't live for free! Everything costs money.

If she can afford to travel, she can afford to contribute, even if it's minimal.