Paying Keep

[Lee17]

Hi All,
My 16 yr old daughter has left school is earning now. She is on an Apprenticeship, which starts officially in September. She is earning about £130 a week at the minute, which may well go up if she does more hours. Now, I think it is reasonable for her to pay a little towards her keep. At the moment we are encouraging her to save half, which she is doing but when we mentioned keep she threw a wobbly. Is it reasonable to ask her to pay say £25 a week, then save half of the rest and have the other half to spend as she pleases? My husband and I were brought up to pay keep, many, many years ago! And back then in the early 80s, he was paying about £20 and I was about £15. Any advice please? I think they need to appreciate how long it takes to earn what they intend to spend and to evaluate the cost and if it is worth it. We pay for everything for her at the minute, apart from extra clothes and makeup. Thanks. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Keep or no Keep?

OP originally posted this in 2019 so it’s probably been worked out by now!

Thanks for pointing that out!

All that leaves her after savings and keep is £160 a month that’s not going to get her very far. I think it’s a bit mean to make a 16 yo pay keep. When she is 18 yes, 16 no.

I don't think you should charge your daughter anything or police what she does with her money, she's only sixteen, but tell her she must buy her own toiletries, see to her personal laundry (which she might do already), and pay for any of her own expenses like 'phone.

When she is 'properly' working at eighteen, if she is still living with you, then would be the time to ask for a contribution towards her 'keep' and household expenses.

If she was a student at university and lived with you, you wouldn't expect her to pay you out of her grant or loan. If she was still at school in the sixth form you'd be giving her an allowance!

(If you really need some extra money and I accept some people do, that's a different matter and up to you to sort out with her.)

I think you will cause a rift between your daughters for the sake of £20 a week is it worth it?

@Sparklesocks I even read her updates, fuck sake ha.

I think if she’s saving half then you’re doing a great job of helping her manage her finances with an eye on the future. I wouldn’t take more than a nominal ten quid A week off her. She’s still a child at the end of the day. A nominal amount shows her that she needs to pay something but it doesn’t leave her with too little. The more you take off her for board the less she’ll save, which is counterproductive.

I had to pay keep as soon as I starting working. I had a Saturday job I earned £16 a week my mum charged me £2! It's good to teach them to pay their way and that money is something that you don't get to spend all of.

I didn’t pay keep until my first real full time job at 22.

16 seems very young to pay keep. But it is good for make her save.

Wow.
I'm shocked the responses here.
You're penalising her in comparison to her siblings because she isn't intelligent enough to complete a levels.
No, it's not fair, and I think YABVU

I wouldn't do this. Even after graduating and working I didn't have to pay "keep". I saved and used it for a house. I'm also very responsible with money... So I didn't need someone taking part of my first wages to teach me a lesson. I can't imagine charging a child to live with me just because they're working.

An apprenticeship is a 'job, with training' and you cannot continue to claim child benefit, as the 'child' is working.