DS 19 has a job - how much should he be paying me for his keep?

[adogcalledbetty]

DS 19 has just started his first job. He will be earning £16000 pa. He has done brilliantly to get this job and I'm beyond delighted.

But I've no idea how much I should be asking him to pay towards his keep. He eats like that proverbial horse. Also I used to get the single person discount for council tax and I'll now lose that. I earn not much more than him and have a younger DD at home.

He'll have hardly any travelling expenses and doesn't have any other financial committments. He doesn't go out much - no girlfriend etc.

How much should I be asking him to contribute each month? Any thoughts?

Mini I don't want him to think 100% of his income is always going to be disposable - it also gives him a bit of practice in paying bills etc. online.

I'm saving it because I don't need it now and he might in the future. It will be nice to be able to give him the money and show him how much he contributed to his savings.

where the hell are these 18 year olds getting such good wages? not in central scotland thats for sure!! 16k is a massive amount, id ask for 4k a year

Where we are, DS is very lucky to be getting that - he works for us though and knows our business almost as well as I do and is taking on a lot of responsibility.

He isn't the best paid out of his friends though - some of them are earning ridiculous amounts! One has moved to London and is in investment banking and has been able to buy himself and insure himself on a new Audi. Another is working as a recruitment consultant for his uncle's firm and can afford to be renting a gorgeous 3 bedroom apartment.

Now I'm going to sound old in my day, most people who left school worked in shops! I know I did! I would have killed for £16 000.

I was in exactly the same position with my ds who went straight from A levels to a job, on exactly the same wages as your ds. He paid us £120 a month, until he moved out into the real world a few months ago!