paying nominal sum for board as an apprentice

[traceyinrosso70]

My DS has an interview tomorrow for an apprenticeship but also has a college place to do a 2 year BTech . He has just discovered that he will get £100.50 a week if he gets offered the job and when we dropped in to conversation that he would need to pay a small sum towards his board ( we thought about £15 a week which will cover what we will lose in child benefit) he has absolutely flipped his lid. He doesn't think its fair because big sister (18) doesn't pay any but she is just finishing A levels and just has a Saturday job. He has a Saturday job too and we have said its his decision - stop on at college and don't pay board or take the apprenticeship ,if offered, and pay board. Are we being unreasonable or just teaching him the value of money? £15 a week won't even cover the cost of food, let alone the laundry service and heat/light but we felt it was more making the point that you start to fend for yourself once you start to earn.

Asked my 15yo ds this one, he didn't think it was unreasonable. Its a token to learn what life's all about, wait till he has to buy his own pants, he'll flip his box completely!!

The rules in our house are: in training and or eduction = no

No deductions sorry

In a job (I would class an Apprenticship as training and eduction) - 20 percent of your wage to contribute.

having a similar dilema, but have decided not to charge board for first year of apprenticeship. It is very difficult to know how to be fair to all when dc are on different career paths though.

Iloveonionrings your ds's employer should provide him with safety boots. I'm sure there's legislation that says employers must provide protective equipment if needed.

in my opinion it is good to start charging kids board, we did it when we started work, it was expected and accepted, it gives them an insight into the cost of living etc, our son is due to start an apprenticeship soon and we have agreed that he will pay £100 / month, from this we will feed him, keep him warm, provide his wi-fi and pay his mobile phone contract, any other costs will be born by him including travel to work, clothes...Mc Donalds etc. everyone has to contribute to the cost of existing and not taking anything will only fuel the kids idea that life is cheap, no wonder kids just hold out their hands and expect everything to be given. starting work ( full time ) be it apprenticeship or full time work, they are still earning and should contribute, as another poster said, tell them to contribute or move out....

Is that £100 before deductions?

I would take the £15 but save it for him. Cash for a deposit when he rents a place of his own.

My DS has just finished his first year as an apprentice earning £105 a week and we didn't take anything from him, in fact we bought him a car because he wouldn't have been able to do the apprenticeship otherwise.

His wages covered petrol, clothes, some kit for work, prescriptions, sports subs, car tax and socialising. DS is 19 and this has been a steep learning curve in terms of managing money. What do you do when all your mates are going on a night out but you know it will cost nearly half your weeks wages or you want to buy your girlfriend something nice for her birthday? What about buying a winter coat or football boots? Most of his clothes come from Primark but he has got very savvy about buying designer stuff second hand. He really values money now and promises to pay us back for his car as soon as he can.

Charging him rent or taking money off him to save wouldn't really have taught him about budgeting. That has come from managing his finances himself.

Wow! I feel like a right cow after reading all of this!!!

In our house when you turn 17 you start paying board. £5 a week, £10 a week at 18, and then negotiated according to a % of income.
If you haven't got a job to pay your board, you get one.
Our boys also pay for all their own personal items including clothes and mobile phones. We pay travel costs to college/uni and learning to drive costs.

I left home at 16, had baby number 1 at 18. We've worked really hard to give our boys a very privileged lifestyle, but I'm not prepared to allow them to take it for granted. (I've read the posts about 'entitled' young adults!!!!!)

Personally I think £400 a month disposable income is a lot of money for a young adult that age. To put it into perspective a teacher or nurse with a few years experience living alone, wouldn't have much more after they'd paid all their living costs...