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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

18 year old pay phone bill??

13 replies

Wombling123 · 29/10/2017 10:01

My son will be 18 next week. He goes to sixth form college which is only 16 hours a week so, in my view, has plenty of time to get a part time job in restaurant, supermarket or similar. He has never worked and relies on me for money which is starting to really annoy me. When he is 18 I want to stop paying his phone bill which is £28 a month. He could at least start by paying this don't you think ?? That would force him to get a job, be less reliant on me and manage his money. Thoughts ?

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 29/10/2017 10:03

Absolutely.

DS1 had a P/T job from the age of 16 because he wanted extra cash. How has your DS managed to get to 18 without having one? Are you still giving him pocket money?

Akire · 29/10/2017 10:07

£28 is massive. Is that for a new handset too? He can look for a job to pay for it or he can get cheaply phone and basic SIM card for it.

How much extra money does he get? clothes, transport, social life? Fair if he’s in college to offer basics with such a part time course and he can earn extras. Especially if you don’t have such a good phone yourself.

Original poster

Wombling123 · 29/10/2017 10:08

Yes, I do give him pocket money but this has to stop when he is 18 - i.e. Next week.

OP posts:

titchy · 29/10/2017 10:09

That's not a part time course - he'll be expected to study at least the same amount of time he has classes for - he's a full time student.

A Saturday job isn't unreasonable to expect though.

Giraffesarequitetall · 29/10/2017 10:11

Personally I will continue to pay while they are in Sixth form so until June/July in your case

That said DS who I said is yr 12 does have a part time job. I also pay his phone and allowance as I want him to benefit from working and to encourage the idea that working brings rewards.

Original poster

Wombling123 · 29/10/2017 10:16

Giraffe - how much allowance do you give your DS ?

OP posts:

Giraffesarequitetall · 29/10/2017 17:06

Not loads £50 per month plus we pay £15 towards his phone contract.

We also pay for standard toiletries, bus to sixth form, lunches and basic clothes. He pays for his own socialising, expensive clothes, cinema etc.

We are not in London which is relevant I think.

BackforGood · 29/10/2017 23:04

I continued my dcs pocket money until the end of August after they were 18, (when they have to be in educations, and when you can still receive Child Benefit for them) but I gave them £18 a month pocket money, and they paid for any phone contracts or credit they wanted, themselves, out of their pocket money.
Of course he has time to work as well. Even if he did do another 16 hours a week study, it still only totals 32 hours, which leaves PLENTY of time for some part time work.

junebirthdaygirl · 01/11/2017 09:31

Sometimes they are nervous about looking for a job so maybe give him some ideas there and help with cvs etc. So instead of threatening to withdraw funds just work alongside him to get a job. Then when he is up and running gradually remove suppiort. As he is still studying l would encourage the job more as somethinng that will benifit him in the longterm so he doesnt feel you are forcing hom. Now is a good time to pick up a Christmas job.

CatAfterCat · 01/11/2017 18:09

I imagine you will still get Child Benefit for him until he is 19.
He's in full time education and dependent on you.
I would switch from pocket money to an allowance. A reasonable amount to cover his clothes, travel and phone. Then he can choose whether to pay £28 a month or get a GiffGaff SIM and pay £7.50 a month.
When mine were 18 and at sixth form they were expected to put a lot of hours study in. I gave them £80 a month to cover everything and they worked 2 or 3 hours a week for a little extra.

ihatethecold · 01/11/2017 18:13

I stopped giving my ds pocket money when he was 16. He got a job in a pub a couple of evenings a week.
He has had to pay his own phone bill for the past year.
He saved up to get an iPhone 7 so I said he would have to pay the £35 a month to use it.

Undercoverbanana · 01/11/2017 18:15

He should definitely be working in some capacity at 18. What does he do with the rest of his time for goodness sake? What on earth does he do in the college holidays (with no money?)

notacooldad · 01/11/2017 22:05

we pay our kids phone bills. However the difference is they don't expect us to and work/college.

I would be getting annoyed if he was expecting money for nothing all the time.

DS1 is 21 and in full time employment and on a good wage and DS2 is at college but also works for the family business when required. I can't remember how much the bill is but I don't mind paying a few things for them.

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