What is a reasonable amount to take as "board"?

[evenhope]

My DS3 says he is leaving school after GCSEs so we've told him he'll have to work. Also DS1 will be coming home from uni and if he works FT at his Sat job he will take home about £200 a week (which he will spend rather than save).

We haven't taken money off any of the DCs up to now because I thought they needed every penny for uni, but (a) they spend like it's going out of fashion and (b) DS1 won't be going back.

I used to pay my mum quite a lot but a friend's 19 yo only gives her £10 a week out of £200

Is 1/3 save/ 1/3 spend/ 1/3 board reasonable? That would give DS1 about £60-70 a week to spend. (we provide all lifts and all food)

i had a part time job when doing my a-levels and didn't have to pay board but had to pay for all my transport/lunches out etc. no lifts. then when i got 3-day a week job after my a-levels (didnt go 5 days cos was doing voluntary work the other days) i had to pay £200 a month for board. had to pay for everything myself with reagrds to first car, insurance, part of phone bill, etc. (i was earning between 500-700 a month)
i think it was worth it cos i really treasured my independence and the fact that i had earnt those things myself rather than my rents giving them to me.
I'm only 24 so it wasnt that long ago. xx

my mates parents saved up her board (without her knowing) cos they werent skint like mine and then used it to pay for her wedding which i think is great if you can. to pay for deposit on house/ wedding/ car etc

I never intend to charge my children to live in my their home.
I never did and it hasn't manage money. My father gave me a house when I got married and I now have enough rental properties to do the same for my children, so it would be so pointless to take their money from them. Let them have their hard earn money and enjoy it.

Caykon, you are clearly extremely fortunate, unfortunately,here in the real world, most of us are not in a position to do that. TBH, even if financially I was able to do without a contribution, I would still make me children pay once they start work.
I totally disagree with the point of view that I should not take money from them as they did not ask to be born. Should I still expect to support them when I am a pensioner if they choose never to leave home? Most parents don't take enough to cover the child's contribution to the household bills anyway, let alone make money out of them which was implied by one poster.
As far as I am concerned, if the bills are affected by them living here, they should expect to make a contribution towards it.
When I started work (29 years ago)I was earning £200 a month, out of which I paid my mum £50, fares to work, lunches, food for myself for weekends and saved up to get married and for deposit on a house. It was not easy but at least I was never a freeloader!

I agree with you justdidntthink.

I worked after A levels and had to give my mum about £20 a week for board. She saved quite a bit of it, and gave most of it back to me when I moved out, but I never knew she was saving it. I think it is important for working teenagers to pay something towards the home. My experience of the EMA was hopeless. Only get £10 a week if the whole family income is so low could not survive in the South East, and then DS had to get every college tutor to sign the form for each and every lesson, every day, every week. It was a joke!

i threw my 18 year old ito butlins.....and now - he keeps phoning me for money.

and i give it to him

like the mug i am

well he has been giving me 60-80 quid for 3 years - i reckon fair dos