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Original poster

How much house keeping should my child give each week?

47 replies

Pinsky · 27/03/2018 15:13

My 21 yr old has just got her first job. She is on minimum wage. What does everyone else think is a fair amount for her to give each month?

OP posts:
only39p · 27/03/2018 17:44

How many hours does she do?

PersianCatLady · 28/03/2018 09:34

I am looking forward to reading some of the replies to this OP.

itstimeforanamechange · 28/03/2018 10:52

I didn't live at home once I got a "proper" job, but when I had student jobs, I used to earn about £150 a week free of tax because I was a student and wasn't earning much over the year. My mum used to ask for a contribution of £20-30 from that. So that might give you an example of the sort of percentage to ask for.

YellowMakesMeSmile · 28/03/2018 17:53

This will vary wildly.

I'd expect mine that stage to help with adult jobs around the house and they be buying their own clothes etc but we don't intend to charge them to live in their family home.

SocksRock · 28/03/2018 17:59

I had to pay a third. Save a third and spend a third, although my parents didn’t monitor saving (because I was a bloody adult) but it was what they recommended. They did insist on a third for keep though.

Grassyass · 28/03/2018 18:00

I wouldn't take anything at least for a year unless you really need the money.

Rebecca36 · 28/03/2018 18:03

What she can afford after she's paid her fares, bought things she needs and has a bit of pocket money to go out. She won't have much left over but it would be a nice gesture for her to give you something (you'll probably end up lending it back to her :-)).

My view is it's a better idea to get grown up kids to put a few bob away each month and then make a small contribution to the bills when they arrive, rather than pay out a fixed monthly sum.

I do hope your daughter gets a better paid job before too long.

ceeveebee · 28/03/2018 18:06

Unless you need the money I personally would ask her for 1/3 and then put it in a savings account for her to use as a deposit on a house/rental

lmmummy · 28/03/2018 19:59

Nothing!!! She's your child! Not a lodger.
If you are really going to start taking her money off her I hope it's so you can put it into a savings account for her to help her out when she comes to buy her own place or something.

greendale17 · 30/03/2018 07:37

I would never charge my children for rent.

nightshade · 30/03/2018 07:40

It was 25 percent when I was growing up many moons ago!!

whatisforteamum · 30/03/2018 08:56

I'm shocked others are saying nothing as taking rent prepare s.them for.real life
!.My parents.took twenty five percent then I paid for my car and insurance.D's was paying 30 now 35.He is 19 now.yes perhaps we need the money more as we don't earn huge amounts however we do it to teach him how real life is.He has saved a huge amount for a car and paid all his own driving lessons and clothes.

lmmummy · 30/03/2018 19:13

@whatisforteamum
I don't think there is anything wrong in taking part of there wage to teach them how to save etc. But to then keep it is so wrong. You should be putting it in a savings account for him for when he moves out and buys a place of his own. Or has his own children. You shouldn't be taking your child's money off them to pay your bills. What are you going to do when he moves out and you haven't got his money?

ceeveebee · 30/03/2018 19:43

When I was younger I had to pay 1/3 of my wage - my parents weren’t well off and the loss of child benefit was a problem for them. I’m fortunate now that I am in a position not to need anything from my kids when they are old enough to work. But perhaps if my parents hadn’t instilled the value of money and a work ethic into me, I wouldn’t be!

whatisforteamum · 30/03/2018 22:16

Immummy we will be fine.The money mostly covers extra food and snacks washing powder loo roll shampoos etc.This is what my parents did and I'm very good at budgeting .we managed to buy a house on our low wages and keep it due to my parents life lesson.
I thank them for it.If dcs had left.home like I did for a while at 18 they would see 35 pounds goes nowhere!!
I think a whole lot of dcs will leave home with financial difficuties as their money was previously.for entertainment.I still was a.little shocked by having a mortgage at 22.

whatisforteamum · 30/03/2018 22:17

I agree.ceeveebee.same here. :)

NapQueen · 30/03/2018 22:17

20%

EllenJanethickerknickers · 30/03/2018 22:24

Bloody hell, really, never charge your adult children 'rent?' I couldn't afford not to when child benefit and maintenance stopped. How would bankrupting myself and not being able to pay for food and bills have helped my DC? How would it have taught them the value of money? Would they ever be able to become independent? Charge them their fair share of bills, council tax and food. Rent or mortgage according to them having a bedroom. It will still be much less than private rent.

SleepingStandingUp · 30/03/2018 22:24

When I left Uni and moved home I paid 1/3rd of the bills as there were three of us. That's life. I paid my own lunches, clothes, fares etc. I wasn't a child so why would I expect to be kept potentially for another decade!

BackforGood · 30/03/2018 23:21

Views on this are polar opposite on MN. Some feel it is helpful to teach your dc the art of budgeting, and to grasp the idea you pay for your commitments first, save a bit, and then only what is left, is there for "spends". Others are mortified at the idea of taking any money from your child.
It usually comes out with a 1/3 towards offsetting your 'keep', 1/3 to save (or spend on something such as driving lessons) and 1/3 for them to spend on fun / clothes / socialising etc.

Tumbleweed101 · 31/03/2018 11:16

I take what i’ve lost in tax credits and CB plus the extra it costs for having another adult in the house (ie losing the 25% council tax discount and HB) from my son who now works full time. That way the household income remains the same as it was. I’m a single parent and have three dependant children still as well as my adult child so supporting him isn’t really viable without the TC help as im on a low wage.

Appuskidu · 31/03/2018 11:18

How much does she take home each week?

achangeisgonnacome · 31/03/2018 11:30

When DS began his apprenticeship, his salary was half of what DSS was on.

So we agreed his housekeeping would be 50% of what DSS gave me. He set up a SO and I've been saving it since then.

He'll get it back indirectly as am planning to use it for his first car insurance (just passed his test and looking for a car).

user1487194234 · 01/04/2018 12:46

Personally I wouldn't take anything unless we really needed it

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 01/04/2018 12:51

Surely you just charge her what it is costing you to have her there? How could anyone here know what that figure is? So food, electric, gas, council tax, toiletries (if you buy them for her) etc. Add it up and ask her for that amount.