Charging older kids board

wmrcomputers

Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
Just wondering what people think is a reasonable amount of money to charge their older kids when they start to earn their own crust?

At the moment we don't know how many hours a week, pay etc., but just wondered what people think is a fair % of income and up to how much maximum? Ages 18+

We've been debating this subject with friends recently and so I thought I'd put it out here. It's not about money, but more about principal and learning to stand on their own feet etc. Bills have to be paid after all and they do cost money to feed etc. and still want their washing done for them!!

My own personal thoughts are around 20% up to £40 maximum. Your thoughts please.
 

United57

Well-Known Forumite
You are doing the right thing. They will moan but get them to work out how much it costs to live on their own or share with friends. Expect a queue of forumites to take up the offer.
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
Just wondering what people think is a reasonable amount of money to charge their older kids when they start to earn their own crust?

At the moment we don't know how many hours a week, pay etc., but just wondered what people think is a fair % of income and up to how much maximum? Ages 18+

We've been debating this subject with friends recently and so I thought I'd put it out here. It's not about money, but more about principal and learning to stand on their own feet etc. Bills have to be paid after all and they do cost money to feed etc. and still want their washing done for them!!

My own personal thoughts are around 20% up to £40 maximum. Your thoughts please.
Middle son still lives at home, has a reasonable job & pays board....

We ask for £100 per month (every 4 weeks), & he also pays for the wifi. He pays his own phone contract bill, car insurance etc...
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
.....for this we provide his cosy room, dailey food & washing (but not ironing) service....

He is expected to keep his room tidy & free of exoctic fungus that only single young men are capable of breeding in their rooms, &, largly girl free (yes, im old fashioned & wont let girls stay over).
 

wmrcomputers

Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
Always bear in mind that they will have more say in the choice of care home than you probably will.
Although no doubt (at least partially) said in humour, this is a valid point that people on other forums are making.

However, I doubt I will make it that far. The amount I smoke I'll have defeated all statistics if I make it into a care home!! :D
 

Trumpet

Well-Known Forumite
I used to hand over about a third of my take home when I got my first job. When I got a better job the amount increased but was then only about a quarter of my take home.
 

bpelectric

Well-Known Forumite
We asked £100 per month but one thing to remember they need to be able to save other wise you've got em for life they never move out
On the subject of guest's your fine till they reach 18 they then remind you of the ECHR or should i say they tell you there paying board so should be allowed (lmao)
But lets face it were are they going to get a meal and roof over there head for £25 a week even student lets work out to £75 these days
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
When I left uni I paid £200 a month, I got my evening meals included with that. I am glad I did, as it helped me budget.
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
Thanks for that littleme. I think your attitude about guests is good also... it gives them another incentive to eventually want their own place! ;)
I should probably point out a couple of things...

....the board is very low, I didnt want them to be in the same situation I was when I got my first job at 17 & was made to hand over 70% of my wages - which left virtualy nothing for travel, clothes etc...

...the other point is that we had to visit the Citizens Advice last year when the husband was made redundant to do an income/expenditure thingy- they told me I should be charging middle son £100 per week & he should also provide his own food! & if he didnt then we should kick him out & get a lodger!!! You can probably imagine how that suggestion went down when ive also got a 9yr old daughter in the house!

Anyhoo, hes allowed friends round, but when we go to bed - they have to go home. Its the RULES, & he will never move out otherwise!

Another way to work it out is to devide all the bills (rent, gas, electric, water, tv licience, phone, wifi, council tax & food) by however many people live in the house (including little brothers/sisters) & tell em thats what they should pay - it stopped middle son wingeing when we put his board up by a fiver ;)

The cheapest rooms (in town above Chambers) ive seen, are £67.50 bills inclusive (but not food) if thats any help.
 

wmrcomputers

Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
As it stands we've had a discussion with eldest 3 that it will affect over next few years. Mutually we've decided that 20% of their wage is both a sufficient contribution whilst enough for them not to see life as a "free ride". We'll probably max that out at £50 if they were lucky enough to ever earn massively.

30% realistically seems an average quoted around the web, but we've based the 20% on the fact that none of them are fortunate enough to have a room they don't have have to share.

If any are still at home by 25, then it will increase slightly to 90% ;) :D
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
As it stands we've had a discussion with eldest 3 that it will affect over next few years. Mutually we've decided that 20% of their wage is both a sufficient contribution whilst enough for them not to see life as a "free ride". We'll probably max that out at £50 if they were lucky enough to ever earn massively

If any are still at home by 25, then it will increase slightly to 90% ;) :D

Is that weekly?
Husbands 26yr old sister still lives at home & shows no sign of moving out....EVER!
I couldnt wait to move out when I was a kid & did when I was 17 into the grottiest bedsit in the world....it was heaven!
 

Darren

Well-Known Forumite
Another thing to remember is it will teach them some responsibility for paying bills and it will also make them aware of the value of money but only if you don't allow them to skip rent payments.
A rent book is a good idea also for the above reasons.
 

Alee

Well-Known Forumite
I would expect about 1/3 of their wages, and they would be responsible for own washing , cooking , ckeanig, buying there own clothes and grooming products etc . I would also give expect them to help with the housework. If 1/3 of their wages did amount to more than 50pw I would put the extra asid for when they actually do move out, for help with deposite or furniture etc. May sound a but harsh but that life I i want wqnt to prepare them for when they move out.
I moved into a shared house when I was 15-16 and still in school . I worked 2 hours a day and after rent i had just under £10 to myself . I relied on my 1 free meal a day from work to feed myself.i dropped out of school shortly after so i could work more .
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
My mum let me stay rent free as long as I was in education, which helped massively at uni. Once working it varied a lot depending on what I was doing at the time, anything between nowt when I was on £35 a week and £30 when I was on about £120. I wasn't around long once I was working though, wanted my own place again ASAP.
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
My mum let me stay rent free as long as I was in education...
I did this too, although it didnt encourage them to go to Uni as I hoped it would - but one stayed at college for 2 years & the other at 6 form for 2 years.....theres still time, I didnt go to Uni till I was 28!

Another thing to think of is if an older child paying board will affect your circumstances if you are getting any kind of Benefits.....i.e. claiming Child Tax Credits for younger children or Working Family (or whatever its called now) Credits. Board payments could be seen as 'Other Income' & you could end up with HMRC trying to claim back heaps of money!
 

Alee

Well-Known Forumite
I would expect about 1/3 of their wages, and they would be responsible for own washing , cooking , ckeanig, buying there own clothes and grooming products etc . I would also give expect them to help with the housework. If 1/3 of their wages did amount to more than 50pw I would put the extra asid for when they actually do move out, for help with deposite or furniture etc. May sound a but harsh but that life I i want wqnt to prepare them for when they move out.
I moved into a shared house when I was 15-16 and still in school . I worked 2 hours a day and after rent i had just under £10 to myself . I relied on my 1 free meal a day from work to feed myself.i dropped out of school shortly after so i could work more .
id just like to point out that I can actually spell. My phone has a cracked screen and I can't see
 
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