Paying parents rent.

[Rawne1980]

Our eldest daughter is 18 and is just starting UNI pretty soon (19th).

She started working as soon as she left school to give herself some extra money while at college and kept at it since.

When she turned 18 my wife decided it was time to charge her rent. Not out of spite we don't charge much it's only £60 a month which goes into an account for her for when she's 21 (she doesn't know about it we've been putting money into an account for each of the kids since they were born) so when she goes out in the big bad world on her own she's used to budgeting and knows how to live within her means and won't end up homeless for not paying rent on time.

It does irritate me slightly when I see things like this and young uns thinking they are hard done by.

Do you have any idea how much it costs to raise a child?

You buggers aint cheap.

When you hit 18 in the UK all child benefit, child tax credits and any other payments stop. So that extra money that was helping your mum keep you fed and watered has now stopped while you are still needing the food and water.

Surprising how many people don't consider costs these days. They just instantly assume everything will be provided to them.

 

[Robert Ewing]

I have to pay £55 a month in rent. I am unemployed, the state provides me with £62 a month. This covers permission to live in my house. But It doesn't cover clothing, food, and little things like my gaming habit.

£7 is spent on those things. £7 isn't enough... It just isn't. It can't buy food, at minimum around £10 a month. Can't buy clothes. Clothes are usually around £15. And certainly can't buy games. Around £20 - £60.

I can't go out, because I can't afford it. I can't get a job in this economic climate, because nobody wants a inexperienced post-student. And with Christmas and birthdays coming fast... Yeah, y'know.

My life...

 

[Davih]

She's pretty hard to talk to in general, we don't get along too well, and I don't think asking her for 7 months free to clear what she owes me would go down too well, since that would mean that the whole point in asking me for money is redundant pretty redundant.

I suppose I should add that i don't have to pay her in months I don't get any money which I think it's from June-August which is more than fair. I was more annoyed when creating the topic and have calmed down a bit. I think £100 a month is too much when I'm only getting £500 month.

I was planning on getting a place after the end of this year at uni, but I might have to looking out earlier. Living with my Mum was never ideal. If i look for a place in the halls I'd have to change details of my SAAS funding etc. And that seems a bit of an effort with all the problems they seem to be having atm.

Hey I start in 2 weeks, can you help me set these things up? No idea where to start.

Google SAAS if you're in Scotland and follow the application processes. Dunno if it is the same in other parts of Britain. You've left it a bit late for funding haven't you?

 

[Daaaah Whoosh]

After seven months, you're going to have a problem either way.

 

[FamoFunk]

What was the £700 for? Was it for food, gas, electric, mortgage, rent? Or stupid stuff?


Anyway...

Living isn't cheap, and if you're at an age you can get a job, or some form of legal money making (like dole, uni money) damn right you should be giving your parents some money to help with the above things. Even more so if your parents are still cooking, washing, tidying up for you.

I plan to charge my Daughter when she leaves school, little does she know (well, she is 2) it will be going in to a bank account I've set up for her which I put money in to monthly. when She decides to buy a car/house whatever, I will hand it over to her to help.

 

[Davih]

It does irritate me slightly when I see things like this and young uns thinking they are hard done by.

Do you have any idea how much it costs to raise a child?

I'd assume you have a job though. She outright refuses to get one and so does my Step-Dad. So she hasn't exactly put effort into getting money, and now plans to rely on her children to live. I'd be more than compliant if she actually got of her arse and did something rather than just stay at home and watch the T.V all day.

 

[archabaddon]

She did raise you for 18 years, diapered your ass when you were crapping yourself as a baby, fed you when you couldn't feed yourself, etc. I think £100 is a trivial fee to pay rent.

In contrast, I pay $1500 rent every month, and was forced out of the house at 18 to join the military, so IMPO, you're getting a pretty fair cop.

As far as that money she owes you goes, I wouldn't loose any sleep over it, or hold it against her (unless she starts to make a bad habit of borrowing large sums from you).

 

[Davih]

What was the £700 for? Was it for food, gas, electric, mortgage, rent? Or stupid stuff?

Stupid stuff. Pets mainly.

 

[EeveeElectro]

Uh... I'm moving back in with my mum this month and she was asking for £160 a month. That's pretty much what we're paying now, the rent being split between 2 people. I know I won't have food or electricity bills, but we're moving into hers so we can save up faster which we can't do if we're paying that much. She only charged my brother and sister about £20 a fortnight too, it's not fair at all. I have travel to work to pay for and anything else I may need too.

I think your mum and step dad should at least get a job, what's stopping them? If there were children at home and no one to look after them, it's understandable. Assuming your cousin is at home all the time to look after his son. Maybe you pay them less until the £700 is paid off, then carry on paying the £100?
Or maybe ask for the £700 back when you move out to put towards a new house, or whatever she can spare.

 

[ShikyoTenshi]

gotta love people who drain money from others through welfare because they are lazy

 

[rje5]

I had to pay more than that in rent when I lived at home. And I bet paying her is cheaper than finding your own place. Tell her you'll subtract 100 a month from the 700 she owes you for the first 7 months, and then you'll starting giving her actual money.

 

[Rasputin1]

I'm in somewhat of a similiar situation to you. My parents owe me upwards of 1k, because I got some compensation thing when I turned 18 and lent them some. Nowadays the state gives me 100euro a week, and I have to pay 40 of that to my parents.

It's fair enough though, up until the time you turn 18, or leave school, your parents usually get help for you. After that they get nothing.

If you're living in someone elses house, you should expect to have to give something in return, regardless if it's your parents or whoever.

 

[Rawne1980]

It does irritate me slightly when I see things like this and young uns thinking they are hard done by.

Do you have any idea how much it costs to raise a child?

I'd assume you have a job though. She outright refuses to get one and so does my Step-Dad. So she hasn't exactly put effort into getting money, and now plans to rely on her children to live. I'd be more than compliant if she actually got of her arse and did something rather than just stay at home and watch the T.V all day.

Yeah me and my wife both work.

I do understand your situation if your mum and step dad both refuse to do anything for themselves. Sounds a bit like them wanting you to fund them.

I do see why parents want rent it is quite a common thing but the reasons behind some parents doing it are different than most.

 

[Sethzard]

Tell her that if she wants to charge you rent then you will pay as soon as you've been there for 7 months.

 

[FamoFunk]

What was the £700 for? Was it for food, gas, electric, mortgage, rent? Or stupid stuff?

Stupid stuff. Pets mainly.

That is stupid stuff. But I still have to agree with they can charge you, as there is 10 of you in the house, that ain't gonna be cheap.

 

[Zac Smith]

When I finished school I got a job at a local supermarket, the same brand that my family has done shopping at for years. I now have my staff discount card that my parents use whenever they go shopping. I get 10% off everything, so for a £250 a week shopping bill (large family) that saves about £25. Sometimes more sometimes less, but we agreed that whatever was saved would be my rent. But my older brother works full time, and pays rent as well + pays for a lot of stuff as do I when I can so it's all sorted

 

[teisjm]

Seems perfectly fair, you're grown up, and can afford to pay rent for livign at home, and the money seems to be needed.
And if you find it unfair, you can always look for your own place to live, which you probably will at some point anyways.

I moved out when i started studying, but prior to that, i worked for 2 years after gymnasium to save up the money needed for my school (about 56000$/35000£)
I paid around 170£ a month to live at home, but my mom had been secretly putting all the rent i paid aside, cause she didn't think i oculd save up enough money durring the 2 years, and i'm thankfull that she did, cause 2 months prior to school starting, they added 2 extra semesters to the education, making it about 8000£ more expensive, and i hadn't prepared for that.
My parents never needed the money, and when i had time off from work, i did what i could to help with stuff at home (cooking/cleaning/grocery-shopping/etc) if i waswake (worked evening and nightshifts, so slept till around 4PM) and it didn't wake them up.

If i hadn't moved out, after starting school, they would've charged me to live there, which would be more than reasonable, and they'd have to charge way beyond 170£ in order for it to be more expensive than living in my own apartment.

 

[Baneat]

I start University on Monday and I get money from SAAS/SLC for doing so. I get ~£550 a month from them combined, and just over £1000 in September combined (I don't know why more in September, i guess for books and stuff.)

Hey I start in 2 weeks, can you help me set these things up? No idea where to start.

You should have gotten on that weeks ago, seriously, you've left it far too late.

Well shit. What's the worst that could happen?

 

[Sidrat]

Wow what a thing to post, and as there are already two pages of replies, advice and guidance it's something everyone can relate to. If you can move out when you're only 18 do so. You will be a better adult for it. If you can't/don't want to then pay the money, just realise 100 quid is NOTHING compared to what you'll be forking out when you have a place of your own to look after, to heat and light up and don't forget to stock the toilet. It's nice to think you have a few hundred quid but between rent, rates, toothpaste and toilet paper it doesn't stretch that far.

This is your own adventure so you play it the way you want to and be the man you want to be.

The only real advice I can offer is, 'Good luck, have fun, take care'