My teenage daughter and her boyfriend live here at home with us. We charge them $100 per week each for board. Between them they earn about $700 per week. Their board covers everything from food, electricity and even their phones as they are in my name. It has recently come to my attention that they feel that this is too much. Personally I think they have a pretty deal seeing as they also get everything done for them dinners cooked washing done etc. Yes they do do some chores but probably not enough. They’ve made me feel so guilty but on the other side I know I shouldn’t. I guess my question is are we charging too much
27 Replies
I don't think your charging too much, in fact if they continue to complain then make them pay for everything themselves- their food, phones, electricity, fuel if you drive them around, 1/4 of the rent/morgage, everything. Maybe then they will realise how good they have it.
Do they have an understanding of how much the cost of living is and how much the bills are? Maybe you need to sit down with them and break it down so they can visually see what costs you're covering. I know a lot of young adults that just have no concept of the cost of living
Tbh, it’s probably not enough. I’d say $100 EACH!
Write it all out for them. Divide all your bills, include their phone bills, food ect out on paper and show them. Then ask them if they still think it’s too much.
And honestly, $100 is NOTHING compared to if they moved out. So if they keep complaining, I’d tell them to find their own place.
I don’t think it’s too much! I would def stop doing everything for them though!
Tell them they are welcome to try renting together!
Personally I don’t think it’s enough. They’d be paying more to live in an apartment and paying all the bills themselves and don’t get me started on the cost of food. You could let them know that if they weren’t happy with the arrangement they could always move out and do it on their own for less? My BIL once complained he was paying too much each week. He moved out and wanted to move back in. I upped his rent. He was cool with that.
My partner and I live with his parents
We pay $150 for the both us
That includes dinner, we have to cook at least once a week. I stay at home as I’m looking for work I do all our washing, I wash up, clean the bathroom shared with the other kids that live here. And I drive my mother in law around
We buy our own snacks and anything extra. I don’t think you’re charging too much
My 20 something adult daughter just moved home and works full time . She earns $1300 a fortnight and I only charge her $140 a fortnight. I’m thinking of increasing it . Only reason why I haven’t is because she’s sharing a room with her two sisters . Her share covers utilities and food only ,( not rent ) so I think your fee is quiet generous for both as you include phones too .
Sounds too little to be honest.
I was paying that 15 years ago.
I would perhaps instead of charging more, maybe force them to save 10% of their wage into a savings account (that you can see) ? Unless you need the money or they’re already saving.
They could use the money for future house?
I would charge him yes, but not your daughter. She obviously doesn’t earn much, dont you want her to get ahead? Save a deposit for a house or car? I would probably put the money away in an account for her if I took it.
Once children are working and are no longer doing full time study they should be paying their way in life even if they are still living at home. Sure, living at home should be cheaper but they should be responsible for paying for their own phones. And quite frankly they should also be doing their own washing and pulling their weight with cooking, cleaning and other household chores. Stop treating them like children and more like adults, and start teaching them about ‘life’.
No, that is not too much. I charge my 18 year old daughter $100 a week and I don't do that much for her. It includes power, wifi, water and food. She chooses to buy a lot of her own food though she does not have to. She works and still manages to cook the family dinner once or twice a week, her own washing plus general cleaning here and there. If they are getting Newstart or Austudy then they should also be able to apply for rent assistance on top of that, they can definitely pay at least $100 a week.
Teenagers is a big age range. If still in high school I wouldn’t be charging my own child. If your child has finished high school then I think it’s very fair, same for the boyfriend. They wouldn’t get such a good deal in a share house.
Was going to say it is a lot, considering they make 350 a week and 100 goes to you. Then realised they must be old enough to work more and earn more. If they choose to live together, the option of housesharing would still be much more expensive and it's an option that's there if they're not happy.
How old are they? Do they still attend school?
Between them they still have $500 a week with no bills or responsibilities so i can't see how $100 each is that big of an issue?
Tell them if they don't like it, they're welcome to move out and support themselves entirely.
Paying your way is part of being an adult!
They're teenagers. Not adults.
A. The boyfriend isn't even family, he doesn't even have the right to suggest paying board is too much. The OP is doing him an enormous favour by inviting him into her home. He should be thankful $100 A week gets him all the creature comforts a home provides.
B. I bet these 2 teenagers enjoy other aspects of 'adult life', independence and being old enough to work at all, just to name a few. If they're old enough to have a job, earn income, then they're adult enough to contribute to the food, internet, electricity that they like to use!
If they’re old enough to live together and act like adults and I am assuming they’re having sex then they should be treated like adults and pay adult bills. It should be expected!! I never ever thought of ever saying hey mum can my boyfriend move in and live with us and then complain that she was charging me too much rent. Oh my god. My mum would be livid and I’d have been out on my arse so fast I wouldn’t have had time to pack my undies.
Look, I think $100 a week is steep, as a rule of thumb I would go off 10% of wages per person. However, I think you should be encouraging them to pay their own phone bills and maybe have them pay the Netflix subscription or similar.
The only time this would be unfair is if your child goes to school or college and her boyfriend works and pays her share out of his income as well.
Definitely not too much! My son moved into his girlfriends house about 5-6 years ago. He was earning minimum wage with a baby on the way. He was made to pay $100 per week just for him!....
I pay $500 a wk alone for my rent so they should appreciate how easy they have it. And maybe they should be helping more around the house and paying their own phone bills. They are in for a big shock when they move out if they are complaining about $200 a wk atm
You aren’t charging too much. They earn a good wage and you are teaching them to pay their way. Don’t feel guilty at all. If only us adults could live weekly for $100 😀 be tough tell them, if they don’t like it they can split the rent/ mortgage, bills and pay their own phone bills. Let them learn the hard way. To be honest I’d be charging $150 - $125 rent and $25 to go into a savings account for them that they don’t know about. You are the parent don’t let them guilt you & don’t spend any of that $100 on them. If I was you, I’d raise it to $125 😂 show them who’s boss!
Work out the bills (incl. food) and show them how much they'd really need to pay.
They'll change their minds real quick
I think this is a pretty sweet deal too. Call me old fashioned, but if they are old enough to be living together and working like adults, they are old enough to do wash their own clothes, take turns cooking dinner some nights and also take turns cleaning the bathrooms etc. Personally, I think it is super nice of you to do all that and also only charge 100 per week. It gives them more time to work, study and save a lot more dollars while the cost of living is so low for them.
Your actually giving them a decent leg up, before they head put on their own.
But if they are starting to get lazy, entitled, not making the best of it, it may be time for them to get their own place.
You have nothing to feel guilty about.
My only advice to you is to stop doing their laundry. They are old enough to take care of and clean their own things. Also, get them to cook a night each as well.
All the best, and don't feel guilty. I can't believe they are complaining.
Pffft! Tell them they're dreaming! 15 years ago I paid my grandparents $120p/w board and that covered food, bed and the electricity. I was responsible for my own washing, my own phone, my own transport and when they went away my own food and upkeep of the house. I was also expected to keep the floors throughout the house clean at all times, keep the kitchen tidy and fridge cleaned, train their new puppy and groom it regularly, help cook some of the weekly meals, and prepare my own breakfast, lunch and snacks.
Why not propose a different method of billing them if they continue to complain. Divide all bills by the number of occupants and make them pay their full share. Grocery bill, electricity, phone, internet, rates, mortgage/rent, maintenance, insurance. That should either get them to pull their heads in or allow you and your partner to save up enough money to go on a nice holiday at the end of the year away from their entitled attitude.
No way! Not too much at all! You set the boundaries in your own home. They either pay and stay, or move out and see how they fare out there in a share house, btw they’d never get the same sweet deal.
My 18 yo receives DSP and pays $100 a week all inclusive, and he takes care of the lawns, cleans my car, hangs washing, does dishes, drives his brother around, cleans out the garage, keeps his room clean etc
Give them a break down of what you pay out, plus your time for all cooking and cleaning, offer them two options; stay as is, and shut the fuck up about it, or pay room plus all bills and do all your own shopping, cooking, cleaning, washing....