Hi IM.
My question is
I'm about to take on my 17 year old niece. she has finished school and is at tafe 2 days a week, but is spoilt rotten and thinks she is hard done by (was given a car, free fuel,phone, food, rent etc and works part time but only uses her own money on clothes and makeup etc). Her parents are at a loss and have asked for my help to show her what it's really like for her to move out of home and pay her own way (whist still having a safe living environment).
I want to do this, and this family has literally saved my life and given me more than I can ever repay them for; however I am a single mum to a toddler, full time student and I work park time. Money and time are precious.
Any suggestions on appropriate costs to charge and/or things to help us through this. How do I teach a teen humility and not to just 'expect'. I want to help her set some good groundings for her future not punish her.
2 Replies
You treat this like she is renting a room. So she pays board (even if that's tiny) she needs to do her own washing, cleaning etc. let her know what time dinner is if she is late then too bad she can reheat it or what ever. Just treat her like you would any boarder. And don't give her spending money. The only reason she hadn't gotten it until now is that her parents have obviously been giving into her demands.
Board should be a minimum of $100' which would cover food, electricity and water. When I have had non family boarders I have charged much more than that. Household chores should be shared. As she is very spoilt, I would let her suggest which ones she would like to be responsible for, but should at least include taking her turn at vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom and kitchen. As well as keeping her room clean and doing her own washing and drying.