Kids Paying "keep"

[hammerman]

Daughter is 16. She's a good kid and i'm very proud of her.

She's at college for 2 years studying travel and tourism. She also has several part time jobs including waitressing in he local, working in New Look and some cleaning for a friend. She has no travel expenses as she walks to college.

She does live at home but spends most nights at her boyfriends.

Presently, she doesn't pay us a penny in "keep". But i think she should contribute to the household...and my wife doesn't.

I earnt £40 a week as a 16 year old and paid my folks £10 a week.

My daughter spends her money on clothes, haircuts, new fingernails etc etc...she doesn't save a penny. I cook her dinners and buy all food, toiletries etc, she also has sky multiroom in her room and she does sod all around the house.

My parents spoil her rotten, they're saving up for her driving lessons, first car, insurance etc and have around £5k for that so there's no incentive for her to save.

I think she should be contributing around 15% of her wages per month.

What do you think ?

[B00]

I agree.

[Mamyalynne]

You're right she should contribute.

[carolegif]

She should pay something. It will help her manage her finances later on.

[douglas9401]

I think you're right, though I also think you're too generous at only 15%.
People need to learn how expensive the world really like as early as possible.

[sinderella]

You will do her a disservice by not charging her
even if you put it away for a rainy day

[Sqad]

She studies......full time i presume......earns money in her spare time, doesn't ask you for pocket money and you want her to contribute.

Go on then.....have the shirt of her back.

No I would not ask her to contribute.

[bhg481]

I think you should take money from her and put it into a savings account to give her back at some time in the future (wedding, buying a house etc). That way both you and your wife should be happy and your daughter will still get her money.

[B00]

And id also ask/or tell her if she wants to continue living in your house that some household chores will be expected to be done by her too.

[Retrochic]

Personally I would say no, she's only 16. Offer to take 15% of her earnings and put it in a savings account for her. I would also make sure she did some chores around the home. 16 years old and spending 'most nights' at her boyfriend? Not my place to judge but I think 16 is far too young to allow that.

[AlwaysConfused]

get her to pay 25%, but give her back 10% of that at the end of the year. She needs to contribute, and when she gets a lump sum back she will see the benefit of saving.

[ummmm]

I wouldn't charge until they have left education.

[Sqad]

BOO

\\\if she wants to continue living in your house that some household chores will be expected to be done by her too\\\

You mean between full time study and her spare time jobs?

Seems reasonable!!!!!!

[Fusion5]

There is another way to look at it Hammerman, if she didn't have those several little jobs, she would be asking you for money to fund her clothes, haircuts, fingernails etc etc. At least she is not lazy and was enterprising enough to get work. There are lots of kids who don't.

I am with your wife on this, no I don't think she should be charged housekeeping.

[DSJ]

Absolutely agree with you. She must learn the value of money soon.

[ummmm]

She has jobs. She knows the value of money.

[jourdain2]

Quite right, she should contribute and also learn to save. As a 6 year-old I received 6d pocket-money and had to pay 3d of that into a penny bank account.
As a 16 yr.-old my Saturday job paid 17/6d (75p today) of which 2/6d went towards my keep and 2/6d, for 8 weeks, to paying for the overall I had to wear. I was also then responsible for my bus fares, toiletries and any clothing apart from school uniform. Later my driving lessons were for me to pay for, as was car etc..

[Old_Geezer]

IMO since she is not in full time employment but making a little pocket money between studying, it is probably a little too soon to ask for a contribution. Especially as she isn't there often and so more a guest of yours these days. I think it would be more appropriate to discuss in a couple of years' time ?

[ummmm]

Do you give her lunch money for when she's at college?

[B00]

I don't think its unreasonable to ask her to load the washer occasionally, start meals, and generally helping to maintain the hose she lives in sqad. I don't expect HM will turn her into Cinderella nor did I with mine when she lived at home, but she was expected to help around the home, especially if she caused the mess in the first place!

[ummmm]

Also, if she's in education I assume you still receive child benefit.