My husband and I live in a single wide and are barely making enough income to get by. We lost our jobs respect

Question

respectfully in Sept, and Oct. just having gone back to a little over min wage, we have a 27 yr, old son making 3 times our salaries together and he wants to know why we still charge him rent to live here since we are his parents. only charge him 50.00 week, he is planning on being married hopefully in Dec and looking at homes for 150,000. Are we wrong to expect him to help out and pay rent when he seems to have so much extra and we don't, we have paid our mortgage off and bought a used car recently due to an inheritance but the money is running low and he thinks he should live here as long as he wants for free. This comes up about every year. Are we wrong to charge him and what should we do or say about this?

Answer 1

I would feel fine charging him rent, perhaps even more than he pays now. While this might have the effect of driving him out of the house, it's not necessarily a bad thing for his age and position in life. You may want to show him a budget, breaking down all of your expenses and incomes, and see if it makes the same sort of sense to him. Show him how the money from the inheiritance has been used up, really break it all down by numbers. This should also show you what you need to plan for in terms of your future and how much you should charge him for rent. If the money works out that you are well off, maybe skip the rent. But if it is still tight, keep charging him.

Last resort, let him know you two will gladly pay rent when you move in with HIM and his WIFE. Make sure she hears about that too, and I bet he'll sing a different tune!

Answer 2

i am sorry that your son is such a low life and has such little respect for his parents. the amount you are charging him is terribly low - he probably eats that up in groceries alone - it is not at all wrong to ask him to pay you even $500/month - he would be paying probably double that anywhere else. it is sad that you even have to bring this up with him. by the sounds of things he makes his rent to you in about maybe 2 - 3 hours of work - the balance of his 40 hour week he pockets - sorry but that is just wrong - he is not a child - sure you would like to seem him buy his first home but perhaps you and your husband could put this money to good use. also how much is really learning about responsibilty with such a low rent?

Answer 3

You are not wrong, and you shouldn't be charging him more, you should be asking him to leave. Any child who wasn't so selfish would want to help out his parents more. If I were you, I'd give him the boot and let him see where else he can get food, a place to live, and his bills paid for $200 a month. I'm 33, single w/ two kids, income is about $25,000, live in the apartment upstairs from my mom and still help out with at least $200 a month for her bills and buy her groceries in addition to mine. I feel sorry that you have such an uncaring son.

Answer 4

Kick his a$$ out and see where he can live rent free, utility bill free and food free. If he's 27 yrs old and working he needs to grow up and stand on his own two feet. If he's never lived anywhere but home this marriage he's planning is a train wreck in waiting.....don't change his bedroom he'll be back in it before his 1 year anniversary...he sounds like a total loser

Answer 5

No you are not wrong. I don't know where you live but I live in So. California and its me , my husband , and our 4 kids. 20, 19, 14, and 7 yrs. old. Our rent for a crappy 2 bedroom and loft is 1005.00 p/m. Our oldest pays us 560.00 p/m. This pays her rent, electric, food, gas, laundry, toiletries, etc. The others are not working. If your son is making much more than you and your husband put together, then he should be paying you (even more than that) no questions asked. Remind your son how you cared and provided for him not out of obligation , but out of love and that right now you could really use his help on this. My daughter knows how we struggle and she thankfully has such a good heart that she pays us more than half of her income so that we can all survive. Without one of us none us us would make it alone between me, my husband, and her.

Answer 6

i was out of the house when i was 18. i joined the military and was living on my own. my sister stayed at home for a while until she found a job at about 22 or 24, and yeah my parents charged her rent. i dont see anything wrong with that. theres a lotta benefits to living at home that he probably overlooks and doesnt realize. and if he really cares about you and your situation, money should be the last concern he has, especially when hes really helping you out, not so much paying your rent. if i knew my parents werent making out so well, id sent them money anyway so i dont see anything wrong with you asking him to pay his way. is he only paying rent? you guys are still feeding him? see, i mean theres a lotta stuff hes taking for granted here. tell him not to look at it as payin ur rent, but helping you guys out.

Answer 7

You are not being out of line at all about wanting rent from him..Especially in the situation your in right now..can't he understand your predicament?I know I would want to help my folks if they were on a down slide,why doesnt he?He obviously is selfish,and unappreciative..I'd say the pay rent or move out alternative is inevidible..If hes moving out in Dec. then have the rent prorated to that time..Even spoiled children have to face reality in their lives eventually...you can't be there forever for them..You have done your part in his life now let him do his in yours!Good luck!

Answer 8

Well he no that your money supply is low and he should be able to help since he makes so much its not wrong. I mean he does live under your roof use your electric water gas etc. and that cost money, hes not a kid anymore hes a grown man he should be paying as if he was living in his on home.

Answer 9

He's 27,makes 3 times the amount of money you and your husband have combined,and he's whining about paying you $ 50.00/week that's $ 2400.00/year,Kick his butt out and see where he can live for that amount of money.My husband and I live in a house my mom owns,we pay $ 600.00/month to her and our own utilities,garbage pick-up,food,car ins,gas,etc...Need I say more. I would triple his rent,tell him to let the moths out of his wallet,You guys were there to provide for him and obviously raised him well if he is making a large amount of money,family is family and should stick by 1 and other no matter what,Until he can walk a mile in your shoes,he has no right to complain or judge!!!!!!!

Answer 10

nobody lives under a roof for free unless there in a shelter, I think you made the right decision regurdless of how much money you and your husband have, this teaches you child to become responsible because anytime he goes out there in the world on his own this will teach him that nothing is free and to become independant, I paid rent at my parents house ever since i got a job and they were rich they always told me it was to teach me independance and how hard it was to make a living. he uses hot water right? he uses electricity right? what about phone,cable and internet? all of those things cost he doesnt expect you to pay for everything for him does he? good luck and keep firm on your word