Is this fair?

Question

I'm a 19 year old attending college. I live with my mom and step-dad, no bros or sis, have my own room and everythings cool. Recently, I got my first job, its a part time w/ OK pay I guess. And I also get some money from scholarships. All this adds up to a nice bank account . Well, my step-dad was laid off the other day and he's about to retire, so my mom would be the only source of income (she's a nurse assistant). He had a talk with me and told me that I'd need to start cooperating financially >_<. Up to now, I just deal with the Internet/Phone bill which is about a $100. He wants me to give them $300 a frickin month(this includes the phone bill). Do you think this is fair, or should I just tell them to screw off and go live by myself? It can't be THAT expensive, can it?

Answer 1

It seems pretty fair since it includes the phone bill. I doubt if you could get a dorm room or apartment for less each month and the standard of living would probably be much lower. Believe me supporting yourself with only a part-time job and scholarships for support would be really difficult and your grades would probably suffer as you need more workhours to pay the bills. You could rack up a ton of debt just paying for basic needs.

Here are some examples of food costs: $3 per gallon of milk, $4 per box of cereal, $5-10 for one pizza, $2 for a loaf of bread, $3 per 12 pack of cola, $2 for a bag of chips, $3 for a quart of strawberries, $4 for a pint of chinese food. How much do you eat each month? If you are anything like the other 19 year olds that I have known, you probably average $150-200 unless you are happy with tap water and ramen noodles. You would also have to pay for the tap water including connection fees.

Do you use electricity for your computer, tv, lights, etc? You would have to pay upfront for set-up fees and then the monthly bills.

Do you like to wear clean and fashionable clothes? You would have to pay for the clothing and the laundry expenses like soap, water and drying electricity.

It all adds up. Your nice bank account would be gone and the credit card debt would start mounting pretty quickly. (Trust me, I have been there!) Quite honestly, I think your parents are giving you a heck of a good deal since they have supported you for 19 years and may have some financial problems with your step-dad's layoff.

Answer 2

Helping out is not that bad and since it only really adds $200 to what you are already paying, it is not that much. Talk to your mom and see if maybe you can cut the amount a bit if it seems too high.

You asked if living on your own is that expensive. Of course it is! An apartment alone will add up to more than $300. That does not include the $100 for phone and Internet or the electric bill.

If you really think you can do it on a very low budget, do some research. Look in the local newspaper for apartments. Find out how much the rent is. Remember that for most apartments you have to pay a security deposit up front usually equal to one month's rent. Remember that you will have to get your phone service started and you might have to pay a deposit for that too.

It is not cheap to live on your own. Your part-time job may not cover all of the expenses.

By the way, did you add into all those bills your monthly food bill. I am sure you now have a free kitchen. You will not be able to fill your own kitchen with food for free.

Take care,
Troy

Answer 3

I think it is far that you pay up for living at home, when you have graduated high school. You will not get anything near what you get at home for $300 a month. Live on your own, rent will be just more than that alone. And if you have a $100 internet/phone bill, that will add up. Plus food and laundry and possibly a cable tv or satelite bill and other things. What about a car, and insurance, etc. But think of it not only financially, but you have someone else cooking meals for you, and if not doing your laundry for you. Even if you do your own laundry at home, that is way better than going to a local laundromat. Now, I'm not saying you should live at home forever, but while you're at college it does make sense. And have a little respect for the situation your family is in with your step-dad getting laid off. So, if I were you I'd give your parents the $300 each month, and start saving up for a place of your own ehen you graduate.

Answer 4

You are a 19 year old spoiled brat who has lived at home mooching off your mom and dad for the past year and now that they have fallen on tough times you are outraged that they expect you to pitch in a little bit? There is more to running a home than 100$ a month for internet and phone. There is mortgage payments, grocery bills, heat and electricity, garbage pick up, water and sewer, etc etc etc. My suggestion? Go apartment hunting, take down some rent prices, call the utility companies and find out what those would run, do a mock grocery run for yourself, figure in your car insurance and payment and tally all that up and if it doesn't amount to 300$ then by all means pack up and move out. If it is a lot more than 300$ a month then stop whining, give your parents the extra money, tell them you love them and appreciate all those years they raised you, clothed you, fed you and put shelter over your head and finish getting your degree and consider yourself one lucky girl that you have such great parents and how fortunate you are that you can return the favor to them by helping them out when they need it most!

Answer 5

Actually that is not bad rent. Depending on where you live. As long as they respect you and give you the freedom you would have if you were living on your own, that really is a good deal. Where I live most one bedroom apartments are $400., and that usually does not include electricity, power bill, or water bill. Plus you would have a grocery bill. Being on your own is a big step financially, and you definetly would need a full time job for that. Let your education come first, as long as you get along with mom and step-dad, stay there.

Good Luck in your decision!

Answer 6

If your parents financial issues are of no concern to you then you are the one being unfair! Having to pay 300 dollars a month for being fed, clothed, housed, laundered is actually a pretty good deal! I have 3 kids, and knowing that there are people out there that are so pissed about the small amount they SHOULD pay during a parents financial time of need makes me a little ill! I work 60 hours a week, and my entire paycheck is always spent completely on bills, get over it, your parents have paid more on raising you than the measly 300 bucks a month you have been asked to pay!

Answer 7

It's totally fair to ask for that amount of money. You are after all living in their home. Granted you do go to college, but you don't have to pay for room and board. Living by yourself is way more expensive than living with your parents. You have to pay for rent, food, and utilities. It is a lot of money a month to live on your own. You even said that your step-dad is retiring so yeah I think it's about time you put in more than just $100 a month. To me that is a deal. I wish I only had to pay $100 a month when I still lived at home.

Answer 8

You are not doing if for him your are doing it for you mother!
he didn't ask to get laid off and as her son you know for a fact that your mother is the only source of income in the household things happen but has her son nobody should have come to you and ask for you to start contributing more. It should have been you suggesting to give more. Your mother is in need of some help you are the only child 19 years old and can contribute so why is it so wrong? In the real world $300 can get you nothing so you should really consider what you are asking?

Answer 9

It depends on where you live but when you think of it you paying $300 for shelter, food, electricity, tv, internet, phone, laundry etc.
You'll never find a place of your own for $300 that includes all of that and you should really try to help your family out of a tight situation if you can.

Answer 10

Yeah, go tell them to *** off, you're way smarter than they are. Three hundred per month is OUTRAGEOUS, you can definetly find cheaper rent than that with all utilities, appliances, internet access, phone lines and washer and dryer.

Just go out there and start looking. When you're done looking and realize 300 bucks is a bargin, why don't you chip in an extra 50 for groceries instead of being a fukhead like you are now.