Why do parents make their kids pay rent?

Question

I have been reading questions about how much rent should I make my kid pay. Most of the posting are over 18 and their parents make them pay rent. WHY?? My parents live nicely (but we are not rich) and they have joked about me paying rent....but they would never make me pay them money to live there. (I don't have kids) BUT if i did and as long as they worked and went to school i wouldn't ask then to pay me to live there. What do u guys think??

Actually I do buy grocery's and pay all my bills it not like I'm USING my parents for money. I have a job and pay for college too!

Answer 1

I agree with you, my mother tried to make me pay rent twice and each time I got out ASAP....parents do that to make their kid learn about money and responsibility I think....other than that I have no idea....

Answer 2

I don't know about all, but a lot of parents do this as preparation for the real world. Not all kids that live at home have jobs or go to school like you do. I have a friend that is 23 that lived at home and refused to get a job until a few months ago. She slept on the couch all day and whined about there never being any food in the house. This happened until her mom told her she needed to start paying rent. When that happened my friend got a job, realized how nice it was to have her own money and eventually saved enough to move out and be a self supporting adult. Sometimes, tough love works.

Answer 3

Short answer: Yep. Totally fair. You'd pay rent somewhere else if they hadn't allowed you to stay. If you feel the cost is a bit much, try negotiating with them. You're an adult now. You should be able to come and go as you please within reason. But you should also be helping around the house anyway. That's the polite, adult thing to do. Maybe you could get a rent reduction in exchange for out of the ordinary chores becoming part of your routine or if you chip in on groceries. You need to work this out with them though. I'd even go so far as to say you need a rent agreement.

Answer 4

Parents have kids pay rent so they can learn to be responsible and that life is not a free ride. If they are working then they can pay rent. Too many kids now take an easy or low paying job and are not motivated to get out on their own and they know they have it made with free phone, laundry, food, electric ,gas etc. Many need that push to get them out the door. It is many times the kindest and most responsible things you can do as a parent!!

Answer 5

My folks had a rule that as long as you were in school you could live at home rent free, once you are not in school then you need to pay a rent for the right to live there. At 18 you are an adult and you need to take care of yourself. My folks did something with me and my siblings that they put away the money we gave for rent and once we moved out it was money for a depoist or furniture. But this encourages the child to work and find there way in life.
Nothing about bein nice or wanting to support there kids forever. It has to do with teaching them about LIFE. Sheltered individuals will never learn that

Answer 6

Kids? Whenever a person a over 18, they are no longer kids. They are adults. Parents are trying to teach them what being an adult is all about. People over 18 like to do whatever they want without having their parents giving them a curfew or rules, right? If that is they case, they have to pay rent. If they don't want to pay rent or contribute $ to the family bills, they will be called a "child." And a child will have a curfew and rules and punishments. Understand?

Answer 7

When someone reaches the age of 18 they are an adult and should be treated as one.Adults have bills to pay.If the child is in college and has a part time job and the parents are ok with it I see no problem with them staying rent free.If the kid has a job and is not going to college why shouldn't they pay rent.Kids need to be taught responsibility/They need to learn just how much it cost to live.This is a life lesson.

Answer 8

I think that IF they are over 18 and NOT in school, then yes, by all means they should pay rent. Nothing in life is free, so why should a parent keep supporting an adult child if they are not in college trying to better themselves? My kids are only 7 and 9 and they KNOW if they aren't in college at 18, they either need to get out or pay rent, end of story.

Answer 9

I'm with you kids are just that kids anything under 21 are still kids. 21 & over should pay rent & should be working and taking care of them self but under 21 they still need guidence & parents hand in all area's of there life i feel like if a parent has to ask there young child for rent that means that they are having financal issues or just don't want to take care of there responsabilty. Yes at 21 all young adults need to be made to take care of them selves but 18,19, still kids in my book and still needs parents direction & finanace not helping with the family budget. Your rent is just that your rent, pay it and go from there. There are other ways to making your teenager indpendent other then taking there hard earned cash.

Answer 10

I couldn't take money from my kids, either, and neither would my folks (though I did slip an occasional pot roast in the fridge now and then to show my appreciation).

I think some parents need the money. That's OK, then.

Other parents, maybe their kids are older and just hanging there; working, partying, or otherwise treating the place like an apartment. Maybe emotionally absent from the family dynamics. Then I think it's OK, too, though it would be better to just nudge them out on their own.

Where we share confusion, though, are those kids, that may be taking a college class or two (or full-time), maybe working part-time, not quite on their own. Here is the wishy-washy area. And, yes, unless I saw that they were taking advantage of me, I couldn't imagine treating them like borders.

Answer 11

as long as you're working and going to school and your parents aren't hurting for money.. i dont see a problem w/ staying rent free.

i must say tho, it's a nice gesture to help out w/ rent and/or buy the groceries if your parents have the heart to let you stay w/o any cost to you at all. they've worked so that they would b able to allow you to stay rent free.. you should help out a little anyway. grow up a little and have some respect for them. pay up when you can.