If my son earns about £700 a month what should i ask him for his keep?

Question

Obvisously I pay all bills food etc.

I suppose I could ask for nothing but I think he must learn to pay his way in this world

Answer 1

140 quid:

divide 700 by 5 weeks, gives 140/week for himself, and the "5th" week for his keep, sounds very fair to me

Answer 2

Of course your son should give you something towards his keep, it doesn't have to be much, just enough for him to feel he is making a contribution. If you take some advice here and don't ask for anything (what planet are these people living on btw?) then your son will be in for a huge shock when he leaves home and has to start paying for everything.

As a former debt adviser, I dealt with many young people who had no idea how to handle money...they got into financial difficulties that could have been avoided if their molly-coddling parents had taught them how to budget. Paying towards ones keep is not just a young adult's responsibility, it's also a valuable learning curve.

Answer 3

If he was my son, regardless of what the total he earns is, he would pay 25%. This is the real world, let him find somewhere cheaper and then you get a life of your own as well instead of washing cooking and cleaning up after him. If he does not like it, then tell him to leave the keys on the table on the way out as you are not a hotel.

Answer 4

The answer is definatly YES. It is a way of treating him as an adult, rather than a school-boy.

When my kids started earning and were still at home, I showed them my spreadsheet of what it cost to keep the "family show" on the road; groceries, gas, water, electric, local tax, TV license, insurances, mortgage,etc. It came out at about £300 a week, and yours will be similar, so £50/week (£200/month) is a reasonable amount to start with.

Your son needs to have a handle on what life costs, so it does not become a shock when he eventully moves out. Many in that situation quickly get into money trouble as they have become used to having a huge amount of "spending money,"which gets wasted. As your son earns more, you need to review the amount he contributes.

You will not be doing you son any favours by mollycoddling him and subsidising an extended period of adolescense.

Answer 5

when my son still lived at home he earnt about £800 a month n he used to pay me £120 a month he found that very fair ,, i really did not like taking his money from him but at the end of the day bills have to be paid n food bought,, n i did everything for him as well n was his personal taxi,,,, and it also helps them to realise what the real world his about for when they move out n get a place of there own,,,,,, and on months that i could afford to i used to bank some of the money he gave me and i gave it back to him as a suprise when he did move out and it helped him buy things for his own place x

Answer 6

As it appears you don't need the money and he needs to understand the value of saving money, take £200 per month off him and put it into a separate bank account (preferably an ISA) and when he really needs the money for a capital investment. ie car, house etc. then he already has some savings to help him on his way.

Kindness and commonsense.

Answer 7

£150

Answer 8

It depends on how well off you are. he has to learn responsibility. You have kept him up to now I would take 50 pound a week and depending on how you are doing financially yourself I would try to bank some of this for him in future . Good Luck

Answer 9

I would ask for 50 pounds at least, as it will help him to appreciate the value of money. IT would cost him a lot more on his own or in a hotel.

Answer 10

£700 before or after tax?
I'd say about £200 a month or £50 a week is a fair amount.

Answer 11

I think £150 is reasonable. Put £50 of it into savings for him, he'll be delighted with this nest egg one day.
Good for you taking a sum of money for his keep. It's not being mean at all, it's a good lesson in life.