General Chat

Does any member have a formula to work out how much our dear offspring should contribute to the household expenses now he has started his first proper job? We want to be fair but to also not be taken advantage of. I'm sure lots of you will have been through this dilemma and we would value your advice. Thanx, Chris.

hi chris when i was living at home not so long ago my nan said she just wanted a little help with some bills so i give her £15 a week towords the bills but i bought a lot of my own food for taking back and for work my mum did the same with my brother i hope that helps tracey

Hi there Chris What you maybe have to think of is what sort of money your offspring will come home with after tax,My eldest came back home while waiting for house purchase to go through prior to getting married and I knew money was tight with him and said he could come home for free, but he wouldn't hear of it,and said that he would give me thirty pound a week, he said this was cheep as he couldn't live on this once in his own place. this inc his meals,packed lunch for work,washing, ironing and the full use of everything and the entertainment of friends etc, etc.But when they are first starting out and have to manage money they know where to come if they require a sub at the end of the week, Lynn

Hi Chris, When I started work my annual salary was £3200, which gave me £222 a month, I had to pay my Mum £50 a month. When my wages went to a better pay packet I then paid £100 a month. Hope this helps Nat

I always think that 25% of their take-home pay is a fair amount. My parents took this amount from me. but because they didn't need the money, saved it unbeknown to me and gave it to me as a wedding present.

When I move back home after my final year at uni (this year) and get a job, I'll be giving my parents 25% of my salary. I think that's pretty fair!

Our brood (five of them) divided their money into 3 one portion for me one for themselves and last portion to save. Worked very well. Linda

our son gives us 15 %

It's my 22nd wedding anniversary tomorrow and my husband used to pay his mother £40 a month before we got married. I didn't pay my father anything.... he said that the difference my brother and I made to heating and food costs wasn't too high but we could pay the phone bill minus the rental between us. When my brother left his job and swanned around for a while I said it wasn't fair that he should pay nothing so I wasn't paying either. I am curling up with embarassment as I write this! No, we weren't at all rich but Mum had died so we used to do most of the chores. At any rate, we got away with it. Let me tell you my children won't get away with it!

When my husband lived at home he paid £125.00 per month. We are about to move in with his Mum and Dad to save pennies and are paying them £ 250.00 per month.

When i left school, I used to pay what my Mum was missing out on getting from her Child Benefit.

I have two children working and I take what I would have received in child benefit. Sue

we have 15% because if our children earn very different amounts its still a fair system our son is not getting much work at the moment because he works in horticulture but still gives us 15% and our daughter is at college and is still in the FREE year we allow them when they 1st leave school i gave my parents 15% 0f my wages when i started work too !

When I lived at home, i paid mum a third of any wages. My brother when he he started work , also paid a third Liz

ive still got a 25 year old living at home he brings home 900 a month and he gives me 200 i feed him,wash his clothes and tidy his room.he does absolutely nothing,so i think i deserve it.lol i even buy all his toiletries as hes too lazy to buy them do you all think im mean or is this reasonable by the way,he sits up all night using the pc,with the tv on and all the lights on!!! susie(i love him really)

My nearly 20 year old has been working for 20 months and she gives me £80 a month, she buys some of her toiletries, she sometimes has a packed lunch for work, she has use of the telephone, etc., etc.. When I'm not feeling too well, she does all the weekly ironing on a Sunday, so that is a Godsend and would cost a bit if I paid someone to do it for me. She didn't pay anything when she was at college and had a part time job, and we paid for her course, travel, etc and will do the same if my son decides to go to college after the 6th form. We also saved their child benefit, so they both have a little starter when they leave home.

Hi with our four we graduated the payments according to their age and what they were earning My brother in law however made my 2 nieces pay a % of all the household bills ie Gas Electric Phone as well as their food money How I wish I had done this with mine because when the got homes of their own they were astonisshed as to how much thing cost I in my turn from being 17 gave my mum 30 shilllings a week to start with and It went up as I got older with what was left I had to pay bus fares meals at work toiletries clothes nights out and savings When it came to my wedding she told me I had to pay for my own because she had never made a profit out of me. I didnt mind this because my dad had been ill for months and they didn't have much money Bren