Should adult children who still live with their parents pay room and board?

[blueta2]

I went to school until I was 22, got a high paying job at 23, lived at home rent free until I was 27. I paid all my own expenses, but never paid rent or food. I did lots of chorse at home as well. My parents wanted me to save my money for when I moved out. Which I did and used that money to start a business.
Now if my parents were not well off, they may have asked me to pay.
Depends on the family! If they can afford it, why make them pay?! Unless the kid is super irresponsbile and they want to teach them something. I was/am super responsible.

 

[the.gladiator1987]

im 21 and live with my dad and stepmom, i dont pay rent but

i go to school full time
i have 2 jobs
I jus moved back with him for a little bit to save money for a deposit on a place, and to finish payin some bills
another reason i moved back was because my ex cheated on me and i ended with her

So i think depending on circumstances they should pay or not

BTW I pay all my bills except for rent and food

 

[lartinos]

Depends how much money the father/mother have. If they can afford life without their money and the kid is doing well this kid is doing they should leave them alone if they don't need the money to support the family.

 

[miplank]

meh, I'll always be here to provide for my son. It's all situational though..If he's working or going to school and trying i'll be there to help financially. If he's being a fuck up and slacking i'll provide him with a kick in his ass.

 

[ortiz34]

In his situation I would say something along the lines of 25-40 dollars a week for rent.
300 is a rip off IMO

 

[Mr. dB]

If your goal is for the child to eventually be able to fully support him or herself, then in what way does charging them rent lead toward that goal? Are you just trying to send a message to the child?

In my view if you're taking the kid's money, it'll be that much longer before he or she has saved up enough to escape from your clutches.

 

[billfred]

I have a 20 yr old that stayed with me last year. He was falling behind at the 4 yr college and I felt I was waisting money.

Pulled him home, back to jr college and his grades were fine. He is back at 4 yr school this year - hope he can get through it.

As long as they are working towards something, I am ok with the support.

My Dad kicked one of my brothers and one of my sisters out of the house in HIGH SCHOOL - what a tool. They both really have struggled in life as a result so I am real reluctant to be too tough as well.

 

[miplank]

I've kicked around the idea of when my son is older and has a job in HS about charging him rent. I'd only do that not to be a dick and take his money but to keep him from wasting it on stupid shit (see glad thread). I'd put it in an account for him and save it and give it back to him when he's ready to purchase a house.

 

[trex74]

Enough people on this board are in the under 20 age range that they have experience with it or know someone who has: Let's say the kid in question is 20, goes to college part time and is steadily employed part time with variable hours, say minimum of 20 hrs. but never more than 35, at $9.20/hr. Kid is still living at home and has a room, food, use of all utilities, but pays for all personal stuff (i.e., clothes, all car related expenses including insurance, all college expenses, etc.).

What, if any, is a reasonable monthly charge?

Follow up question, does the parent have any responsibility, assuming they are financially able, to be putting a portion of the "rent" aside with the intent of giving it back to the kid when they finally do move out?

Kid should pay her rent, yes. About a weeks wages to cover his shelter , that shouldn't leave him short.
I wouldn't give him the rent back, that's not how it works in the real world. She won't be doing him any favours by being soft on him.
Free food and utilities right? He's a lucky boy.
300 doesn't seem excessive to me.
Then again, I have been living on my own and paying my own way since I was 16.

 

[musclemom]

I can't fault the kid for not knowing which direction he wants to move in. The convenience store he works for is Wawa, which actually can be a decent company to get in with on a full time/salaried basis.

One problem is HE isn't sure exactly what he wants to do, and his mother won't express what SHE wants/hopes he would do, other than prod him about full time/four year college, raise his rent when he didn't express an interest, and bitch about money. She hasn't got the courtesy to sit down and talk with him like an adult.

And for those who may be wondering, she's NOT hard up financially. Not rich, not by a long shot, but the only reason she would have for being in any degree of debt is her own spending on selfish luxuries (motorcycle and leathers, expensive vacations, weekly concerts, clothes).