Re: Parents who charge rent

I wholeheartedly think its fine to charge your kids rent. They need to be responsible and after college is not a time to freeload off mom and dad. I'm sure there are exceptions but in general I'm not a believer that it is the parent's duty to financially cradle a kid past college.

Re: Parents who charge rent

Re: Parents who charge rent

My parents never did (that's just the way they are) but I see nothing wrong it.

Re: Parents who charge rent

I did it. I think its great. It makes a more responsible person, and teaches you how to budget your money.

Re: Parents who charge rent

If they are out of college and working, I don't see anything wrong with it. They might as well get used to the idea that housing and utilities cost money.

I think they should contribute to the household financially because it teaches them responsibility. I think living off your parents when you are in your twenties and thirties doesn't prepare you well for life at all.

Re: Parents who charge rent

I've been giving my Mom money towards the bills since I was 16. I don't see anything wrong with it.

Re: Parents who charge rent

Message edited 6/4/2007 10:47:34 AM.

Re: Parents who charge rent

I gave my parents $200 a month, which is really nothing. Yet my husband found fault with this when I told him.
I explained I had a roof over my head, gas, electric, water, cable,food, a housekeeper, a cook, a mechanic/maintainence worker for a low price of $50 a week, sounds pretty sweet to me. He got it after that

Re: Parents who charge rent

My parents charged me some rent when I moved home from college - it really wasnt much, but i didnt mind bc pretty much all the money I gave them went into an account for me and when i got married my parents used that money to help me out.

Re: Parents who charge rent

I think parents should charge rent- but keep it and then give it back to the kid at a later date- kids need to learn how to pay bills and manage money- some of the most broke people I know are the ones that live at home b/c htey don't know how to manage their money- I also think kids should buy groceries and contribute to the food. When I lived at home I bought a bag or two of groceries once a month- i maybe spent $50- but it was something I should do- especiallysince I was earning a salary.

Re: Parents who charge rent

I knew the day I dropped out of college I would have to start paying my mom rent (I was 19 years old at the time). I brought it up to her, actually. I also decided what the rent would be as I wasn't making very much money at all when I went to work. And she didn't save it and give it back to me either, nor did I expect her to. She needed the money. I'd actually give her an extra $20 or $40 when I had it just because I thought she needed it more than I did. Or maybe I just budget better...

I believe there comes a time when parents are no longer responsible for supporting their children. In my family, you don't depend on your parents to support you after you're 21 years old. Or when you drop out of school, as in my case.

I'm very responsible and independent, and I'm sure this is part of the reason why.

Re: Parents who charge rent

You know- I forgot I lived with my mom after college for a few months. She didn't charge me rent- but I was in law school.

I think if a child is in school, charging rent can be a big burden. But if the child is working, I think that charging rent is a responsible thing to do. If the parent can save the money for the child, that's even better.

Re: Parents who charge rent

I think it is one of the best things a parent can do for their child. My parents did it with me and taught me to be responsible.

My aunt never taught her daughter any responsibility at all. She got her a cell phone unnecessarily at a very young age and paid for the bill every month and when my cousin actually did have a job my aunt didn't make her pay rent or buy groceries or pay her cell phone bill. To make a long story short she has no job, she got pregnant, married a lowlife with no job at city hall, and is now living with her parents and her husband and her daughter.
Her parents are supporting all 3 of them.

Morons!

Re: Parents who charge rent

I think it depends.

My BIL still lives at home. He is 35 and a CPA. They charge him rent and for some utilities.

I think in that circumstance they should. He needs to get his own place already.

Re: Parents who charge rent

Once I started working full time, my mom and I figured out what rent would be comparable to my salary.

I think it's the best thing a parent can do. It teaches responsibility and accountability.

Message edited 6/4/2007 12:23:28 PM.

Re: Parents who charge rent

i see nothing wrong with it. i paid 50 a week to live at home.

but, when i got married and moved out, my mom gave it all back to me- she had been saving it all for me!

Re: Parents who charge rent

My mom did and then stopped...but I know parents who have charged rent and put that money aside for lets say a wedding! I think that is a fanstastic idea!

Re: Parents who charge rent

Re: Parents who charge rent

i think parents should absolutely charge rent.

i think its DISGUSTING when i hear about old friends who are my age and STILL living at home and not paying rent.

you are an adult now. adults pay bills.

although i never understood why someone would want to stay at home in hte first place. you'd think once you reach a certain age you'd like to be independant.

Re: Parents who charge rent

I paid rent from the minute I started working and until I got married. I think it is the best thing they could have done, as it starts the responsibility issue.

Re: Parents who charge rent

I think it depends on the situation.

There are a lot of factors involvoed, there's teaching responsibility, there's not wanting to make staying home be too comfortable or too much of a free ride, etc. I think if you can charge rent and give it back, that's great, but my parents really depended on my sister's resnt even before she got married...But she basically had an apartnet to herself and she was paying $500. Now she's married and she's paying more to contribute to expenses, but it's still less than what the apartment would make on the market. My mom depends on that, but it's different because it's a separate apartment.

I live with my mom and I was planning to start paying rent, but the way it works out I just end up paying for the groceries and a utility bill here and there, and it evens out. It depends on the situation.

I don't see anything wrong with it. Parents are still allowing their children to save money and stay at home but it isn't a free ride.

Re: Parents who charge rent

Message edited 6/4/2007 12:46:56 PM.

Re: Parents who charge rent

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Message edited 6/4/2007 12:45:51 PM.

Re: Parents who charge rent

I paid rent when I moved back home after college. My parents didn't need the $$ but they taught me a lot about managing $$. To this day I have excellent credit, savings and retirement plans, and DH and I never ever fight about $$.

I didn't get it back, but they have been very generous to me in other ways.

Re: Parents who charge rent

Once I graduated college and got a full time job I started paying rent to my parents. And being I still live at home, I still pay $$ every month. I am not sure if I will be getting it back once I move out on my own. That is what my grandmother did for my mother. If I do, that's great its "found money", if not, oh well. No biggie.

I have one friend who REFUSES to pay her parents a thing! Personally I think she is wrong for doing that. She lives home, is 25 and makes zero contribution and the kicker, she makes more than I do! All her parents ask for is $50 a month!