[cchoy]

My two boys have semi full time jobs. They don`t quite get 80 hours on their two week pay check. We only make them give us $75 out of each check. They think thats too much. Our other adult kids paid $50 per week. We try to explain to them about the cost of feeding them and their use of the water for laundry, showers etc. How do you get them to understand that they have it made with what we charge? They would be paying much more if they were out on their own. They don`t make enough yet to get their own place without a roommate so they still live at home. One is 19 the other is going to be 22.

[craftymama]

I would sit them down with copies of your bills and a copy of the paper so they could see how much rent they would be paying in the real world. They need to know how much it costs to run a household. I think that is pretty cheap as I had my brother in law staying here and he paid us $100. a week.

[HomeRepairsDude]

I see your point about making adult kids pay rent, but what about the ones who are having difficulty finding work?

You can't get blood from a stone after all, and many people young and old have been having a very difficult time finding work. A suitable alternative to paying rent, would be to have them take over a lot of the housework, so that they are still earning their keep in some way.

[BeesWax]

This is something I get on my mom and dad about. My mom is on disability and my dad wants to retire, well my 20 year old sister still lives at home and has never worked a day in her life. I tell them all the time that they need to make her get a job and start paying her own way. They aren't doing her any favors by not making her work. She is lazy and is always on the computer or hanging out with her friends, who work mind you. She is like a little old lady in a young ladies body.

[Allie]

Kids need to learn what the real world is like. My son did start helping us out when he got a decent job. If they are making anything like a steady income at all, they need to help. I even helped my mother and father when I started working after college. I lived with them until I married and they wouldn't accept rent so what I did was to go to the grocery and buy anywhere from $100 to $150 worth of groceries a week. It really helped them out and I felt better for doing it.

[homeboy]

At some point, reality needs to set in for these young adults. They can't live with you or off of you free of charge. If they don't have money for rent, then they can do work around the house and earn their keep.

[nylorac]

I have always told my children that they can live here for as long as they want. They must be going to school to live here for free. If they decide not to attend college, they will get a job and pay rent. I would probably not charge that much. I was thinking I would charge $25 a week and actually try to save it for them and give it back to them when they get married.

My boys are 16 and 18, both in school. I really spend not much money on them at all. They both work, so if they need something they pay for it themselves.

[cero]

Those prices are quite fair compared to others I have seen barely helping out in the tiniest bit possible. Sit down and go over those bills, show them the window and point to a tree (yes money does not grow on trees). The only thing thats guaranteed are you die and pay taxes, nothing is free.

[Allie]

With everything getting so much more expensive, everyone in the house is going to have to pitch in in order for a household to make it. The wife used to be able to stay home and raise kids if she wished to, then things got so expensive that it was taking both partners or parents working in order for the household to make it. Now, I'm beginning to wonder if everyone is not going to have to move into one big house and have everyone contribute to the bills.

[craftykris]

I think it's 100% great to charge your older kids rent. I know I would pay my parents if I needed to move back in. If the child is not in college or school, then they should work and help out with the bills. It will teach them responsibility.