How Much Rent Would You Expect Your Adult Child to Pay While Living at Home?

NormalGoat on 16/01/2022 - 18:45
Last edited 17/01/2022 - 10:29

Curious to hear what people would define an acceptable rent price is for their adult child (who works full time) living at home in 2022.

Rent would include utilities and all meals… although, in that sense, is this technically boarding?

It’s hard to find an answer online as other forums have threads that are not from Australia or they are just out of date (especially given inflation is tracking the way it is).

Thanks to all who have shared their ideas and opinions - this has been invaluable!

Edit: Child (me) is 25 years old, graduated university with a full time job with strong budgeting plan and has no plans to move out. Parents are reaching retirement age.

Financial

Comments

      • mdavant on 17/01/2022 - 16:21

        Yeah I'm glad our tax money for education went towards a car.

        But then again better than grog and ciggies.

      • serpserpserp on 17/01/2022 - 18:39

        My parents collected austudy as board

        Sounds like you really didn't need it then.

        • Quantumcat on 17/01/2022 - 21:10
          +1

          To get student payments while you're living at home requires your parents to be medium badly off, so the parents probably needed it

          • serpserpserp on 17/01/2022 - 21:16
            +2

            @Quantumcat: It only needs the personal income of parents to look bad. So if one parent is a sole trader/business owner & the other is a stay at home parent it can be easy to manipulate. Even easier if single parent or single parent living with a "partner" who earns all the money.. I won't even get into how farmers work the books to get it.

            The parents can't be that bad off if they just banked the austudy and gave it back to their kid years down the track. The idea is that if you get Austudy, you actually use it.

            • Quantumcat on 17/01/2022 - 21:22

              @serpserpserp: That's true. I guess it is good for him if he would have spent it on crap stuff (17 year olds aren't known for their sound financial planning). But at the same time it would have given him choices how to live his life and his parents took that choice away which is a bit rough

              • serpserpserp on 17/01/2022 - 21:39
                +1

                @Quantumcat: It isn't a huge amount of money. Maybe it is actually a good way to teach financial responsibility if its money you don't actually need. Then take it away if they are just blowing it on garbage.

            • dmbminaret on 17/01/2022 - 22:20

              @serpserpserp: I guess it's just something they chose to do. I'm sure they could have used it for schooling, but chose to save it and cover the requirements.

              You're correct, it is means tested. The tested means showed it was available to them I guess.

              We always had casual jobs at Macca's too, so that was our money to piss up against the wall.

          • TrustNoBody on 18/01/2022 - 10:58
            +1

            @Quantumcat: i know its like that now but back in the 90s u were classed as independent at 16 or 18 so didn’t need your parents income to get assessed like it does today even upto aged 22 is a bit of a joke

  • rektrading on 16/01/2022 - 19:33
    +9

    Zero in rent, food and utilities.

    What kind of parents charges their children money?

    • NormalGoat on 16/01/2022 - 19:35
      +28

      I’ll just make it clear that I am not the parent, but I am the child who’s asking this question haha. One of my siblings was contributing rent on his own accord before he moved out. He’s already set the precedent. I’d like to contribute also even if my parents do not ask for anything. I do appreciate the sentiment from other parents who have replied to this thread though!

      • toristo on 16/01/2022 - 20:32
        +8

        Good on you for taking the initaitive.

        Work out a game plan to have the conversation with what you are proposing and why you think it's fair. I commented below the first post thinking it was the parent asking, but hope you can find an agreeable deal.

      • Poor Ass on 17/01/2022 - 08:05
        +3

        Also depends on ya culture. Some parents expect rent some don't.

        • TrustNoBody on 18/01/2022 - 11:00

          most aussies parents ..yes and i hated it cos my mates who weren’t aussies their parents didn’t want no money but my mum as soon as i hit 16

          • Poor Ass on 18/01/2022 - 11:49
            +1

            @TrustNoBody: depends on the family financials as well….. Most families that are well off don't really ask their children for money. Actually there are some families that are well off ask their children for money but maybe it's like a power trip thing.

            I know a lot of Asian families that if their parents grew up poor they would expect their children to pay them an allowance as soon as they can make money and even when they are married and have children and goes on forever

            • skillet on 19/01/2022 - 13:47
              +1

              @Poor Ass: We were poor when growing up my dad worked his backside off and achieved financial independence many years before retirement. He never asked me for money and if I paid for anything at home he would think I am looking down on him due to my higher education. Not all Asian families expect their kids offering.

              • Poor Ass on 19/01/2022 - 13:53

                @skillet: agreed

                every family is different

                you and your fancy degree

            • TrustNoBody on 20/01/2022 - 09:10

              @Poor Ass: actually u are right about the asians as my son in law is asian and he gives his mum like about $400-$500pw on top of her aged pension and she’s in government housing and he has just always done it even though he doesn’t live there anymore also he just gives his brother money for nothing too …his brother rode off my Sil ute and didn’t even offer to pay as it wasn’t insured and my daughter was ropeable ..

              • Poor Ass on 20/01/2022 - 10:42

                @TrustNoBody: ya there's all sorts out there and I know people in situations exactly like this

                there's this whole respect to elders thing going on in the Asian culture

                some actually need the money and some actually don't but feel entitled because of status

                it's actually pretty sad for those who feel they need to do it and if they don't they are shunned upon and gossip spreads like mad

      • UNO on 17/01/2022 - 13:40

        Do you know how much your brother paid? I'd contribute the same amount as he did. Or if it was a long time ago add a few more $s.

      • samyall on 18/01/2022 - 08:55

        It is a good idea to pay and keep a good record of it as it may help you get a rental when you do move out.

    • dmbminaret on 16/01/2022 - 20:24
      +27

      What kind of parents charges their children money?

      The kind who have kids who need to learn the value of it.

    • p1 ama on 16/01/2022 - 23:45
      +6

      What kind of parents charges their children money?

      I wouldn't view it so much as the parents charging their children money, but rather, just passing down their children's own costs to the responsible party. At the end of the day, you should pay for the food you eat and the utilities you use, regardless of who you live with, right?

    • cille745 on 17/01/2022 - 04:09
      +6

      Wish my parents had this attitude, multimillionaires charging siblings and I around $300-$400 a week, while we do all work around the house and everything else. We're actually not saving anything at the moment

      For any parents reading, has pretty much ruined our relationships with them at this point forever, don't get greedy over a few dollars

      • morse on 17/01/2022 - 04:28
        +7

        Why don’t you move out? (depending on your age)

        • mskeggs on 17/01/2022 - 07:41
          +10

          Where can you rent a millionaire home for $300?

          • Shleepy on 18/01/2022 - 13:48

            @mskeggs: Pretty much anywhere in the inner city of Melbourne. $300 each for 3 people is more than enough to rent a house worth well north of $1mil. Since they are sharing with 2 parents (and potentially siblings), they are paying over the money on a per person basis.

            Then again, perhaps the parents were hinting at something?!?

      • gromit on 17/01/2022 - 08:49
        +2

        Sounds like good parents trying to instill a sense of responsibility rather than entitlement.

        • smartazz104 on 17/01/2022 - 15:51
          +5

          Sounds more like greed; you don't become a millionaire by being generous.

          • gromit on 20/01/2022 - 16:02

            @smartazz104: You also don't become a millionaire without learning life lessons on managing money. sounds from the above the kids have issues if they feel resentment for not being given it free on a platter.

      • TrustNoBody on 18/01/2022 - 11:02

        that’s just wrong

      • Stopback on 18/01/2022 - 14:53

        they taught you about real life and how you need to work, to live.

    • gromit on 17/01/2022 - 07:46
      +10

      What kind of parents charges their children money?

      Parents that are trying to teach their child the realities of life and essential budgeting skills? Personally I would absolutely charge for rent food and utilities. I may also give this back to them at a later point (like when purchasing a house).

    • magic8ballgag on 17/01/2022 - 10:36
      +2

      i wouldn't expect my child to pay rent at all..

      If they're not going to learn adult responsibilities from their main role models in life (i.e. their parents), who will they learn it from?

    • SnakeCasablanca on 17/01/2022 - 11:47
      +9

      What kind of parents charges their children money?

      Parents who prioritise teaching their children about the real world over wrapping them up in bubble wrap and setting them up to fail by removing all responsibility and accountability from their lives?

    • MrFunSocks on 18/01/2022 - 10:22
      +1

      When the child is a 25 year old university graduate with a full time job, and the parents are nearing retirement, it's incredibly selfish of the child to NOT pay board.

      Imagine hitting 30+ years old and finally moving out on your own only to be hit with the fact that you're now going to have to pay for your own food, housing, transport, petrol, and do your own washing and cleaning lol.

    • dogboy on 18/01/2022 - 10:26
      +1

      Parents who want to teach their children responsibility and life skills and not baby them.

  • Godric on 16/01/2022 - 19:46
    +6

    I use to cover phone/internet for all, contribute towards utilities and cover my own food/groceries.

  • dust on 16/01/2022 - 19:52
    +6

    Many years ago I paid my folks $100 a week when I started full time work. With inflation it would probably be ~$150-$200.

  • trustnoone on 16/01/2022 - 20:05
    +1

    I guess the question is what is the motivation behind this? If you're just hoping for a bit of help at home, then maybe an approx split of groceries/net/electricity/water and a few bucks for rent may be fine. Anymore then that and I'd personally prefer to move out if I was the child, be somewhere closer to work, more freedom, space etc, but each to their own.
    IMO you also have to look at the future of this. For example if the child were to just save that cash they could buy a property in a few years, which could then be rented out further. Or money could be invested elsewhere. This could help the child (or even family if the family is that type) in the future.

    • NormalGoat on 16/01/2022 - 20:20
      +21

      I lived away from home for many years interstate and have recently returned to be closer to family with work being a short drive from home. I have budgeted towards investments during university (still do) and looking at property in the foreseeable future. While I’m at home, I like the idea of providing some contribution to my parents so they can have some more money on their hands to enjoy their latter years because I know they’ve worked terribly hard to raise us two boys…

      • ahly92 on 17/01/2022 - 09:31
        +5

        good on ya - you're parents should be proud they raised 2 great men :)

      • jatyap on 18/01/2022 - 14:39

        Good on you! I'd say offer what is reasonable for a similar property around you - or a little bit less, but help out with the other stuff!

        I second @ahly92's comment. Your parents should be proud.

    • NormalGoat on 16/01/2022 - 20:23
      +2

      I’m so far leaning towards your suggestion mate, and some non-monetary contributions like chores is reasonable I reckon

      • dmbminaret on 16/01/2022 - 20:31
        +1

        I'd just set a direct debit for the internet, netflix (or whatever) and power bill, etc. Let mum worry about the groceries. The less formal it is of cash changing hands, the better I recon. It sounds like they would rather a 'gift' over rent…

      • MrFunSocks on 18/01/2022 - 10:25

        If you're living at the house you should be doing "chores" anyway, because you'd have to do them if you were renting a place on your own. You're 25, not 12.

  • Ryanek on 16/01/2022 - 20:31
    +4

    None. It's not really in my culture to do so.

    • NormalGoat on 16/01/2022 - 20:43

      Fair enough mate

      • Ryanek on 16/01/2022 - 21:17
        +12

        In saying that, it's also in my culture to look after the parents when they're old and not just send them off to a retirement home.

        • Poor Ass on 17/01/2022 - 08:05
          +1

          Pretty Asian

        • p1 ama on 17/01/2022 - 10:33
          +18

          send them off to a retirement home

          FWIW, this is a bit of a cultural stereotype from my own experience with grandparents (my parents are not of that age yet).

          You're not "sending them off" to a retirement home as much as you are allowing them to live in a place where they will fit in better socially, have more access to various resources (e.g. healthcare, cleaning…etc.) and have more of a community.

          Many families (of particular cultures) tend to want to "take care" of their parents whilst basically providing them with no care. The kids will often go to work from 8am - 7pm, leave their elderly parents at home alone, many of whom have no means of transportation, may not be able to properly look after themselves and are actually very lonely. Not to mention the risk of having a medical emergency when there's nobody else at home.

          Many of these parents would prefer to live in a retirement village where they can socialise with people their own age. However, they continue to live with their kids because of cultural pressures, not wanting to become a financial burden (retirement homes are expensive, after all), and feeling like they can offer emotional and domestic support (e.g. cooking / cleaning) for their kids. This happened to my own family, it wasn't until after a grandparent of mine had a fall whilst nobody else was at home that the family they were staying with (an uncle of mine) finally woke up to this fact, and understood what was best for them.

          I'm not saying that all kids who look after their parents do a bad job, however, before you diss people who are "sending their parents off to a retirement home", at least take the time to consider what is best for the parents and don't let your cultural biases / "holier than thou" attitude blind your judgement.

          Or, in other words, don't make your parents live at home with you when they're old just because you want to feel good about "taking care of your parents"

          For the record, I'm Asian, I understand the cultural pressures.

          • Ryanek on 17/01/2022 - 10:38
            +2

            @p1 ama: That's all great and all if the retirement home you speak of is 5 star and they can afford it. I can assure you the majority are not.

            • p1 ama on 17/01/2022 - 11:27
              +4

              @Ryanek:

              That's all great and all if the retirement home you speak of is 5 star and they can afford it. I can assure you the majority are not.

              Have you actually researched this and looked into this, or are you just speaking from cultural stereotypes? Again, I could make a similar argument about "taking care of one's parents" - all well and good if you can provide 5 star care and can afford it. I can assure you the majority cannot.

              If you think working full-time (which is what most people do) and leaving your elderly parents at home alone without any support is somehow providing great care, then I can't argue with you.

              • Krankite on 17/01/2022 - 14:30
                +1

                @p1 ama: Well put, people need to understand elder abuse happens outside of the nursing home system as well as in it.

          • serpserpserp on 17/01/2022 - 21:29

            @p1 ama:

            Many families (of particular cultures) tend to want to "take care" of their parents whilst basically providing them with no care.

            it wasn't until after a grandparent of mine had a fall whilst nobody else was at home that the family they were staying with (an uncle of mine) finally woke up to this fact, and understood what was best for them.

            This is true. It is also particularly bad when said parents have alzheimer's or dementia and children still refuse to get them care or put them in a facility that can handle them. It ends up ruining the children(s) lives (often very slowly) over a number of years as well, and you end up with the inevitable of going into care (or even worse if they have a fall as you say). The horrible thing is that if they got help earlier the quality of life/relationship for all involved can be a lot better.

            • p1 ama on 18/01/2022 - 01:07
              +3

              @serpserpserp:

              It ends up ruining the children(s) lives (often very slowly) over a number of years as well, and you end up with the inevitable of going into care (or even worse if they have a fall as you say). The horrible thing is that if they got help earlier the quality of life/relationship for all involved can be a lot better.

              I agree - I'm often dismayed at people who follow a "cultural norm" without taking the time to think about why that cultural norm was established in the first place.

              In the case of looking after one's parents, this was in a time where most peoples' lives were drastically different - people all lived in the same village / town, most people didn't migrate, most lived in intergenerational housing where a large number of kids shared the load of looking after the parents, there was often a community of the elderly within the village, most amenities are accessible by walking…etc.

              It's clear that today's society no longer reflects this - people migrate around the world, live in different cities, families no longer live together, most of suburbia is now very atomic with little community, you basically need to be able to drive to run errands or do anything…etc.

              Looking after ones' parents is no longer shared within the family, it's basically a duty that is offloaded to whichever kid happened to fall into that situation. Usually the kid already has their hands full with full time work, their own family, their own kids. The arrangement often works out well when the parents are not that elderly, but as they get older, their need for care increases, and generally, as the kid gets older, they also have more responsibilities. This often leads to the disasters that I mentioned before.

              It's just sad that some people can't think critically beyond "my culture says so"…

              • amsaini15 on 18/01/2022 - 10:28

                @p1 ama: @p1 AMA I completely agree with every word you have said. 100% true. Thanks for enlightening us.

  • Tiredman on 16/01/2022 - 20:43
    +1

    As above, not common in my culture. I will stuff money and food inside their bags instead. They need all the help they can get to accumulate their wealth in the current environment so i will never understand the whole act of kicking your kids out at 18.

    • mskeggs on 17/01/2022 - 07:47
      +8

      Kicking them out at 18 is the inverse of the helpless manbabies still living at home we’ll into their 30s, expecting their parents to look after them.

      In my culture it is important that young people are taught independence and how to behave as a full member of society, and people would question the capability of a young person who has everything provided for them by parents after they become adults.

      Of course, it would be very rare to be kicked out at 18. Most kids live at home during tertiary study, and often for a time after they start working.

      • Quantumcat on 17/01/2022 - 08:56
        +6

        I agree. If you don't charge your children rent they get used to a lifestyle with a lot of disposable income, the longer it goes on the less likely they are to move out as the shock of suddenly having to pay rent and bills is too much and their lifestyle can't support it. My dad said he would charge us rent the minute we graduated high school but it didn't really apply as we all moved out to university.

        If you don't charge your children anything you are being a bad parent. Parents need to teach their children how to become good members of society, and forgetting to teach them that living costs money is failing them. And same for if you never make your kids do any chores and always clean up after them - that's the easy way out (helping a 6 year old to do a chore takes longer than doing it yourself, and trying to get a teenager to do a chore when you haven't set any precedent for doing chores is even harder). You're not doing them any favours as they won't be able to look after themselves when you're not there. And probably get themselves kicked out of any share houses or broken up with by any romantic partners they choose to move in with.

      • Tiredman on 17/01/2022 - 13:41
        +1

        Obviously if the child is a man baby or a leech, they are out. Some common sense is needed here.

        So many misconceptions and assumptions of another culture. Amazing to also hear we are immediately bad parents for charging our kids. As an Asian, multi generational living is common. That didn't turn us into leeches on our parents but instead we want to keep our parents close to take them of them as well as possible. It is important to instill the correct mentality.

        Allows us to save money and be able to take immediate care of each other. I would rather my child save up more quickly to buy their own homes instead of wasting money on rental unless absolutely necessary. Get on the property ladder as early as possible and buy as many as possible. It is just going to get more and more expensive. Teach them how to invest and build wealth, do some charity, do some volunteer work, plant some trees. A million ways to build character.

        Why would i want to take their money if i have no need for it and they need it the most in this early stage of their life? They need to save up for their own homes, pay their loans, buy a car, get married etc…

        If they insist on giving me money in the future, i will probably take it and invest it for them.

        We just have to agree to disagree. No time to waste on this.

        • Quantumcat on 17/01/2022 - 21:18

          Are you not worried that your culture will get diluted with the Australian one a bit more with every generation, and eventually some generation will decide they don't want to take care of their parents, and because you supported your adult children for an extra decade or two longer than other parents, now you are in a much worse financial situation as that money wasn't being invested or put into super, and now you are stuck in an awful cut price nursing home and you got very few years of getting to enjoy yourself because most of the ones where you could have done this you had to support your adult children, and once they finally left you didn't have the money to do it?
          Your culture works because the children then look after the parents, like an unwritten contract. But when that ends it is very unfortunate for the parents who get caught in the middle

        • p1 ama on 18/01/2022 - 01:22

          As an Asian, multi generational living is common. That didn't turn us into leeches on our parents

          You missed the entire point - when you live with your parents, you should contribute in what way you can. For some, that will be paying rent, for others, that may be cooking, cleaning, mowing the lawn, doing maintenance…etc.

          When I could afford it, I paid my parents rent. Not because of any complex moral reason like you're referring to, but because my parents came to Australia with nothing. They came here so their kids (i.e. me and my siblings) could have a better life. The amount of sacrifices that they have made are far and beyond whatever small amount of money I could give them. For me, it's about helping them have a better life - if there were things they couldn't afford to buy when I was young because they spent all their money on us, it's nice to think that maybe I can help them afford that now.

          FWIW, I'm also Asian and I just think most of what you're spewing is just utter nonsense:

          I would rather my child save up more quickly to buy their own homes instead of wasting money on rental unless absolutely necessary. Get on the property ladder as early as possible and buy as many as possible. It is just going to get more and more expensive.

          If you were talking about charging your kids $50k p.a., then yes, what you're saying might hold some water. But we're talking about contributing like $100 per week. That's not going to move the needle. You're delusional if you think this will somehow negatively impact a kid's ability to own a home later on.

  • Zippy135 on 16/01/2022 - 20:53
    +10

    Back in the days, I gave folks $50 a week to cover utilities etc. I was out most the time and would often buy food and do my own washing and chores. They didn’t want anything but I wanted to help them out and show I wasn’t taking the place for granted. The money went to their emergency funds. They appreciated it.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 16/01/2022 - 20:58

    Should be moved out as soon as you have a full time job. Would feel bad mooching off my parents and them paying money. It’s not like you’re 18 and just out of high school.

    Do you stay at your partners house or vice versa, or I’m guessing you don’t have one?

    • NormalGoat on 16/01/2022 - 21:01
      +1

      Haha, I did for 7 years with last year living in Brissy for my first full time gig. Now back in NSW for another full time gig… guess your username checks out lol
      No partner - will be on the look out and if I hit it off I’ll consider moving out

  • JIMB0 on 16/01/2022 - 21:09
    +8

    $200 per week including food, utilities, internet etc.

  • SF3 on 16/01/2022 - 21:34

    It depends on the circumstances and what you might want to teach. Might make sense to pay for some whilst zero for others.

  • El cheepo on 16/01/2022 - 21:48
    +7

    If it was just of your own accord and depending on your income $100-150pw

    If it would help them substantially and you can afford it $200+ pw (my opinion)

    Why haven’t you got any plans to move out?
    If you have a strong budgeting plan, what is it for?
    (Not the point of the thread but very curious)

    • NormalGoat on 16/01/2022 - 21:51

      Thanks mate your suggestion is in line with what I was thinking of..

      I moved out for 7 years interstate, just moved back home so I’m finding my feet. Will move out ideally when I find a partner
      Budgeting plan is towards achieving financial independence - retiring early would be nice but i’d be bored out of my mind

      • Grunntt on 17/01/2022 - 08:48
        +1

        Budgeting plan is towards achieving financial independence - retiring early would be nice but i’d be bored out of my mind

        I don't understand this type of statement - retiring and being financially independent mean leaving the paid workforce that you have to be in to survive.
        It does not mean vegetating in front of the TV - surely there are enough interests in your life that you would then be able to make your priority?
        If not - it may be worth some time working out what life is actually for - hint, it's not so you can sell yourself for someone elses profit.

        • NormalGoat on 17/01/2022 - 09:00
          +1

          I love my career in healthcare (along with its challenges) and I feel personally rewarded being able to help others out. Having that financial independence, as you said, will allow me to prioritise other interests in life. In the process, reduce hours that I’m doing in my job so I don’t get burnt out, enjoy a relatively fun lifestyle and not obsessing over each dollar

          Unless I lose complete interest in my career or I get injured preventing me to work again, retiring early isn’t my main financial goal

          • Grunntt on 17/01/2022 - 10:13
            +1

            @NormalGoat:

            I love my career in healthcare (along with its challenges) and I feel personally rewarded being able to help others out.

            I did too, but I see 'working' as just one stage in my life.
            I have been really happy since moving into another stage of my life.
            Without the need to be paid by someone else I really enjoy the freedom to basically choose to do whatever I want whenever I want.
            I have great memories of most of my working time but now I have absolutely no need to do it - either financially or emotionally.

            My interests and activities since retirement have been varied and interesting. If I want to spend some time travelling, I can (dependent on which plague is current). If I want to develop a new range of skills (eg try to improve my painting, photography or timberworking) I can spend as much time as I want. If I feel like volunteering somewhere worthwhile I can.

            I see my time at work as just one of the things I have done and feel no need to do it any longer.
            To me it's the same as my time at school - enjoyed most of it but moved on from there to other areas.

            • NormalGoat on 17/01/2022 - 10:19
              +1

              @Grunntt: Fair enough! I appreciate your perspective too, really helps out with broadening my mindset especially having only ‘started’ my life

        • yadq on 17/01/2022 - 09:00
          +1

          There is also a chance he loves the work he's currently doing.
          And before you say "you could just do the same without the 'working for someone else part'" - that's valid in most cases, but for some occupation that's non-existent.

          • Grunntt on 17/01/2022 - 10:14

            @yadq:

            There is also a chance he loves the work he's currently doing.

            I did as well but I can see no need to do it any longer when there are so many other things in which I can be involved.

  • pharkurnell on 16/01/2022 - 22:24
    +6

    Charging them rent teaches them more about budgeting and that life isnt what school prepares you for. Specially since you say they have full time jobs and graduated etc… their fair share % of the bills etc.

  • yellowfever on 16/01/2022 - 22:34

    Under 31 = $0
    31 or over = $200/pw

    Why? Because at 31 they need to know that home isn't just an easy option to live. They need to pay to give them inventive to move out and have their own life.

    If I extend it to 35 it's allowing them to be lazy, old not grow up.

    • Quantumcat on 17/01/2022 - 08:58
      +8

      I would change that to 21. At uni or first year out of uni you probably aren't making a lot of money. After that you would have a proper full time job and can behave like an adult

    • Zondor on 19/01/2022 - 19:29

      Damm I couldn't imagine living at home past 21, I'd go mad.

  • FujiFruit on 16/01/2022 - 22:35
    +7

    I think $200 covers the rent food and bills. It is more about respecting them and not feel like you are a burden to them. Any child coming home can be a burden but if u pay the rent and help out it would feel like good company. I know a lot of adult children paying rent. They pay $200 a week. The parents wash their dishes, fold their clothes, clean after their mess, make extra dinners, do extra shopping, u use also their nbn, their netflix, their stan maybe, their water, electricity, and im sure there is more. It a lot of work as a parent. They also have to deal with noise and invading their privacy. Im not saying u are noisy or a burden, but it can be for some parents and they might not mention it. Paying rent is the right thing to do to make your parents feel like they are worth it and feel that you are good son for helping out.

  • Sweet3st on 16/01/2022 - 22:55
    +13

    Parents will always want to help their children, but over 21 and working FT I think requires more than just a share of utilities and groceries. Depends a bit on how well off the parents are.

  • p1 ama on 16/01/2022 - 23:39
    +14

    It's situational, but as a child of parents who charged rent, and as a parent now who intends to charge my child rent when he's of adult age, my argument is that it's not about the money, but about building responsibility and character.

    My parents started charging me rent when I was 18, was in uni, had a job and could afford to pay them rent. I don't remember the exact amount, but in hindsight, it taught me important life lessons - to be responsible for what I use (e.g. to turn off the lights, save water…etc.), to learn how to budget, to understand that I'm an adult and have to stand on my own two feet.

    I agree with most suggestions that ~$200 per week should probably cover it. I wouldn't put too much thought into it - at the end of the day, life benefits aside, you are costing your parents money to live there, whether that be in bills, food, or otherwise. You have lived away from home before, you have graduated from uni and you have a job, you are no longer dependent on your parents.

    • voo123 on 16/01/2022 - 23:55
      +12

      Spot on!
      I remember back when I was 18, my parents demanded $100/week in rent to cover for living costs. I was bloody pissed and resented them as I knew they didnt need this money as they were relatively well off. I had to get a part time job, and half of my pay went to rent. I had carefully plan out my budget and be frugal with my money. Over time parents realised that I had developed a good savings history and allowed me to rent for free for 2 years when I got my full time job. This allowed me to buy my first home at 26 y/o, so I grateful that I had the opportunity to stay at home with subsidised/free rent for such a long period of time.

      Many people complain that they didnt get a lump sum monetary contribution from parents for their first home, however fail to realise that living with parents as an adult child with free/heavily subsidised rent is the indirect financial assistance towards that first home :) So stop taking things for granted.

      • serpserpserp on 17/01/2022 - 07:50
        +2

        Many people complain that they didnt get a lump sum monetary contribution from parents for their first home

        Weird. I hear people tell me they didn't get anything from their parents, but never complain.

        • voo123 on 17/01/2022 - 17:52
          +1

          A sizeable portion of first home buyers do receive some monetary assistance from their parents, but don't disclose it to give the impression they've done it on their own. As first home buyers, you do have to compete with the banks of mum and dads for desirable properties, hence why some people complain about house prices in Melbourne and Sydney.

          Most of my close friends who recently bought, had financial assistance from their parents, mostly because the parents were sick of them staying at home in their 30s lol.

      • UNO on 17/01/2022 - 14:26
        +1

        …Not the only the kids. Parents often don't realise how much indirect financial assistance they are providing.

        Parents want to do the best for their kids and there is no one size fits all approach to achieve this!

      • Stopback on 18/01/2022 - 15:01

        i really thought your parents would have given you some money (the 100 a week saved) for a deposit,

        or at least taught you about share investing,

        • voo123 on 18/01/2022 - 18:19

          I wished that they would have given me that money as a lump sum for a deposit. Would have been much more useful now rather than much later.

  • jv on 16/01/2022 - 23:58

    zilch

  • 0FoxGiven on 17/01/2022 - 01:30
    +1

    Nothing. If it were me, I would take care of Utility bills and purchase the groceries for the household. I wouldn't want my kid to pay me rent. Rather would have them save that money and get them to a house of their own sooner and let them enjoy their youth (responsibly) without having to worry too much about finances early on.

  • JesseN9 on 17/01/2022 - 02:26
    +2

    So many variables… are they financially aware and not just wasting money on material possessions or going out to brunch everyday wasting money?

    If they are seriously putting every spare dollar into their future savings or investments then I would not expect much of them but I've always thought it's important to teach young adults to value their money.

    • snooksy on 17/01/2022 - 08:40
      +1

      So if you like how they spend the money they earn you won’t take it but if you don’t like it then you would take it. So whose making the decisions? Are they really being encouraged to be independent and make their own decisions?

      • JesseN9 on 17/01/2022 - 10:08
        +1

        Teaching the value of money is important

  • nomoneynoproblems on 17/01/2022 - 05:40
    +5

    I think this entirely depends on the type of relationship and person. I come from an ethnic (i.e non Anglo) background so my parents never charged or expected any money from me while i was at home. In fact I remember both my parents telling me off when i even suggested if they needed any help or money from me. What i didn't pay in rent or board, i made up elsewhere around the house. I made sure I helped my dad when he needed a hand, I mowed the lawns every 4 weeks, kept the milk topped up, bought a new microwave when it died, made sure I didn't leave dishes, etc.

    If you're going to be a straight mooch that gets up late and doesn't lift a finger, then yes. I would be charging my kids to encourage them to gtfo and be someone else problem.

    • serpserpserp on 17/01/2022 - 07:44
      +4

      I mowed the lawns every 4 weeks,

      They need to be mowed every two weeks though!

      • MrFunSocks on 18/01/2022 - 10:30

        Two weeks? I have to mow mine every 3 days in summer.

  • Jugganautx on 17/01/2022 - 06:26
    +7

    From when i left highschool to moving into my own place at 22 i was paying $100-150 a week in rent/utilities. My mum is a single parent of 7 so everybody pitched in in my family.

    No one under 23 at my current workplace have ever paid rent or had to manage bills, still live at home and their parents are still paying for their mobile plans. They're also living week to week because they have never learn't how or needed to manage their money.

    • EightImmortals on 17/01/2022 - 07:16
      +3

      Exactly. And this is the main reason we charge our son $100 per week, he has a full time job and manages to save a lot of his wage. How is going to learn to budget and control his pending with the false belief that everything in life is free? He has never been on the dole and was not charged rent until he had a job.

    • snooksy on 17/01/2022 - 08:41
      +1

      My parents never paid for my mobile phone ever.

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