Jim's Cafe, Thursday, September 10, 2026

[Lane]

Good morning SF friends. I hope that youre all doing as well as possible today. I have a question.

At what age do you think a child should pay rent if he/she lives at home?

I ask bcz i have my 27 year old son that lives with me. Hes supposed to keep the kitchen clean, which i feel hes slacking. He makes probably double what I make but is paying off student loans. Im considering having him pay the electric bill, which is like $150, give or take. Thanks for taking the time to read.

 

[Lane]

@Angie @Baywasp @1964dodge @cymbele @cev77 @I_waste_everything @bubblebear @Kiwi2016

 

[Lane]

@AvidFan @Windhover @KM76710 @1Lefty @Witty_Sarcasm @Harrow @nicktheundoer @LumberJack

 

[Lane]

@Gonz @Pebble mouse @SillyOldBear @Lisa the Ferrociraptor @JMG @Sassy Cat @JanisSPK @TragicReality

 

[Sunspots]

Hi @Lane

My kids both contributed financially when they were living at home as soon as they were out of education and earning money.

My son's first job was an apprenticeship so he only earned £600 per month but he contributed £120 of that and was expected to do certain chores around the house - cook a family meal one night per week, keep his room clean and tidy and empty the dishwasher.

My daughter's first job was also an apprenticeship but she had to move away for it so we actually ended up giving her money as £600 wasn't enough to pay rent and live. But when she moved back home afterwards she contributed 20% of her salary.

In fairness, it was the principle of them learning to pay their way and budget more than us needing the money. So unbeknown to them, all their rent money went into a savings account for them which they got back when they left home properly.

 

[cymbele]

Easily $300/month if they're starting out and contributing on cleaning and food. Even that is a steal. here in my part of the US one bedroom apartments or a room in a sleazy part of town runs$1000/month .
thanks for opening the Cafe @Lane. It must have been dusty!

 

[Lane]

Hi @Lane

My kids both contributed financially when they were living at home as soon as they were out of education and earning money.

My son's first job was an apprenticeship so he only earned £600 per month but he contributed £120 of that and was expected to do certain chores around the house - cook a family meal one night per week, keep his room clean and tidy and empty the dishwasher.

My daughter's first job was also an apprenticeship but she had to move away for it so we actually ended up giving her money as £600 wasn't enough to pay rent and live. But when she moved back home afterwards she contributed 20% of her salary.

In fairness, it was the principle of them learning to pay their way and budget more than us needing the money. So unbeknown to them, all their rent money went into a savings account for them which they got back when they left home properly.

Thanks for responding @Sunspots. I really like that idea. I might use half and put the other half away.

 

[Lane]

Easily $300/month if they're starting out and contributing on cleaning and food. Even that is a steal. here in my part of the US one bedroom apartments or a room in a sleazy part of town runs$1000/month .
thanks for opening the Cafe @Lane. It must have been dusty!

Yes, rents are so high here in NJ. Im glad I bought my house when I did. Hope youre doing well S.

 

[SillyOldBear]

$150 is certainly not unreasonable. He needs to learn that a place to live costs money and start paying. No free ride with Mom any more.

 

[Windhover]

Morning greetings, glad to see doors open at the café. 🌻☕️
I hope everyone is doing alright today. I'm leaving a notee on the café chalkboard: it is a month for which time quickly sneaks away from us. So if you can, get outdoors for a few minutes of September air and light.

At what age do you think a child should pay rent if he/she lives at home?

About this - approximately age 21 to 25; to some extent it depends on the child's temperment and capabilities, and the financial position of the homeowner as to setting the amount.

 

[Kiwi2016]

@AvidFan @Windhover @KM76710 @1Lefty @Witty_Sarcasm @Harrow @nicktheundoer @LumberJack

Thanks for tag @Lane. Sorry for late response I only do SF on laptop so sometimes takes me awhile as usually with my phone.

As for question - I think contributing some money towards expenses makes alot of sense especially if looks like might be a longer than anticipated stay...e.g. not just over a couple of months. And fully appreciate that for todays 20 somethings...student loans are no joke so good for you for helping him out. Paying towards expenses also gives him a sense of responsibility as well - here in CA paying for electric especially over this last summer would have been an eye opener and other parts of the country could be the heating bills. His decision to raise or lower temperature in house has consequences for example. So perhaps could be utilities or half of utilities whichever you feel is reasonable given his student loan debts and this also is a year long expense which helps you out also.

 

[Sassy Cat]

I think he could be paying more food bills alone now days add up to more than 150 a month. I know when I was living at home after college I gave my parents monthly rent. I was also paying off my student loans I got them paid off early along with giving my parents money and buying a new car. It is very much doable to contribute to the household.

 

[KM76710]

Nothing unreasonable in your request. From the time me and my brother had jobs whether part time, odd jobs and such while in school on up until she remarried and we were both on our own we paid our third of the expenses. When she got married creeping up on 40 years past he and I paid $300 a month, she covered utilities and groceries for the month. I believe if you inflate what we paid to today's values it would be between 700 and 800.

 

[JMG]

Hey Lane, sorry to be here a couple days late, I don't tend to get on SF as much these days lol. Anyway thanks so much for posting a cafe on Thurs.10th and tagging me too.

I don't feel I can fairly reply to the question overall since I don't have kids and it's very unlikely that I ever will. But I can speak from my own experience that when I was 19 and not living at "home" anymore (ie with an actual parent lol) but still with family, I was expected to pay something to contribute for the fact that I was being given a nice home to live in. I lived with my aunt and uncle from age 19-21 and definitely gave them something for rent each month. It was a thousand times better than it ever woulda been if I'd been in a roommate situation. I don't remember what I paid, it was a good deal though for sure.

I'm grateful (ultimately lol) that they made me do that because it taught me to not be a spoiled, entitled brat, to be grateful & appreciate what I have, and to learn the value of money. They also helped me learn how to save better than I probably ever coulda done if left to my own devices lol. It was very hard, but glad I learned about it in my early adult years, seems it only woulda become harder if it had been in my 30's or later. Anyway sorry for long reply lol, hope you and everyone are well though & enjoying the weekend!

 

[Lane]

Thank you all for your responses. I know that i should be asking him to contribute, even if its only a couple hundred a month. But, I feel like a wimp because I just dont want to ask.

 

[cymbele]

Thank you all for your responses. I know that i should be asking him to contribute, even if its only a couple hundred a month. But, I feel like a wimp because I just dont want to ask.

I know the feeling. I had a tough time dealing with $$$. I still do. It was hard when I had to ask a boarder to leave because he hadn’t paid rent when he was unemployed and then he got a job where he had to have a gun. In fact he already had a gun didn’t tell me and didn’t have a gun safe. (guns fascinate me as once before I put a toy gun to my head to see what it would feel). But it had to be done.
you would be teaching him how to budget. You could save the money and give it back if he goes to school or buy a house. But I wouldn’t tell him that at the time of the request.