There has been a bit of debate around here lately....
To charge, or not to charge Possum board (rent/lodging whatever you call it).
Everyone seems to have a strong opinion on it.
I am going with NOT, for the following reasons....
He has supported himself for the last few years, I have never had to give him money for the cinema, to buy anything, for lunches or petrol.
He paid for his own meals when he was working nights so often wasn't here for tea anyway.
He is now earning a trainee wage - it's not pitiful but it isn't big money.
He doesn't get paid for school holidays, he has to use his annual leave (he only has 28 hours built up so far)
He could be getting much more if he was still at hungry jacks, but he is doing this traineeship to get a career in IT - and that deserves supporting.
He is not silly with his money and always have several thousand in the bank, and doesn't blow every weeks pay on crap.
He rarely asks me to do much for him, I don't get the 'Mum, can you......' 'Where are my jeans, why haven't you washed them' etc etc and if I do anything extra for him he is always grateful.
He helps me out with Small Man and trips to the supermarket etc...
Once he is qualified and earning a proper wage I will charge him board then.
On the flip side Big A reckons he should be paying board.
He did a mentoring course this week and the teacher told him that if we don't charge Possum board he won't be prepared for when he eventually leaves home and so on.
It's supposed to teach them financial responsibility.
I guess a lot of kids need that.
Personally I wasn't at home long enough to pay board and I managed living in a flat etc
I probably learnt the hard way, but I survived.
I think I would rather see him transferring money every week to his long term savings account.
He already has $1500 in that so some extra would be good.
I don't think one rule fits every situation.
I'm sick of hearing about so and so that earnt $100 a week back in 1965 and paid $25 of it for board.......or whatever.......
I always thought being a parent was about supporting your kids, even if they are 18?
Maybe I'm wrong.....
I'm sure if he was sitting around all day on the dole and had no intention of working or doing anything with his life, always wanting to borrow money from me etc I would be charging him board, as an incentive!!
G
xxx
5 comments:
He already sounds pretty responsible with his finances, I don't think charging him board would be of much benefit to anyone, possibly cause resentment and unneeded angst.
Maybe if you all sat down and negotiated an agreement where he deposits the equivalent of what he'd pay in board (or double) into his long term savings account from each pay would be better in the long run?
Possum is shown to be acting financially responsibly, Big A will see it as a good life-long habit to nurture and there's no argy-bargy upsetting the status quo ;)
Jayne ~ Thanks for this.
Big A thinks I think I 'know everything', but as far as our kids go I haven't been wrong yet....
It's not about being right or wrong, just doing what's best for them.
G
xx
Could not have said it better than Jayne... You only have 2 chilluns to worry about so I agree with you, Gina. Other thing is if he pays board, put it away for him later. He already does that himself so it would be extra bank fees for nothing.
Plus, you would feel bad taking it..
Whatever suits, G.
ox
I agree with Jayne too.
Also, you are right, you DO know what is best for you and your family.
My parents charged me board but it went into an account that they used for pay for my wedding.
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