I would charge the price for whatever it is to rent a room in a house in your area. Here it is about $300-$500 a month.
5 years back I ran on tough times and moved in with my folks. I gladly paid $200.00 a month and was worried that I was not paying enough. ETA: That included the whole deal too. Food, water, eating mamma's home cooked meals - everything. Mom even wanted to do my laundry, including it in with hers and dad's, so as to save water. The saving water was not a money thing, it was an environment thing.
Speaking from a son's/student's perspective, if my parents charged me rent, it would have to be significantly less than what it would cost to live somewhere away from my parents (I'd only be living at home because I couldn't afford elsewhere). For example, places on campus seem to vary anywhere from 300 a month to 700 a month depending on quality, location, and if you have people to split the cost of a house or are renting on your own. Because of this, I wouldn't pay rent at home for anything more than 150-200 a month. So 100 a week sounds extraordinarily high, unless prices in that area are pretty high.
How stone age. As for what she should be paying in room and board, she should be paying 25% of her take home pay for the room by itself. So, that's $75 a week, not including food or utilities. Sounds to me like she's got a more than fair deal.
^I agree. If she makes 300 a week, and gets utilities, food, etc, then it sounds perfectly acceptable.
Don't forget this includes food and utilities, those campus apartments do not. If it was $100 a week just for the room I'd probably say no, but a person can easily spend $50-75 a week on food just for themselves.
I was paying close attention to how much I spent on food last year. It felt like it was close to $25 a week. It might have been more, but when parents spend money on food, they're more likely to buy in bulk (since it's for more people) and the price will drop. $100 a week still feels on the high side, no matter what.
400 a month to rent a room from your parents is still cheap. Renting your own place would probably be much more expensive. Not only do you have rent, but utilities, food, rental insurance (possibly), etc. Then you most likely will have to give 1st months rent plus a deposit. Furthermore, in some places, laws make it illegal for more than x number of people to live in the same residence unless related. (I seen it as few as 2 and as high as 4.)
I would charge the child 150 per week. 50 of that would be put in a savingsaccount to be given to the child on the day it moves out as a house-warming present.
Yeah, the city my University is in has set most houses at 2 students and 1 non-student (which is just arbitrary and stupid). Some of the houses have 4 bedrooms, so the temptation is just to have an illegal roommate.
My dad never asked for rent while I lived at home, especially while I was in college. His primary concern was for me to get a decent education. I worked part-time and used that money to pay my car loan (since I did buy a new car), pay for gas, cell phone, eating out and any other miscellaneous expense. After I graduated and got a "real" job with benefits, I offered to give my dad $200 a month because it seemed fair. He wasn't worried about it, but I insisted. He took the money, of course, but it was never a big deal to him. Eventually I saved enough money and moved out (bought my own place).
If she thinks thats too much have her move out I pay $750 for my suite plus Cable + Phone + food etc. $100 a week is Cheap
I never paid rent when I lived at home, but there were stipulations. When I was job-hunting (this was after I graduated college), I had to basically make that my full-time job. Once I found a job, I had to save that money in preparation to move out. Wise financial decisions were regarded as the most important thing rather than paying rent. But then I was not the kind to spend a whole lot; I'd always been the type to save. As long as I handled my own credit card bill and I saved and invested properly, it wasn't an issue. Personally, I'm not for charging rent IF the kid is responsible. That's a BIG IF, I know. But to me, based on my own experience, making sure your kid is debt-free when he/she moves out is the most important thing for their future, rather than making what to my mind is a token statement of "I can turn you out any time." If your kid is NOT responsible and unable to manage their finances in a debt-free manner without a whole lot of oversight--then that's a different matter. In that case, I say charge them for as much as possible while you have the oversight, in order to help them establish those habits while they're in your house and under your rules.
Just extort her for as much as possible. Money is all that matters, anyway, right? If she refuses, blame her...not your own shitty parenting (and unprotected sexual intercourse) that created such an irresponsible spoiled twit. If Tasmania is anything like the USA, she'll have a whole lot less than $800 left (taxes, more taxes, and government shit that you'll never see a dime of back...which are just taxes). I know this, you eat better at home. Once you are our your own and got mucho expenses...well, a single man can live on ramen noodles and a pack of hot dogs for a week before he starts to go mad.
I lived at my parents' house when I was in grad school to cut costs. I didn't pay rent, but paid all my tuition, car payments, gas, insurance, clothing, etc. I also did most of the 'heavy lifting' type chores and yardwork so my 50something parents wouldn't have to. The thing about living at home is that it saves you far more than it costs your parents. They're house payment is the same whether you are there or not and its not like one extra person will make the electric or water bill explode. Then again I moved out as soon as a graduated. It's still for a guy with a master's degree making more than one of the homeowners to stay there instead of getting his own place. If something drastic ever happened, I'm sure I would be welcomed back until I got back on my feet. I would pay rent to them because there would be no reason not to.
I actually eat much better on my own. My parents are cheap when it comes to groceries and my mom does no cooking at all. Plus my three younger sisters eat up everything in a day. When I go back to my parent's house for even just a day, I find myself having to leave and go to the store if I want to eat anything filling or that I would enjoy.
Except both myself and my friend are renting not buying our homes. If my friend lived by herself she could move into a smaller, cheaper place so her daughter is costing her more money. In my case I am living in a Housing Department house. The level of rent is linked to family income. If I didn't have my son at home I would pay less rent though I might be asked to move into a smaller Housing Department place. Also, I wouldn't bother with pay TV if my son was not living at home. My son has a heater in his bedroom (Tasmanian homes do not have central heating), and he almost doubles the cost of hot water. If he was't living with me my power bill would be least $10 a week less during the winter. The $300 is how much she clears not her before tax wage. The only thing taken out of her pay are federal tax (we don't have state taxes in Australia). That federal tax includes her Medicare levy.
When I started working years ago making $6.45 hr and still lived at home I paid $150 a month room and board.
Like I said, I think it's a matter of the parents' priorities as well as the character of their sons or daughters. My thought is, IF someday I have a kid that proves he/she can be financially responsible while under my roof, pays their bills on time, does NOT spend on what is not necessary, and shows they can save and invest responsibly, then I won't charge rent...I would rather they build up a nest egg that keeps them debt-free for when they move out. Which is especially important, as we've seen in the recent economic crisis--I want to teach my kids a lesson in personal responsibility and how NOT to rely on credit, and how to have savings and investments for the long term. And I think I would send a stronger signal by showing them my own willingness to commit to helping them be debt-free, as long as they hold up their end of the bargain, than taking money from them that they COULD be using to that end, just because I can.