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IN high school, I paid for my own gas, school lunches, groceries, clothes, and school supplies. I don't pay rent or utilities in high school. I had to for my own car insurance in college. I was not on my parents' policy. It was mine and it was thousands of dollars a year. I paid rent to my parents in college as well. I paid my way through college and for my wedding. My parents didn't pay anything towards college or the wedding. Did it suck? Yup! Was it a struggle? Yup. Would I ask my kid to do that? NO!
I was not "forced" to get a job in high school and my family was barely getting by financially at that time. We were provided with all the necessities but if I wanted "better" clothes and extra school amenities, then I had to pay for them myself. I was lucky that I did very well in school so I was not overwhelmed by homework. So when I was 15 I got 3 part time jobs: babysitting after school 4 afternoons a week, making sandwiches for a canteen truck Tuesday night and Saturday morning every week, and ironing for a lady on Sundays. My parents did not charge me for rent but I did give them gas money for rides to my jobs. I was able to qualify for a 4 year college scholarship but did not go (that's another story). Anyway, I felt the same way for my own kids. I would never charge them for rent and utilities in high school. I would however not hesitate to get gas money for rides to their job(s). Other than that, depending on what I could afford, I as the parent feel I should pay for everything possible for my children until they are able to contribute financially which is usually after they graduate high school and turn 18.
I'm just curious, but, is it unusual to make a highschooler pay rent and utilities to a parent? This seems odd to me but maybe I was raised in a bubble.
It is very unusual. Parents are legally obligated to provide food and shelter to their minor children, so eviction for non-payment of rent would be considered neglect. I doubt any court in the land would allow a parent to legally take a minor child's wages, either, so there's no real legal way to force a child to pay rent. That being said I'm sure some parents cajole their children into paying rent.
If it's done out of a desire to teach the child responsibility, or out of total economic necessity, then it's understandable. If it's done so that the parent can spend on his or her own personal luxuries it is abhorrent.
High Schoolers are minors and should not have to pay rent and utilities while living in their parents' home. Now, if the parents want them to pay part of some of their other expenses such as cell phone, telephone, car, or computer expenses that makes sense. And could help them learn to budget and really know what things cost,
When i was in college I knew a girl whose parents had each child during their senior high school year, take over paying all the household bills. Now, the student was not actually paying. they were using the parents' money but they participated in stetting the household budget and were (with some supervision of course) responsible for paying the bills on time and staying within budget. I often wish my parents had done something like that.
What is this world coming to? My kids lived in our family home as family members. They all worked, starting in their early teens, for pocket money: paper delivery, babysitter, movie theater usher, waiter. We paid for their college educations and gave them financial help, when they needed it, in post-graduate school. And, when emergencies pop up, we still help them financially, as much as we can. You have your kids for life. Not everyone is as fortunate as we were to do these things, but I learned from my parents that my children would be my chief responsibility in life, just as they did.
What's the payback? That you made the financial sacrifices that you could within your means for your children to help them achieve their life goals.
I've never heard of anyone doing that, and I think its a terrible idea. While I was in highschool, I worked 30 hours a week and bought my own car, paid for gas, insurance, clothes, outings and I did sometimes help my mother with groceries or other bills. She would have never asked or required it of me, but as a family, we did what we had to do. I have zero issue with kids having some personal responsibility and having part-time jobs; but rent/utilities? That's too far.
I would want my kids to work, save some money, pay for driving/gas/insurance and extras (make up, clothes more often then I would buy them, etc). Not food or rent. As long as they were in school, college too.
All my money working belonged to my parents when I was a teen. They would like it if it was still that was as an adult. Not a fan.
I'm just curious, but, is it unusual to make a highschooler pay rent and utilities to a parent? This seems odd to me but maybe I was raised in a bubble.
I was working early in life and loved aquariums, which suck electricity. So I kicked in.
I also wanted the exclusive use of the shaded patio for my "wabbits" so I "rented" that as well, plus cut a deal for the lawnmower and trimmer, so I could drag those tools around the neighbourhood, and pay more rent. I mean make money, to pay rent.!!!
I actually didn't even remember until mom reminded me a few weeks ago. Every case is different.
I agree. I'm 62 years old and I have never met, nor have I heard through my children or relatives of anyone who needed to pay rent or utilities (such as electricity and heat) in HS.
I did have some friends in HS whose parents had serious financial problems where the kids "helped out" by paying for most of their own expenses such as buying clothes, school supplies, school lunches, etc.but no one paid rent. Today a very few kids pay for their own cell phone plans.
I know kids who willingly gave their parents money, or took care of some of of their own expenses to help their parents financially. Not many, but a handful. I don't know anyone who charged their HS kids rent. I think it is a parent's responsibility to support their minor children with respect to necessities (food, shelter, clothing).
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Yes, I did, back in the day
