18 year old paying "keep"

[hammerman]

My 18 year old step daughter has just moved back with us after a brief spell away to live with her older sister.

She's at college full time and she also works weekends and evenings at the local pub. She has a good social life, smokes like a chimney and is going on holiday to Cyprus in the summer.

We've asked her to contribute a small amout towards food, petrol taking her to work (it's a rural pub but only 1 mile away), phone, internet and all the other luxuries she'll be getting.

She's never lifted a finger at home in the past and to tell you the truth, she can be a complete slob.

We've asked for �15 a week. I don't considder that to be much but she has more disposable income then we ever get. But she's refusing to pay it saying she doesn't have any money and she can't afford it.

I've suggested that she finds somewhere cheaper than our house.

Am i being unreasonable ? Not only will the �15 help out for food etc but it will teach her that there's no such thing as a free meal in this life.

What do you think.

[EngTeach]

When I was 16 (Many years ago) I brought home $40 per week. I gave mom $50 per month for rent, $50 per month towards car insurance (her car) . I also had to put gas in the car and paid $15 a month for my own phone line. I also had a lot of chores, babsitting sister, and making dinner every night. I hated it and was so resentful. My younger siblings never paid rent or anything like that.

However, of the 3 of us I am the only one without bankruptcy on my credit and am the only truly selfsufficient one.
15 pounds is nothing.

[LoftyLottie]

Quite honestly, I think she sounds like a spoilt brat. She is an adult and should start acting like one. I wouldn't even discuss it any further with her. You should tell her you need the money and without it she will have to find board and lodging elsewhere. She is playing on your good nature. You are not actually doing her any favours. She will have to stand on her own two feet sooner or later.

[banjobabe]

Hey Hammerman,

I have a spare room for either you or your daughter lol

BB xx

[4getmenot]

When I worked at weekends but was at college mum was gatteing benefits from goverment because I was in full time education, I only started paying when I left school/college. Really depends how much she's earning and how much you get for her. But as for phone/internet she should pay for these

[caz1949]

I am also having the same problem with my 18 year old son he is at college part time and works as a lifeguard earning about �500 a month he is also refusing to pay me any money. I am a single parent and have brought him up on my own always going without so he can have things. He seems to think that the money he earns is his he spends it all on clothes and going out where as i work almost full time and after paying the bills have no money left over. I have asked him for �30 a week which i think is reasonable as he has internet and sky tv in his room which i pay for. I have now refused to buy anymore food for him and told him to buy his own as they have to grow up and take responsibility at this age