Bessie Hassan money expert from finder.com.au has new research which she chats with Brent about.
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Kids at home: The free rent ride stops at 19
News highlights:
22% of those aged 25-29 still live at home with their parents, new research finds
One in five Australians don’t believe in charging their child board
Other respondents think young Aussies should start paying board at 19
Parents should start charging board once their kids turn 19 years of age, according to new research from finder.com.au, the site that compares virtually everything.
A survey of 2,085 Australians revealed 19 is the right age for young people, who are still living in the family home, to contribute financially.
But not all parents are in agreement. In fact, one in five Australians (20%) wouldn’t charge their child board, regardless of their child’s age or financial circumstances.
Young Australians (those aged 18-23) argue they shouldn’t be charged board until they are in their twenties.
finder.com.au’s research shows 40% of those aged 20-24 are still living in the family home, compared to 22 per cent of those aged 25-29.
Bessie Hassan, Money Expert at finder.com.au, says soaring house prices have forced many young professionals to live at home with their parents for longer.
“Once they start earning a steady income, charging your children board could help them prepare for the real world and make that step towards independent adulthood.
“Some parents might charge board for financial reasons if they need to subsidise the cost of living, while others might be more interested in teaching their offspring good financial habits,” she says.
Of the respondents surveyed, around 18% said they would start charging board when their child got a job.
“If mum and dad are giving free accommodation indefinitely, their kids may miss out on some important life lesson.
“You should teach them to contribute to the home and to ensure they pay on time,” she says.
Ms Hassan says some parents may choose to allow their adult children to live rent free so they can build up savings for their future.
“If parents don’t feel comfortable charging board they could find other ways for their kids to contribute financially – like buying the weekly groceries or filling up the car with petrol.
“If you were to put a price on what it actually costs to afford the lifestyle they have at home, most young people would not be complaining about the cost of board.
“The board many parents choose to charge their children in many cases would not even cover one day’s worth of meals, washing, and wifi,” she says.
About us
More than 5 million Australians turn to finder.com.au every month to save money, time and make important life choices. We compare virtually everything – 50+ product categories including credit cards, phone plans, health insurance, travel deals and much more.
Our free service is 100% independently-owned by two Australians: Fred Schebesta and Frank Restuccia. Since launching in 2006, we’ve helped our users make more than 17 million decisions.
We continue to expand and launch around the globe, and are now operating in 10 countries: Australia, New Zealand, U.K, Hong Kong, U.S.A, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Singapore, and Spain. We have 5 offices in Sydney (HQ), U.K, U.S, Poland, and the Philippines. For further information visit www.finder.com.au.