Joint Accounts
Can I Charge My Adult Son Rent?
A parent struggles with a child who moved back home after mental health issues
Welcome to Joint Accounts, a weekly advice column about money and relationships of all kinds. Have a question? Email jointaccounts@medium.com.
Dear Joint Accounts,
I have a young adult son who dropped out of college last year because of mental health issues and has since moved back home. He’s now sharing a room with his two younger brothers, working, seeing a therapist, and trying to get his life back on track. He plans to move out when he’s in a better state, but he shouldn’t live alone right now, and he couldn’t afford to anyway.
Currently, my husband and I cover his cellphone bill and car insurance, and we don’t charge him rent, but we’d like him to start chipping in. We agree that our son should pay his share of the cellphone bill (approximately $25) and car insurance (around $75), but we differ in how much to charge for rent, utilities, and food. I also want him to save for his future and have a little left to spend on himself. Any advice on how we should go about calculating a number?
— Concerned and Confused
