Should your children be paying board?
On Stuff last week there was a focus on the high number of adult children living with their parents.
We asked you: Should those children be paying their parents board? Or should they be allowed to live at home cost-free and accumulate savings?
RAY HODDER, RAUMATI BEACH
If the adult children have an income they should pay board. As soon as children were earning we charged them a percentage of the earnings they bought home. We also insisted they put some into savings each pay day. It teaches them the value of money.
JUDY BAILEY, PARAPARAUMU
I agree, IF they have income then yes some for rent or board and cook a couple of meals during the week. Some for savings definitely.
KARVAHMCLELLAN, RAUMATI SOUTH
Yeah. If they have income then for sure. I’m 17 and started paying board last year to help out.
SUE ROSTRON, RAUMATI BEACH
It is adult behaviour to pay your way and not live offmummy and daddy. I think there is an implicit assumption that the parents are able to afford to keep supporting their adult children. Often adult children earn more than their parents are ever likely to.
DIANNE MARTINDALE, PARAPARAUMU
Yes agree with all the comments. If it’s only an after school job i say no, but contribute with chores around the home.
JEAN CHAMBERLAIN, OTAKI
In life one has to pay one’s way, so why shouldn’t adult children not pay their way? I used to put the board up when they got a rise until such time that they thought they could manage better out in the big wide world than at comfortable Mum’s place. We don’t do children any favours by mollycoddling them.
KATHRYN HUTSON, RAUMATI BEACH
Like a lot of parenting, I don’t believe there’s any right or wrong, and it’s completely up to you the way you choose to parent!
LETTERS
Honest retail pricing. Dear Ed. I recently travelled through the Kapiti region, and was delighted to find some major retailers such as The Warehouse and Countdown with prices reflecting actual currency. I haven’t seen a one cent piece for over twenty years, so I can’t understand why any retailer still uses the old $.99 pricing model, unless they wish to mislead their customers or collect a bit extra by rounding up to collect a few cents more on cash sales. Paying 1c more doesn’t mean much to most consumers. I would love to hear a retailer explain to a child why they advertise a treat for $.99 but take $1.00. Most people would recognise this as an example of a retailer being unethical and dishonest. I hope all retailers adopt an honest pricing system where the listed price is the actual price, as reflected in our actual currency, whether or not you pay in cash or not.
(abridged)
Ron Eckman Te Hihi WRITE TO US
If there are any issues affecting you or your community, write to us at editor@kapiti-observer.co.nz or via Neighbourly. Please keep your letters to 200 words, and include your name, address and a contact number. Letters may be abridged and are published at the editor’s discretion.