"Home Spending" Contribution

[glossyy]

I just started working Full Time not too long ago and now I’m finally over with probation. My mom’s asking me to contribute to the house spending. I know it’s the norm for people in Hong Kong but I’m really not sure what’s the benchmark to pay..I mean if you give too little or whatever and if they will eventually want more…I don’t know what to do and I can’t believe she’s asking me for money!
I just started working and want to save up some money. i paid for university tuition and living by myself and now finished paying for my OSAP.

How much do you guys contribute every month if you do to the family spendings (i.e. mortgage, phone, internet, electricity,…etc)

[iEyeCaptain]

$1,250.

[steve-0101]

Ask her how much she wants?

[googoo]

If you don't pay rent.....maybe $400 a month.

[dragon_drift]

You don't even live with her, so why pay?

[glossyy]

i do..i still live at home
she wants $2000 a month....is that alot or not? its alot out of my salary after tax..

i thought this was more of a voluntary thing but its now like a compulsory thing and im really losing sleep over it..

[Shaner]

You're done school, you should be moving out anyway so you can have a life of your own. Especially if she wants $2,000 a month, that's ridiculous. You could get a nice place of your own for much less than that.

[SoBored]

2000 a month?!

I'm guessing you finished your undergrad.. that's most likely more than half of your salary after tax.

For 2000 a month you'd be better off renting a place yourself and at least enjoying your freedom.

At most, you should contribute your own personal expenses (food, cell phone, internet, tv). IMO parents shouldn't charge their kids rent if they just started working and are trying to get on their own two feet.. then again, your mom (and maybe you?) might think you plan to live with them for another 10 years or something.

[mintchoco]

I don't know why Chinese parents still 'expect' their kids to pay them. My mom would keep saying how she 'paid' my grandparents, blah blah blah.

Just be careful how much you pay now. My hubby still pays what he paid to his parents now as he did as a single childless man, and he's too chicken to renegotiate with his parents.

[Rainne]

$2000/month is damn ridiculous. You might as well move out and rent/living on your own.

$400/month sounds about right for a person w/ a 40k/year salary.

[Torontotl]

I give $1000/month to my mom(single parent) and she's still hesitant to take it everytime because she would rather I save the money for my future considering she already has money of her own; mortgage is pretty much paid off for her house. I give her money because I know how hard it was for a single mom to raise three kids and she never once asked me for a single dollar.

But if I had a mom like yours who demands "home spending" contribution and blatantly ask for $2000/month(which is pretty ridiculous if you ask me especially at your age, does she realize we are living in toronto and not boonieville; the cost of living is so much higher in the city.) I'd really let her know why asking for $2000 is absurd.

Seriously, for $2000/month; you can get yourself a nice place and still have money left over for food and transportation as well as the freedom from your parents. I feel like she is asking you to pay off their mortgage and give them alittle spending money as well which is unreasonable at your age(I am assuming you are younger than 25.)

[TheRealVinsanity]

$2000 seems to be quite a bit to me to be honest. But every family situation is different.

[wszeto28]

OP: Do you make like 5k+/month? That's the only way someone can justify asking for 2k/month.

[glossyy]

She calls it a “responsibility” and not charging…she’s taking like 70% of my salary and Im just so upset cause I never asked her for money throughout university even when I was struggling. my mom doesnt work and my dads self employed though. How much of a percentage is even right?90%? 80%? 70%? 60%? 50%?

I’ve never thought of moving out until I got married which..i don’t know when but hey now I might have to think of an alternative

[glossyy]

I don't know why Chinese parents still 'expect' their kids to pay them. My mom would keep saying how she 'paid' my grandparents, blah blah blah.

Just be careful how much you pay now. My hubby still pays what he paid to his parents now as he did as a single childless man, and he's too chicken to renegotiate with his parents.

OMG my mom said the EXACT same thing..how she pays her mom and her dad and even after my mom got married she still pays at home..ummmm