'They need their 25-year-old to subsidize their lifestyle': Mom charges son $600 in rent, retaliates when he wants to move out

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Mar 5, 2024 3:00 PM EST

Living with your parents when you're an adult is a tough gig. It's nice to have a free (or usually cheap) place to land, but it often comes at a price. You usually forgo your privacy, independence, and some level of maturity. But it's a tradeoff. Rent is incredibly expensive these days, no matter where you live. Having lodging covered is a huge boon, and allows you to save money for later. 

But nothing in life is free, and tensions naturally arise when you live with family. Maybe they resent you for not being self-sufficient yet, or maybe they want to coddle you and keep you there forever. Maybe you resent them for continuing to parent you, and maybe you resent them for resenting you. It's a big ol' pile of resentment. So naturally, when money gets involved, things are even messier. Like in this recent story from Reddit where a discussion about rent sparked some family tension. 

Advertisement
  • 01
    0₂2 r/AmltheAsshole u/Johnnyb186 - 16h AITA for telling my mom I will move out vs paying $600 a month rent?
    via u/Johnnyb186
  • 02
    I'm 25 years old, was paying $60 a week rent for a few years. I recently started a new temp job that pays pretty decent, and they decided to keep me with the company last week. This morning my mom texted me to say "Rent starts up again, $150 a week".
    via u/Johnnyb186
  • 03
    I just told her I will move out. I already pay for my own meals, I only have my small bedroom to call my own in their house. I can rent a studio apartment 3 or 4 times the size of my room for a few hundred more, or could rent a room with friends for less than my mom is trying to charge me. It would be one thing if they cooked and cleaned for me every day and I was raking up their bills but I do my own thing, pay my own bills, I never really even cross paths with my parents besides when I am gett
    via u/Johnnyb186
  • 04
    My moms definitely I that I said that, I can tell. But I'm also upset the person who birthed me is trying to get me to pay what I would pay a landlord for rent just to sleep in her house. Even 100 a week I would have been more inclined to be okay with, but 600 a month just to be able to sleep at my parents house seems a little high. If I am paying $600 a month I think I would deserve my own spaces around the house also as I would with a landlord, it seems having a landlord would be a better deal
    via u/Johnnyb186
  • 05
    consolelog_a11y. 15h But I'm also upset the person who birthed me is trying to get me to pay what I would pay a landlord for rent just to sleep in her house. Y'know, parents have bills and utilities to pay, also. You're only entitled to free room and board until you're a legal adult. If I am paying $600 a month I think I would deserve my own spaces around the house also as I would with a landlord Lol, if you can swing it for $600 go for it. Where I come from, $600/month would get you a shared be
    via u/consolelog_a11y
  • 06
    o Johnnyb186 OP. 15h Yeah if it were a matter of making ends meet I wouldn't have any issue, my dad has a credit card in my name that he can use whenever he needs to catch up on something and doesn't have the money. Dad is the breadwinner in our house, my mom pays for vacations and a couple utilities but my dad pays for the mortgage, groceries and most of the bills. Funny part is he doesn't want rent from me, it's my mom who wants it. It's part of why I am especially not keen on the idea. If the
    via u/Johnnyb186
  • 07
    Shakeit126 15h ● Why does your dad have a cc with your name on it? I'd cancel the card. If you move out, what if mom gets a hold of that card since she won't be getting rent from you? I can't see why they have one in your name.
    via u/Shakeit126
  • 08
    Johnnyb186 OP • 15h I added my dad as an auth user to one of my cards for emergencies in case he's short on bills or needs to stop at a store and doesn't have money. He doesn't really use it much but good point for once I move out.
    via u/Johnnyb186
  • 09
    oceansapart333. 14h Partassipant [3] Why wouldn't they use the money your mom is spending on vacations?
    via u/oceansapart333
  • 10
    frothyundergarments • 14h Partassipant [1] Because they're bad with money and need their 25 year old to subsidize their lifestyle.
    via u/frothyundergarments
  • 11
    good_enuffs • 14h Or they don't want a 25 year old living with them and this is an easy way to give them the idea to move out.
    via u/good_enuffs
  • 12
    Skynet MCP 16h Colo-rectal Surgeon [38] NTA - you mom has no right to be mad at you for moving out. However, quit the "person who birthed me" nonsense, $600 is too much but $400 is fine for mothers? Who came up with that arbitrary line?
    via u/SkynetMCP
  • 13
    o OP. 16h Yeah that's fair, I think it's my high school English teacher in the back of my head telling me not to use the word "mom" again when I used it in the previous sentence haha Johnnyb186
    via u/Johnnyb186
  • 14
    o AdIntrepid4978 • 15h Enthusiast [7] INFO: where do you live? What's the cost of living? Have you looked at the rental market recently? $600 for a studio, what about utilities, internet, renter's insurance?? Will you have to use a laundromat? Have you calculated that cost into your monthly budget. You should sit down and calculate these numbers. Better yet, sit down with your mom, look at comparables and calculate all the additional costs you weren't paying at $60 a week. Also, do you have furn
    via u/AdIntrepid4978
  • 15
    DrFishTaco • 15h Professor Emeritass [73] NAH - "Rent starts up again..." Sounds like she was giving you a free ride for a bit and then gave you a week to celebrate the job before informing you it was time to start adulting again. She seems like a great mom You have no obligation to live with your parents Her being upset may just be because you're leaving and that can be hard on parents
    via u/DrFishTaco
  • 16
    ReviewOk929 • 15h Colo-rectal Surgeon [33] NAH 1. Its their house and you're 25, if she wants to charge you rent she can 2. You're 25 and you should absolutely have the right to a) say you want to move out at that price and b) actually move out....
    via u/ReviewOk929
  • 17
    JupiterSWarrior. 15h Colo-rectal Surgeon [38] NAH She can charge you rent. You can either accept it or move out. There's really nothing nefarious going on.
    via u/JupiterSWarrior
  • 18
    Foot2000 15h Jokes on you, they want you to move out
    via u/Pu**yFoot2000

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

living at home family drama housing aita saving money house living together adulting am i the asshole parenting adulthood renting reddit thread Reddit money parents apartment
Scroll Down For The Next Article