The Grass Doctor

How much should we charge for room and board for an adult working male staying with us? I will fix meals.?

He will be eating meals with the family plus I will prepare sandwiches for him to take to work. He may use our washer and dryer for luandry, I am willing to wash and dry his laundry with ours but he will have to care for it from there. He will also help with routine house care such as helping to keep house clean and lawn mowed (or shovel drive during winter). Nothing family is not asked to do as well.

Public Comments

1. it all depends on where you live. you usually charge whatever your cost of living is...in washington DC a room costs about 525 a month. maybe 450 if you are lucky. i would take the average cost of an efficientcy of your living area and maybe knock off 50.00
2. $100.00- $150.00 a week..
3. Sounds to me that this man is a son, nephew or other close family member - but whatever his relationship with you is, the first thing you have to do is to take his income into consideration. You're providing him with a (assumed) furnished room, 2 meals a day & laundry service. I'd say approximately 1/3 of his income would be a fair charge. Then make a list of the chores around the house & property of which you are expecting his help. Give a monetary value to each of those chores, & when they are completed successfully, deduct that from the "rent" you are charging. I did this kind of thing with my son & both daughters - and put the "rent" they paid me into a savings account. Years later when they went to buy homes of their own I returned the money (plus interest) to them. The "renting" situation gave them a good dose of reality & taught them responsibility - & the return of their long forgotten money - with interest - made them realize the importance of saving. They are all doing very well now & have made me (and themselves) proud!