Discussions

I think part of the problem is expecting to be able to start off living in a house like your parents have now. Kids need to face the fact that they will have to live in a few dumpy apartments, save to buy a fixer-upper, that's all part of the process of growing up.  
And parents need to let them struggle, but be there to bail them out when it's a real emergency (not when they can't afford a new cell phone.)

This is my perspective. Take it for what you will. However, I moved out of my dad's place when I was 17. I rented out someone's basement while I was finishing up highschool. It was really tough. But I was honest with my teachers about my situation and most of them were pretty understanding. I would say "Hey, I'm really doing my best to get everything done one time in all my classes. However when I leave school I dont have all evening to do homework. I have to go to my job so that I can pay rent and buy groceries. Then I still have to do chores and cook my meals, worry about my own transportation and then after all of that, I can think about homework. I will always try to meet my due dates, but there may be times I'm a little late." Most were cool about it. Others said it wasn't their problem and i had to live up to the same standards as the other kids.  
 
Why do I bring that up? Especially considering this isnt usually the case of most kids in high school? Because even in college, living away from home can be difficult. It's doable. But it's hard.  
 
I had to move out early because my home situation was safe. But I tell lots of young people "Hey, there is no shame in staying home as long as it's a good environment. Just make sure that whatever money you ARE getting, you're being responsible with it."  
 
Now that said, if I was a parent and my child was acting like an idiot, out drinking all the time or spending money like a fool, I would probably tell them it's time to move out. Not to be harsh or mean, but in order to force them to learn how to deal with their money and be more responsible. (of course I wouldnt let them be homeless or anything if it went poorly).  
 
However, I finished highschool, I worked for several years. Eventually worked my way into a good job and then worked up the ranks until I was able to buy my first home at 29. Now I'm going back to school and getting my post-secondary. The thing is, getting it earlier was not a financial reality. I tried student loans in Ontario, (that's where I'm from) but they didnt come even close to covering my needs, especially for living expenses. And if you get a job to help cover those expenses, they take whatever you made off of your next student loan payment, meaning I couldnt pay tuition.  
 
 
My point is this...letting your kids live at home can really help them get ahead. I'm 31 now and I'm only now really getting to go to school in a meaningful way, but I had to move out when I was 17. 14 years is a LONG time of working and paying rent JUST to be able to make ends meet.  
 
However, if your kid is just generally immature, it might be worth forcing them to live in the real world for a while. It'll help them learn some responsibility.  
 
Also, I agree with the idea of charging your child rent, but then putting that rent into a bank for them to use when they're ready to really move out. Only thing is, I wouldnt tell them that that's what I'm doing with the money. I would keep it to myself so that they dont have a sense of entitlement.

I was 16 when I graduated and was already working in a part time position(6.50$hr). I start to pay rent of a bother $360/month to my parents and I didn't have to start doing choose as I was already doing them. I tried to increase my hours at my job but of course they wouldn't give them. So I got a second job and did that for a couple years bu5 I had to stop because even hough I asked them to take extra tax off I ended with a tax bill over $2000. I eventually got one of my jobs in full time position but after 7 years I only made $10/hours.  
 
Now I did buy a car from my grandfather after I graduated only beacause working 2 jobs cabs were expensive and was working 80 hours a week.  
 
I did live on my own for quite a few years when rent was still reasonable I had 1/2 a basement suite but after the flood my parents had built thier new home and said to join them there and then I paid them the rent, it's not to bad as it is a mother in law suite as in I have my own kitchen, s5ove etc. Twice the size of my old apartment.  
 
I was lucky too after my career had taken off I got really sick and to the point where I could barley walk and ended up on disability. And then there was an incident where I nearly died and if I was not living at home, if I was by my self I would have died if my mom did not find me.

As soon as the summer ended after our boys graduated (same year), we charged $250 each for rent. They'd been paying their own phone bills since they got phones and of course car costs.  
 
By mid September, they had moved out together because they realized that with just a bit more money, they could be independent.  
 
That's the point. To teach them independence.