Moving Out...
 

Ok well some of you may have read my other thread about my bf's parents eating the food we buy for ourselves since groceries are hardly ever done around here...and alot of you suggested we move out b/c we were pretty much paying the same amount to live here as it would to live on our own.

Well that time might have just come...my bf's mom told him today that my bf's stepdad's daughter is moving out here, and that means WE have to help finish the other bedroom up here so she can move in, we have some problems with this:

1. We shouldn't have to help finish the bedroom for her, were not the ones who want her out here, we had to help finish our bedroom why can't she come out here and help?
2. We better get a door on our bedroom if she is moving out here
3. My bf's stepdad must think his family is royalty, since the only reason our bedroom got finished so fast was so they could have the bedroom downstairs we were in to make more room in the living room for his family at xmas time (their bedroom was previously in the living room) and after this room was done (mind you it still isn't completly finished) the rest of the upstairs was forgotten about. Oh, and they had 4 couches downstairs, THREE in the living room, and one on the front porch that they got from somewhere a couple weeks ago and it looks brand new, anyway they recently got rid of one in the living room, and took it to the dump, it was still perfectly fine, but my bf's moms reasoning was 'oh it was only in here for when joe's family came at xmas' they didn't even think to offer it to us for our room, we can't watch TV together b/c we have one recliner that is falling apart...
4. Get this, my bf pays $100/wk right now to live here, they want $50/wk from me but I'm only working one day a week and I would never pay that much to live here, anyway my bf's stepdads daughter...get this...doesn't have to pay a CENT just b/c she is his daughter and apparently can't afford it when she is working at Tim Hortons full time, making the same or more than my bf is per hour.
5. When she moves out here, we won't be able to do anything..such as watch TV or have privacy, b/c she is a stuck up yuo know what, and all she will have to do is complain to daddy and daddy will make it all better, which means we will be getting in trouble for everything. I've known her the entire time I've known my bf (we have been dating for 4 years, known eachother for 6) and I know how she is...it will be **** with her up here, b/c we won't matter at all, it will be whatever she wants she gets, and my bf's mom won't stick up for us b/c she has no backbone and can't stand up to my bf's stepdad at all.

ANYWHO....we don't want to be here when she comes out...so were thinking of just leaving, we called my bf's friend but he is moving out this month with his girlfriend...anyway like I said I'm only working one day a week right now but I told m bf I would work full time if I have too.

I'm trying to come up with a budget and Im wondering if it looks ok?

Rent - $500 - $600/mth (for a one bedroom, all inclusive (utilities included) and appliances included - fridge and stove usually, which is how most apartments around here are)
Groceries - $100/wk, $400/mth
Cigarettes - $50/wk, $100/mth (Only my bf smokes)
Gas - $30/wk, $120/mth
Insurance - $200/mth (I'm guessing at this, we will probably put it in my name once I get my G2 in September since it will more than likely be cheaper, we have never gotten a straight answer from my bf's mom about how much his insurance is, and I know that my friend paid $164/mth for her 95 sport accent, and here if your a girl its cheaper and if you take drivers training it is cheaper but only by about 10%, I didn't take drivers training, but our car is not a sport (sport models are more expensive), it is a 95 as well though, so I'm estimating about $200 to make up for the fact that I didn't take drivers training.)
Other - $200/mth (Including $60/mth for cells - no need for a phone with cells, $40/mth for internet, $30-$40 for TV etc.)

My bf makes around $1500-$1600/mth right now (again that is an estimate, using his hourly wage x 80 hours (paid bi-weekly) then subtracting 20% for taxes.

I will make anywhere between $500-$1000 making minimum wage working part time or full time.

So I'm wondering if this looks ok...I dont think I forgot anything??? Thanks.

Trixie - you DEFINATLY need to get out. I hope I can help but telling you my costs. My boyfriend and I live together - I am 20 and he is 21.

rent = $500 a month, includes everything (we are living in his aunts basement suite, but moving soon and it will be about 850$ there plus utilites)
cell phones x2 = $100/month
food = $500/month (about), we buy a lot at costco, so like a huge thing of chicken, beef, pork, etc and cut it up and get about 1-2 months out of it all.
TV/Internet = $50/month, my boyfriend works for shaw and we get half price, so you are probably looking at 100$ or so (for digital cable, 60$ or so for regular cable)
Gas = $100/month or so, we dont do much driving
Insurance for his car = $150/month
Insurance for our place = $250 (i think) /year
House hold expenses = $200/month toliet paper, laundry soap, etc

Remember that moving out for your first time you need lots of stuff, like dishes, furniture, and lots of little things, dish soap, laundry soap, toilet paper, nakpins, dish towels, towels, shampoo, the first few months can be VERY expensive. Just make sure you are ready for it. I get about 1700$ a month after tax and my boyfriend gets at least 2000$ a month after tax and we seems to have no trouble with money, but we did at the beginning.

MAKE SURE to stay away from buying silly things - I have a hard time there being a girl like buying a new shirt or jeans, some months every penny counts.

I really recommened to move out, I know how stressful it can be. Especially living in a bad situation. Like I said we live in my boyfriends aunt's basement suite, and I am always stressed out and that is why we have to move.

Good luck!

One last tip, things cost a lot more then you think they do, I found that out!

Cigarettes - $50/wk, $100/mth (Only my bf smokes)

Wouldn't that be $200/mth? If that's not a reason to quit smoking, I don't know what is.

Jeni: I just read the most recent entry on your blog. Considering the fact that you all need to move out soon, wouldn't it be a good idea to use the tattoo money for deposits, etc.? There will always be opportunity to get them later if you really want them. I would think your freedom from his parents is worth at least the price of a tattoo...

Just my humble opinion....

No KIDDING!! That's a LOT Of smokes... I don't even spend that much on DIAPERS eek!

Well, we're not here to lecture her on how much her boyfriend smokes, but I will agree, $50 a week is a lot of cigarettes, since we're talking about her expenses and all. Maybe he could cut back. Even cigarettes that cost $5 a pack would only cost him $35 a week if he'd cut back to one pack a day. I can't imagine anyone smoking $50 worth of cigarettes in one week. So there's an expense you can cut right there. Have him try and cut back on the smoking, that'll help.

I took a quick look at your blog after reading that and I agree. You will be pretty tight for money for a while, so no tattos or capri's - you are going to have to stop buying stuff unless you ABSOLUTLY need it!

So when you see a pair of pants and go "those are cute" and want to buy them, think to yourself, "do I really need these pants? how many pairs do I already have? etc" If you have NO PANTS at all, the buy all means get some, but there will be no more buying because it is cute. I am not trying to be harsh, just telling you the facts. I know all about these, I only moved out 6 months ago.

You are paying 400$ a month to live there and sure its like, well only 500$ to have our own place. But it is not only 500$ I thought the same. You might have all utilites included but there is so much more you never think about. I am not kidding when you need every penny, the first few months will be expensive.

You need stupid stuff you never even think about, like cleaning supplies (bathroom, kitchen, carpet, etc), paper towel, plunger, toilet brush, toothpaste, vaccume, mop, broom, extention cords, all kinds of things to cook with like a potatoe masher or a soup spoon, etc. If you already have all that then you are all set. I was given almost everything for xmas but when I moved out we still spent at least 2000$ on buying other stuff. And when I saw I was given almost everything for xmas I am not kidding, I was given microwave, toaster oven, blender, beaters, pots and pans, dishes, cutliery, all serving spoons and that kind of stuff, etc, etc, etc. And we still spent over 2000$.

Please just make sure you have enough money and really control the urge to spend.

I meant $50/every 2 wks, he gets a carton every 2 weeks, which is about $52 but I rounded to $50

I just found all this out today, so I was planning on using my bday money for a tattoo until today, if we decide to move out I will be using my bday money for that.

I had money given to me for the purpose of buying some summer clothes, b/c I had none, and I bought 2 pairs of capri's on saturday before I knew any of this was going to happen, I didn't want to spend $100 on 2 pairs but Additionelle was the only place that had capri's in my size that fit me ok, I HATE HATE HATE clothes shopping so it isn't like I bought them b/c I wanted too, I bought them b/c I needed them and the money was given to me for that purpose.

I am sorry if I can across as harsh, I really didn't mean it. I just want you to make sure you are ready. It really sounds like you need to get out, but I just wanted to help you think about all the things you needed. I wish someone did it for me! I spend months being broke, and it was aweful! and I know myself I have a bad habit of buying things I don't really need!

My budget is based on what we spend now, gas is about $30/wk right now, sometimes $30 every 2 weeks if we don't go anywhere besides work for my bf sometimes $60/wk if we go out of town, it all depends on how much driving we do, groceries we could do with $100/wk b/c we wouldn't mind just buying soup, bread, sandwich meat, etc. cheap things..we don't need gourmet meals. I check the paper often and my parent's have always rented and I usually saw the budget, so I know a one bedroom would be $500-$600, our cells are $57/mth, I rounded up to $60, TV will only be about $30-$40...I know this b/c I know how much my mom pays and my bf's mom pays, Internet will be about $40/mth or less b/c thats what is being paid now and when I was at home it was $25 (Just depends on the speed we choose) The only cost I'm not 100% on is car insurance, and that is only b/c my bf's mom won't give a straight answer.

Most apartments around here include everything with the rent, and most come with a fridge and stove already. I know we would need alot of things to move out, we would even need first and last month's rent, were considering a small loan, which would be good for credit, and help us get on our feet, if the smallest amount we can take out is $5000 and we only spend $2500 we'll put the other $2500 right back on the loan, were not sure though, that will be a last resort, we have alot of thinking and planning to do, all we know is we want out of here. By September 1 we could probably have about $1000 saved, which could cover first and last, then we would just need to worry about things we need...

There won't be many deposits to pay, since utilities are included with rent, you don't have to pay a deposit to the utility companies, the only deposits we'll have to pay is maybe something on the apartment although most places only ask for first and last, I've asked many times when I've called about apartments before, we even went so far as to schedule an appointment to look at one, but decided against it at the time, the only other deposit is car insurance if it is switched over to my bf's name, but I'm not even 100% sure how that works...if we stay in town here my bf could walk or bike to work for a while, same with me, the only downer is it is much harder to find jobs here since it is much smaller.

We just found out this was happening today, and our biggest problem is that my bf's stepdads daughter won't have to pay, we didn't get to talk much b/c my bf had to leave for work so were going to have to talk about it more tomorrow.

Another option is moving into a place with my mom and my brother....but I'm not so sure I would want to do that.

I understand, I also understand that you only know what I'm telling you so your only replying to what you know...:)

If you need concrete info re: insurance, call an agent.

Alot of them won't do it over the phone b/c they need to see the car etc. and we called their insurance company once before and got a quote from the guy, who ended up calling my bf's mom and told her, so then she found out we had called and found out we wanted to move out and told us that the quote we were given was wrong, so we ended up with two prices, then just a few months ago when my bf had a good paying job it jumped even higher than the previous two prices and she had an excuse for that...so thats what I mean by we can't get a straight answer from her about car insurance, so thats why were clueless about how much it is, you think she would have the courtesy to tell him how much it is and give a real honest straight forward answer, he has asked her before to put the car in his name as well but she refused, right now she is the primary driver and he is secondary b/c she says that makes it cheaper, so he is paying how much it costs to have her as primary and then how much it costs to have him as secondary, instead of only paying for himself if he was primary, or if the car were in his name.

You need content insruance tho, and that can be done over the phone.

That is so weird, I have USAA insurance and they have insured both my car and my home without ever asking to see anything. As far as what she's currently paying now for insurance, is there a monthly statement? If so, look at it. My insurance company also sends me biyearly contracts with everything spelled out. I keep them with the rest of my important papers, maybe his mom does too?

seriously reconsider whether or not you really need cable TV and internet. it is SO expensive these days, and it sounds like you would benefit from the extra $100/mth that would free up.

We don't have cable and do just fine. Internet is a good resource, but I think it is one area you could cut on until you get your feet on the ground.

True, I pay just 12.95 for basic cable (otherwise I would get no TV reception at all). I kind of miss Deadwood and Battlestar Galactica, but I just rent them when they come out on DVD.

I definatley think you need to move out. they way they are 'discriminating' ISN'T RIGHT. Plus it looks like you have it al planned out money wise...and I see that you live in ontario, which make buying fruit and veggies a bit less expensive with the markets and all! I have been able to get buy spending 80-90 bucks on groceries including th healthy stuff...I have reliazed going to food basics at the beginging of th week i can get really good produce!

good luck

I just went to an insurance place, they just needed my postal code, type of car and how long I've had my insurance.

It's amazing the little things that can come up from moving out, but it's SO worth it!!!! I would also say consider getting basic cable, and then download any shows you can't live without. You can find almost anything online these days.

I wish you the best of luck with moving out :)

-Aimee

If we got caught looking at her bills she would shoot us! lol She keeps the cabinet that she keeps her paper work in locked as well.

I don't think we could give up internet or TV, we would go crazy especially living in such a small town, and we would only be getting basic cable, and thats $30.50/mth for 40 channels ($19.95 hook up fee), which is what we want, and internet is $39.95/mth ($9.95 hook up fee) besides I need the internet to finish up 2 of my school courses in september.

I didn't notice where you had a car payment listed. If there is no money owed on the car, you can get liability insurance which is really cheap. My son is 20 yrs. old and has a 1997 jeep wrangler and liability insurance costs him only $30.00 monthly. This would save a lot of money compared to full-coverage insurance. Also, $52.00 a carton for cigarettes is very expensive, have him try to find a generic brand that he likes. They are cheaper, about $22.00 a carton, this is what I get for my DH who smokes.

yeah, internet is a MUST when you are in school...

Okay, advice from someone who moved out with NOTHING:

1) Buy bulk in things that you know you will need. From food to toiletries, etc, if you go through it fast enough, bulk is generally cheaper in the long run.

2) Dollar stores. Seriously, if you have nothing, dollar store stuff doesn't sound quite so bad. When I first moved out on my own, I literally bought 90% of my kitchen stuff and cleaning supplies at the dollar store.

3) Really focus on needs vs wants. If you want something, save for it. If you can't live without it right this minute, rethink and then if you still need it that bad, get it. (Common sense, I know, but apparently I didn't learn that very well when I was younger - it took several months of living off of $25/month for groceries before I realized this)

4) It will be hard. Other days, it will be harder. Eventually it gets better, but the first year is rough.

Car insurance is relatively cheap if you have only liability, depending on the make/model and how new it is. Check out geico.com or other similar sites. They'll give you a good idea of how much it will cost, without having to have them see the vehicle.

Renting a place that has all utilities included is ideal, but may not be possible. I know here, it's harder and harder to find places like that. Make sure you read the fine print - when I moved in here, I didn't realize I'd end up paying the gas/electricity after I'd been here 6 months. Deposits for these are very costly depending on the area.

Check into renting apartments/efficiencies that are furnished. If you can't find any, check out the local Salvation Armys or Goodwill/Secondhand stores.

Good luck!

Check out progressive.com for a car insurance quote. I used to work in the insurance field and it would be much cheaper for you to get a policy instead of your bf if he has a valid license than he can drive your car with no problem. I gave tons of quotes over the phone without ever seeing a car so if you know what type it is you can get a quote. But your insurance is going to be roughly double on your own as what your parents are paying since they have been insured longer are probably getting a multi-car discount and discount for insuring there home also. If you are under twenty five with no tickets or accidents and just want liabiltiy I would guess around $75-100 per month. If your boyfriend insures the same car and is under 25 it probably will be $100+ for liablilty per month. I would highly suggest calling or visiting Progressive.com because that is who we use for all new drivers with no previous policy of their own. If you need full coverage that is going to get expensive $150+ per month. It all depends on area, driving record, credit history, car make and model, your age, ect.... There are 60+ things that figure into a quote so no two are alike. Good luck.

I don't know how much more direct the parents can be in letting you know they want you and your bf to move out, and sounds as if it is time for you to do so.

Reference your budget though... be forewarned. There are going to be a LOT of extra things come up that you are totally unprepared for, and they will not be cheap. Also little things like light bulbs, laundry supplies (or even more if you have to use a coin laundry as they are NOT cheap). Welcome to the real world. You will find there is not going to be someone standing there to give you a couch if you need one or care whether or not there is a door on your bedroom unless YOU make sure it is there or put it there. You're going to want things like curtains and misc. items. You are saying you don't have furniture because they won't give it to you... but planning to spend your $$$ on tattoos and cute pants. Better off to go buy a couch.

It's interesting that you complain because they ate food you bought... because they didn't supply food so you had to buy your own... you expect to be able to eat THEIR food but they should not eat yours?

And yah a lot of utilities included do NOT include such things as water, trash pickup, or other stuff.

I don't agree that the parents are controlling... sounds like they just want their adult son and his girlfriend to find a way to make it on their own, which is a very reasonable request IMO.

Don't mean to sound harsh... but we all have to grow up sometime and can't expect others to support us. I think they have been quite generous.

He doesn't owe anything on the car, his parents bought it and he paid them back, and he doesn't smoke a "name brand" it is a generic brand, and we go the corner store here that sells the carton cheaper, the other corner store is $57 for a carton..

we have been together 4 years, known eachother for 6...so putting up with this kind of stuff is not new, we've put up with alot from them and it just continues to worsen, but they don't see it our way, if we try to talk to them they turn it around and make it all about them, and nothing will ever change. I totally agree that she is controlling, she doesn't even know we have a credit card b/c she won't let her 20 year old son have one, she doesn't know about our cell phones either b/c she would freak out, her daughter is 25 and wants to get married (she lives on her own) but my bf's mom thinks she is "too young and with the wrong guy"...

I already know about bulk and dollar stores! lol I've always planned on buying things from the dollar store lol and when we get to do the groceries here we always buy bulk, and most of the time we choose no name over brand name, I know about saving money, I don't come from a well off family...

I've tried getting an online quote before and I always ended up getting really expensive quotes, once I even got a $500/mth quote for a 1995 neon!!

95% of the apartments here include utilities and a fridge and stove, so we don't have to worry about that.

We have alot of what we would need already, it is just some little things that we would need, and we planned on going garage saling to get some of that (microwave, toaster etc.)

I know how to stretch a dollar, I will admit that one problem I will have is giving up the things I want b/c we can't afford it, but I can do it, I'm not one to buy something I know I can't afford, no matter how badly I want it.

I have estimated our bills to be around $1500-$1600 my bf will make around $1600, if I work 20hrs/wk at min wage I'll make around $500/mth, so my income would pretty much be disposable income.

I tend to agree with Misti in this case. And, as for comparing your treatment to that of your BF's step-sister; don't do it. Clearly, you do not care for her and that is fine. You've made an arrangement with your BF's parents and they have kept their end of the bargain by providing a roof over your heads. What arrangement they make with anyone else is, frankly, none of your business. It doesn't have to be fair - life rarely is. Whether you pay rent or not it is THEIR house and that gives them the right to set the ground rules. Let me assure you, it is a much bigger inconvenience for them to have grown children and their SO others living in their home than it is for you to put up with them while you are there. I love my children and they will never be without a place to live as long as I have one BUT that doesn't mean I don't want them to give their best effort to growing up and moving out.

If you do choose to move out (and I think that is a good idea given how you feel about your current situation) I would strongly suggest that you re-think considering your income as "disposable." You should be saving as much as you can for whatever might come up. You want to be prepared, for instance, if the car needs a repair. Then there will be tags and registration, inspection stickers, oil changes, tire rotations and replacements...and that is JUST THE CAR! Nevermind, day to day life and (gasp!) retirement. Once you are out on your own life is going to come at you really fast. And that is okay, as long as you are PREPARED. Ideally, you should have enough money in the bank to cover at least 6 months of living expenses in case of an emergency (what if one of you loses your job? It happens to people everyday, and often to people who least deserve it. Like I said, life isn't always fair).

To that end, I would suggest you go to work full time whether you HAVE to or not. I know people who are single, with children, and are full time students who still manage to work full time (different jobs at different companies, with flexible hours) so I know it can be done. Unless there is a REALLY good reason you aren't working full time you probably should be. At least until you've been out on your own for a while and know for sure that the budget you've made for yourself is really going to work. Take it from a SAHM mom of three children with years of exeprience in accounting, your budget on paper is an important starting point but it isn't necessarily going to reflect "real" life expenses (no matter how much thought you've put into it).

I dont know how many times I have to say it, THEY WANT US HERE!!!! Their not doing this to try and make us move out, they have said a million and one times they WANT US HERE, they dont want us to move out, they don't think were ready, she has stopped us SOOOO many times from trying move out.

The only reason she isn't paying is b/c 'she is joe's daughter' which is bull, if we pay, she pays! They wanted $50/wk out of me working part time, she is working full time, she can afford it, their so hard up for money, and she will be using just as many or MORE resources than us, and if she doesn't pay, we'll be the ones paying for it b/c when their bills go up instead of making her pay they'll come after us.

I never said that just b/c my bf will make enough to pay the bills that I would just go out and blow my money on crap, I'm not stupid, I'll be saving it, I know emergencies are going to happen and that we need to have money in the bank saved for those emergencies. Sayings it is disposable was an expression, meaning that my bf will make just enough to pay the bills, so my income will be used for other things, such as emergency bills, savings, or occasionally when we can afford it, a nice night out or a new CD, or whatever.

I will be working full time if I get this babysitting job that I'm talking to a family about right now, I live in a SMALL town with MAYBE 2500 people, there isn't much to choose from so its take what you can get, and I don't have my G2 yet so I can't drive on my own, which means I can't drive to the other town (where I used to live, thats bigger) to work, besides that would cost more on gas. I've been taking out resumes ALL the time, I can't help it if I don't get calls about any of them, right now Im working one day a week b/c thats ALL there is. If we both work in town here, which is ideal, that means we will spend less on gas, and if we can't afford it at all, of if we can't afford it right away, we won't need the car since we will be able to walk/bike to work.

Why don't you guys move to a bigger town?

I would also suggest waiting tables as a lucrative part time job. I made enough money waiting tables to completely pay for my last two years of college (rent, utilities, car/renters insurance, tuition, books, etc). I wasn't working in a fancy place either, just a Mexican chain.

I lived with my Mother and my step father from age 9-20. My mom had another child with my step father when I was 10 - a little girl and I love her to pieces but I leanred that life is not fair and it is not worth having all these resentments - it is VERY hard to watch my 10 year old sister be allowed to do all the things I was never allowed. But you have to let it slide, is it REALLY that important? When I was 10, I had to go to bed at 8:30, I wasn't allowed to have sleep overs, when I was 15 I wasn't supposed to go the mall by myself, when I was 20 I have to be home by 10pm, etc. Here she is 10 years old allowed to do all the things I couldn't do even at 20 (they like her home a little before 10). I KNOW what it feels like it, but that is life. There is no point letting it bother you, there is so many more important things then silly little things like that.

WHO CARES that she doesn't have to pay rent. She isn't you and in the end you will turn out better then her because you were taught resonsibility. I always said to my parents, "but so and so doesn't have to the clean the house, and they are allowed to have sleep overs, and they are allowed to go to the mall, they are allowed to do this and that, etc, etc" I was always told "I don't care about so and so!" And I was always so mad and compared myself to every once and was always so angry and spent too many years being mad about this kind of thing, ITS NOT WORTH IT!

Don't worry about stupid things, your 19 enjoy it! You are learning responsibility and she isn't. In the long run you will be better off!

Trixie, I'm not suggesting your BF's mother and step-father WANT you there. I said it about my own children, if they need my support at ANY age I will WANT to give it to them. If they aren't financially ready to move out I wouldn't push them. That doesn't mean it wouldn't be a sacrifice to have them there at that stage of our lives.

I've been where you are. My husband and I moved in with my parents when we built our first house. It was a supposed 3-6 month process that, because of weather, turned into 9 months. My parents were very happy to help us. They were very accomodating. We did disrupt their lifestyles though. Because of that, we had an obligation to do certain things their way - whether we agreed with them or not. Our other option, like you, would have been to get our own apartment.

Living in their home means you are going to have to tolerate certain decisions that are THEIRS to make - like whether or not your BF's step sister could or should pay to be there. Rent doesn't buy you the right to call the shots. That is true even when you aren't related to the landlords.

What I'm trying to say is that you should be sure your decision to move out is a financially responsible one rather than driven by your dislike of your BF's step sister and his parent's decisions regarding her - because you probably aren't going to be able to change either one. And, if you can tolerate both for just a little while you should be able to save enough money to move out with a bit more stability in a relatively small amount of time. And that would not only be better for you but your BF's mother wouldn't have to worry about whether or not you are ready.

The point is that she doesn't have to pay b/c she is his daughter, he is favoring her, which is wrong. I have a 10 year old brother, who is aloud to do alot of what I wasn't at his age as well, but things are alot different in my family than they were when I was 10, I dont think its right and my parents are the ones who are paying for it now, he wasn't disiplined so now thinks he can get away with anything, and usually does. If they were charging rent to teach us responsibility it would be a whole different story, but thats not why they do it, they are drowning in debt, and having her out here will make it worse, I realize it costs more to have us here, and room and board is fine, even though I think $50/wk is a bit much for someone working part time, but she is working full time and she won't try to save money by turning off the lights, or turning down the air conditioner when its not so hot outside, she won't care, so it will cost them more to have her here, and we will be the ones who get the backlash, they will come after us for money b/c joe won't allow my bf's mom to go after his daughter, he will blame it all on us, my bf's mom won't stand up him. so its not really that 'oh its not fair boo who' its that were going to suffer when its costing them more to have her here.

Yup. That is how it is my house, my little sister is favoured because she is his daughter. But when it comes down to it, this isn't your family, it's his and if he has a problem with it then he needs to talk to them. You can't let it bother you because it's not worth the trouble. You really need to drop it and forget about it, just smile.

Fair enough that you can't afford $50/wk but it really isn't very much. BUT your are not their daughter, so it is totally fair (IMO) that you should pay rent. She is his daughter so he can do whatever he wants with her. Even if you don't like them, they have given you a place to live and they really DON'T HAVE to do that. Asking you for $50/wk really isn't a lot.