Have her sign a lease like any renter - it gives you both rights, and establishes a beginning point for tracking any and all reciepts/expenses. Possession is really more than 9/10ths of the law - once she gives you money in good faith, it really is yours, and she has no legal right in the matter, once a written agreement is signed. When she turned 18, you became less mother/daughter, and more roommates. Splitting all expenses right down the middle is not too much to ask, even all bills such as mortgage and food/utilities. She is absolutely free as an adult to seek a "better deal" elsewhere, if she can find it. In any case, don't ever get upset about her attempts to manipulate you, and don't ever hold it against her . . . having to become an adult is most often the worst day of anyone's life, so it is natural to attempt to prolong that day, and even panic and get angry when it happens. By staying cool now, it will make the return to a mother/daughter relationship sooner and easier.

This is a really tricky one. On the one hand, a parent doesn't usually expect a minor child to pay rent or bills. On the other, you have taken care of her for 18 years. She is 18 now and needs to learn how to be a responsible adult, i.e., taking care of oneself and paying bills. Nothing in life is free after all. You might just explain to her that if she doesn't help out with the bills until you get back to work, you will BOTH be without a roof over your heads or food on the table. If she doesn't want to help or pay her share at least. . .let her go out and try to support herself. It sounds like you have enough to worry about. If she wants to remain living with you, then tell her she must abide by your rules and she must pay her share The bottom line is, we are all responsible for ourselves. At this point, financially anyways, you are not her safety net and she is not yours. She can complain all she wants that she wants her money back, but it doesn't mean she will get it. . .tell her you want 18 years of money back for all you have spent raising her and see how she likes that. I bet that is a much higher amount than what she is currently helping with. Of course temper such comments with love, you are her mother after all. Tell her you would never ask for a dime back of what you have spent raising her because having her in your life has been worth every penny. Let her know you wouldn't ask her to help out unless you absolutely had to. I have no idea what you are saying to her that gets her back up, so this is harder to answer than it appears. If (I said IF) you are prone to nag, try backing off a bit to keep the peace. And don't let her walk all over you. . .it is your house and you are the parent. Gosh, I don't know what else to tell you except good luck. I hope this helps and I hope your hard times are over soon. Hang in there :)

Do your best to get another job asap so you don't have to rely on her. There was no agreement of a "loan" so she is not entitled to any money back. You could always come back with set amounts of rent, utilities, etc. If she wants to continue living there she should expect to at least help out. She's using emotional blackmail to manipulate you. Set some limits but remember: as a paying renter she has rights. You'll both have to respect each other.

Remind her of the fact that she should and would be paying rent and bills if she lived anywhere besides home and that she's lucky she doesn't have to. Asking her to help out because you've hit some hard times isn't too much to ask and she's behaving like a child by doing this sort of thing. Maybe it's time she get her own place - let her realize how much money actually goes to the bills and rent, and maybe she'll be more understanding about helping you out.

Tell her to leave.

Tell her to pack her sorry ass and bags and get the hell out.

teach her the harsh lesson of "Easy come, easy go" with no refunds baby!

make her move out, i bet that will change her attitude...

smack the spoilt bitch. seriously, how did you let your daughter end up that spoilt? my mum was making me pay rent when i was 15 cos i was working and i never complained a bit.

my sister went through the same with her son....don't give it back,its not a loan, and give her a 30 days to find her own place.... she feels she is paying your bills....she doesn't have any:) why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free, FROM YOUR MOM:)

its way too late, seems like you spoilt the child and are now paying the price 18 is not necessarily too late but it will be damn hard to put her in place you need a family meeting to bring some home truths, what you say is down to you, now you have plenty of time to plan an agenda, good luck my friend ...you need it:)

I would tell her to get out of the house.

I would tell her fine you want your money back. Find your own place to live. Your not going to live here for free anymore. It's time to grow up and learn responsability and if you don't want to learn it the way I'm trying to teach you... get out and teach yourself.

She might just be stuck in the mind set of a child who is taken care of and not understand what supporting herself means. Try to calmly explain to her exactly how much it costs to maintain the home you share and that while you understand that its an adjustment but she has to grow up and start helping out with out the attitude if shes going to live with you. Explain that its hurtful to you that she demands her money back, you don't owe her anything if she is paying to help maintain the place that she lives. For her sake as well as your own she should be told that her attitude is unacceptable.

Personally I would slap in her in the mouth. That is your daughter that you brought in the world. She should do without question and not asked any back. Kids now a day are so selfish.

TELL HER IN A NICE VOICE TO GET ALL HER THINGS OUT HER ROOM BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO RENT IT AND IF SHE WANTS SHE CAN STAY IN THE GARAGE. ONLY BUY ENOUGH FOOD FOR YOURSELF OR JUST DON'T BUY FOOD AND GO OUT AND EAT. I'M SORRY BUT I DO FEEL ITS YOUR FAULT FOR NOT BRINGING HER UP WITH THE IDEA THAT YOU GUYS NEEDED TO HELP ONE ANOTHER OUT.

Put your foot down or she will grow up to be one of thoes bitchy house wives that thinks she doesnt need to contribute in any way

kick her out on the street she is 18

TELL HER U RAISED HER PUT TEH CLOTHES ON HER BACK FED HER A MEAL EVERYDAY,MADE SURE SHE GOT BETTER WHEN SHE WAS SICK ,HELP HER MAKE HER 1ST STEPS AND WISH HER 1ST WORDS WOULD BE MOMMA AFTER ALL THAT U CANT HELP ME KEEP A ROOF OVER OUR heads.....OUR HEADS??!!!!!!!! I DONT KNOW WERE THE NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM YOU CAN GO SHOPPING.......YOU KNOW WHAT U CAN GO LIVE IN THE MALL COME BACK WHEN U HAVE COMMON SENSE AND LOSE YOUR JOB BECAUSE WITH THAT ATTITUDE KARMA WILL HIT U HARD(TOUGH LOVE) MY MOM GETS ME WITH THAT ALL THE TIME AFTER WORDS YOU TO SIT DOWN OR WHEN EVERYTHING MELLOWS OUT COMPROMISE WITH HER GIVE HER AN AULLTIMATIUM .GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS.

In all honestly if you need the money horribly and she knows it she will use it as leverage, if your not that desperate about it kick her to the curb because after 18 years of supporting her she can;t give you a hand then she's failed as a compassionate human being.

First of all she lives with you. I feel when someone turns 18 of age, they should at least help out some. You took 18 years to care for her, asking nothing of her. If she is using your bad situation to throw it up in your face, I would do all I could to find a job and kick her butt out on her own. I know people fuss, but helping loved ones out isn't supposed to be thrown up in their face. We are supposed to do good deeds because we want to.

Try and find a new job as soon as possible so that you can comfortably stop relying on your child to support you. Your daughter lacks the maturity to understand the financial crisis you both are going through. Try and reason with her, but do not demand anything from her. As soon as you get a new job, treat her like an adult. Explain to her that due to the circumstances you will have to rent a room, and since she is old enough to have a job she can start to pay for her own place (how convenient for her). She will also stop living under the same room as you and she will not have to obey you at all. It might sound appealing to her to leave the nest for independence. Rent the extra room, pay for yourself. She might argue that just because you brought her into this world, that does not mean that she has a responsibility to feed you, clothe you, or pay for expenses even if that seems the right thing to do. I disagree with some users that suggest that you literally slap her. I'm sure your circumstances right now aren't as black and white as people make them to be. Best of luck in your search for a new job.

Tough one but it all depends on what you say to her. Maybe she feels uncomfortable living there and wants her money back

Tell this spoiled brat that if she can live any cheaper to MOVE OUT ; BUT that as long as she lives in your home, she WILL pay and help out like a RESPONSIBLE adult should ... Do NOT give any $$$$ back ! +5

id tell her to gtfo. No questions needed no questions asked. You can go into dept or go on the street, but it will help ur daughter more than u.

My personal belief she need her her butt beat and reminded all you did for her. Children should do with out question. For her to do that to you, is un-called for. If you can I would move with another family member until you are to get back on your feet, tell her to hit the streets.

I think it's disgusting how people are calling her a spoiled brat. It seems like the only reason you have an issue with her is because you got laid off and that's the only reason you want her to help out. Of course she's going to react to that. It makes it seem like you are taking HER money away from her just because YOU got laid off. If you left her alone before this, what reaction did you expect to get? If you hate your daughter that much, just tell her to move out.

Tell her that she is 18 and that she's considered an adult and to start acting like it... you are now laid off you need her help with things that it would be helpful if she could pay some of the bill