my folks were on very low incomes so, on my 16th birthday, i went onto youth allowance. from that day, i paid board when i was staying at home. when i went away to uni, i paid my own way, so if i went home for a "holiday" from uni, i paid a token amount towards food and stuff, but over summer when i was there full time again, i paid board. i think i paid a "per day" amount cos i used to stay with my bro sometimes and would give him money if i was staying there. worked out to about 10bucks a day