Mum reveals why she makes her five-year-old daughter pay rent
A mother has revealed she makes her five-year-old daughter pay rent in a Facebook post which has gone viral.
Essence Evans, from Georgia, US, took to social media to explain her little girl’s fiscal situation, and why she’s charging the five-year-old to live at home.
“Every week she gets $7 dollars in allowance,” Ms Evans writes.
“But I explained to her that in the real world most people spend most of their paycheck on bills with little to spend on themselves.”
The mum explains she makes the little girl give $5 back. That’s “$1 for rent $1 for water $1 for electricity $1 for cable and $1 for food”.
“The other $2 she gets to save or do what she wants with,” Ms Evans writes.
While it might seem unusual and possibly harsh to charge a child to pay to live at home – Ms Evans explained her reasoning and she’s received praise for her plan.
“Now, what she doesn't know is the $5 is actually going away in her savings account which I will give back to her when she turns 18,” she writes.
“So, if she decides to move out on her own she will have $3,380 to start off. This strategy not only prepares your child for the real world. But when they see how much real bills are they will appreciate you for giving them a huge discount.”
Ms Evans’s idea has been praised by some. She’s encouraged mums to share the post and it’s been shared more than 310,000 times.
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“My kids would get their allowance on Monday and had to save $2 for church and Sunday school. This helped them to learn to save,” one mum commented.
“Mother of the year award goes to you,” another said.
But others have argued the little girl doesn’t understand the concept of money yet.
“Maybe think about this from age 12-13,” one user suggested.
“What’s next? Charging her every time she goes in the car so she learns about cab fares? Charging her for meals but making sure she leaves 10 per cent as a top? Seriously. Let her have a childhood,” another said.
