sonA mother has sparked debate by charging her seven-year-old son rent and bills, raising questions about financial responsibility.
A mother from the United States has ignited a lively debate online after sharing her parenting method: charging her seven-year-old son rent and bills.
This approach has gained attention on TikTok.
The mother explained that it effectively teaches her child about responsibility and money management.
The mum charges seven-year-old son rent and bills
The mother introduced this “parenting hack” about two months ago, claiming it has positively impacted her household.
She has set up a system where her son can earn money by completing daily tasks.
For every chore he finishes, he receives $1.
These tasks include simple responsibilities like brushing his teeth, making his bed, and putting away his dirty clothes.
If he struggles with certain tasks, she adds them to his list for the following week to encourage improvement.
At the end of each month, seven-year-old son faces the reality of having bills to pay.
According to his mother, he is responsible for paying rent, electricity, and internet costs associated with his room.
Specifically, he pays $5 for rent, $2 for electricity, and another $2 for Wi-Fi.
This system allows him to understand how his earnings are divided into “fun money” and “bill money.”
After paying his expenses, he ends up with $21 to spend on whatever he chooses.
“At the end of the month, he realizes that he has bills to pay. My son pays those bills to me,” she said.
“He has his rent, he has electricity for his room and he also has his internet for his iPad.
He then understands that throughout the month he has two buckets. My son has his fun money and his bill money,” the mother said.
Mother-of-one affirms she deposits all the money directly into son’s savings account
The mother explains that she does not keep any of the money. Instead, she deposits it straight into his savings account.
She believes this practice teaches him the value of a dollar as well as the importance of managing finances.
She expressed her satisfaction with the results, hoping to inspire other parents to adopt similar methods.
“I don’t do anything with his money but put it right back in his savings account.
It has taught him the value of a dollar and responsibility.
“I am so pleased with the results, hopefully, it’s something that can help you out as well,” she said in a viral video.
Although she said they haven’t had any issues with her son missing payments, she is open to discussing it if needed.
She believes she might extend the deadline and address the situation later.
Mom’s parenting divides opinions
While many viewers praised her approach, others criticized it as excessive for a child so young.
Some commenters questioned whether children should be burdened with such responsibilities at seven years old.
A few pointed out that childhood should be a time for play and exploration, not for worrying about bills.
They argued that financial education can wait until children are older and better able to comprehend the implications of money management.
On the other hand, several supporters of the mother’s method emphasized the importance of teaching financial literacy from a young age.
Many schools do not teach important lessons about budgeting and saving money.
Because of this, parents need to take the responsibility of teaching their children these skills.