A mum has sparked a debate with her controversial decision to charge her kids rent.
Samantha Bird wanted to give Simon, nine, Jonah, eight, and Asher, six, a head start on adulthood after her own experience going into debt.
So, she makes them pay ‘mock bills’ with their weekly allowance.
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Yep, the 30-year-old gives them $6 (£4.76) a week and then expects them to spend $1 (79p) of that on expenses, $1 towards groceries and a final $1 on utilities.
The three lads get their cash through weekly chores and have their own workbooks to keep on track of their cash. Might as well put them in a suit and tie and hand them a briefcase at this point.
The American explains: “Once a week we sit down with the boys to do our money data, get out their workbooks and wallets then talk through a financial skill.
“We charge our kids rent for a few reasons, I want them to know self-control when it comes to their money and want them to manage their expenses.”
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She obviously understands they’re only kids and tries to make it all as fun as possible.
Plus, Bird says the lads know they’re saving for a ‘treat’. But that’s not stopped other parents slamming her decision to charge the children.
She shared a TikTok showing the parenting technique, racking up millions of views. And while some praised the advice and started similar methods, others hit out: “Just let kids be kids!”
Another added: “They’re way too you to be doing stuff like this, just leave them be!”
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Bird jokingly added that her kids obviously don’t get evicted for not paying rent.
And she explained more about why she does it: “My husband and I ended up severely in debt and not financially sound. It took us years to get our financial life in order and dig ourselves out of the hole we were in.
“Because of this experience, I really wanted to ensure that my kids could avoid as much of that as possible.”
Each week, the boys sit down with their workbooks, talk through a financial skill and budget their allowances.
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“So many parents have been telling me they’re going to try it with their kids or that they wish their own parents taught them similar things,” Bird added.
“A lot of folks really don’t like it and want to let my kids be kids, it’s been a heated debate in the comments of my videos for weeks now.
“It’s been great to see so many parents investing in their children’s financial future.”
Jess Battison