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A mother’s post about making her five-year-old pay rent has gone viral, and caused a fiery online debate.
Essence Evans took to Facebook to explain her parenting decision.
‘I MAKE MY 5-YEAR-OLD PAY RENT. Every week she gets $7 dollars in allowance,’ she starts. ‘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.
‘So I make her give me $5 dollars back. $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.’
Evans also reveals that the money her daughter gives back to her is going into a savings account that will be released to her when she turns 18.
‘So if she decides to move out on her own she will have $3,380 to start off,’ she explained.
Mum’s everywhere were praising this clever thinking!
‘What a good idea,’ one commenter wrote.
Another added, ‘I had to pay rent when I was 13. It did not hurt me. Great lesson.’
It wasn’t all praise though, some parents considered the lesson rather harsh.
‘It’s a little tough,’ one wrote.
While another quipped, ‘Kids don’t need that kind of stress.’
The post has been liked over 200,000 times, and has lots talking!
This article originally appeared on New Idea.
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