A mom has stirred up the internet after revealing she charges her 18-year-old daughter $90 a month to help cover household bills. While some applaud her approach, others are calling it downright unfair.
The debate is set against the backdrop of the UK’s ongoing cost-of-living crisis. With inflation hitting the highest rates since the 1980s and energy bills skyrocketing, many families are struggling to make ends meet. A recent study by PWC found that 86% of people are worried about daily living costs, with over half saying they’re “very concerned.”
In these challenging times, counting every penny has become the norm, and some parents, like this mom, are asking their kids to pitch in.
Posting on Mumsnet, a popular British parenting site, the mom explained her reasoning. Her daughter, who recently turned 18, used to work at a supermarket, earning $1,000 a month and providing the family with discounts on groceries. But after a fallout with her manager, she quit her job on the spot. Now, with a new job lined up at a fast-food restaurant, the daughter will be earning less—around $625 a month.
To make up for the lost grocery discounts and rising bills, the mom decided to increase her daughter’s monthly contribution from $60 to $90. The decision didn’t go over well.
“She lashed out at me and said it’s not fair,” the mom wrote. “She thinks I’m penalizing her for switching jobs and being mean. But I don’t think $90 is unreasonable, especially since she can still save money.”
The mom turned to the Mumsnet community for advice, asking, “Am I being unreasonable?”
Opinions were split.
Some users criticized the mom, arguing that charging kids for rent or bills is unnecessary. “I’ll never understand parents who make their children pay rent,” one commenter wrote. “You’re a parent, not a landlord.”
Others rallied behind her, calling the daughter’s reaction entitled. “What a brat,” one user said. “I paid £200 ($250) a month almost 25 years ago!” Another chimed in: “£75 a month is a steal. She couldn’t live anywhere else for that price.”
One commenter even suggested a practical approach: “Sit her down with the bills and let her work out a fair contribution. She might realize £75 is actually generous.”
So, what’s your take? Is this mom teaching a valuable lesson in responsibility, or is she being too harsh? Share your thoughts and let the debate continue!
