I’m being cheated on for charging my kids rent – some say they’re too young
A mother has taken the internet by storm with her controversial decision to charge his children rent.
Samantha Bird, 30, found herself spiraling into debt and is on a mission to ensure her children don’t suffer the same fate.
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Hoping to give her children a head start when they grow up, Samantha has Simon, Jonah and Asher, nine, eight and six respectively, pay “sham bills.”
Each week the children are given an allowance of $6 (£4.76), of which $1 (79p) is expected to go towards their expenses, a further $1 for groceries and a final $1 for utilities.
The children receive their money by doing chores during the week and can keep track of everything through workbooks that their mother has created.
The insurance representative of HollandMichigan, USA said: “Once a week we sit down with the boys to check our financial records, take out their workbooks and wallets and then talk about a financial literacy.
“We charge our kids rent for a few reasons. I want them to have self-control when it comes to their money and to be able to control their spending.
After years of trying to get her financial life in order, Samantha is steadfast in trying to ensure that her children are better prepared for adulthood than she is.
The 30-year-old realizes her kids are still young, so she makes sure they know they’re saving for a treat and makes it as fun as possible.
The workbook created for them is divided into six sections: earning, saving, spending, giving, investing and spending.
She uploaded a video on TikTok she showed off her parenting technique and it was viewed more than seven million times, with many parents taking the advice and doing similar things.
However, not everyone was so positive about their feedback.
Some parents have taken the comments, and sometimes her private messages, to heart to let her know that what she is doing is wrong and that she should just let her kids be kids.
One TikTok user said: “Just let kids be kids!”
While a second added: “They are way too you to do stuff like this, just leave them alone!”
Samantha did joke that her children won’t be evicted if they don’t pay rent for a month.
The negative feedback hasn’t stopped her from helping families around the world.
She said: ‘My husband and I found ourselves seriously in debt and not in good financial health.
We charge our kids rent for a few reasons. I want them to have self-control when it comes to their money and to be able to manage their expenses
Samantha Vogel
“It took us years to get our financial lives in order and get ourselves out of the hole we were in.
“Because of this experience, I really wanted to make sure my kids could avoid this as much as possible.
“Once a week we sit down with the boys to have our money date.
“Then we take out their workbooks and wallets, discuss a financial skill for the week and hand out their pocket money.
“They receive this for doing chores during the week, and then budget it depending on the goals they are working on.
“So many parents have told me they’re going to try it with their kids, or that they wish their own parents would teach them similar things.
“A lot of people really don’t like it and want to let my children be children. It’s been a heated debate in the comments of my videos for weeks.
“It was great to see so many parents investing in their children’s finances future.”
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