Remember when you were akidand being an adult seemed like the dream? You’d be living your best life, no curfews, doing whatever you wanted. Then, bam, adulthood hits, and suddenly you’re buried under a mountain of bills and responsibilities, daydreaming about nap times and snack breaks. Oh, the irony.
For one 18-year-old, the harsh reality of “adulting” is about to hit her like a ton of bricks. Hermomis asking her to cough up £400 a month in rent while she’s taking a gap year. Let’s just say this daughter isn’t exactly thrilled about this unexpected crash course in adulthood.
More info:Mumsnet
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One 18-year-old is learning this the hard way, as her mom asks her to pay £400 a month in rent during her gap year
Image credits:shurkin_son / Freepik (not the actual photo)
Despite contributing to household chores, the daughter argues the rent is too steep, making it hard for her to save enough to move out
Image credits:Colin Watts / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits:mangomel
Mom asks if she’s being unreasonable to ask her 18-year-old daughter to pay £400 in rent while she lives at home in her gap year
We can imagine the dramatic sighs and eye-rolls, paired with some classic “but moooom!” whining. But this daughter’s got her defense lined up, too. Apparently, she’s already doing “all” the cooking and cleaning so, in her mind, that should count toward the rent.
On top of that, she’s convinced that with this extra dent in her wallet, she’ll never be able to save up and get out of thehouse. Mom, on the other hand, is sticking to her guns, saying this is a necessary step in teaching financial responsibility. Bills don’t pay themselves, after all. We’ve already checked.
Now, while this little rent spat might seem like your standard family drama, maybe toss in a slammed door or two, it raises a bigger question: Should parents be charging their adult kids rent? And if so, what’s a fair price before they start googling “cheap cardboard boxes to live in”?
Experts in the world of adulting, akafinancial advisors, say charging rent can be a solid strategy to teach young adults some much-needed money management skills. You know, the stuff we all could’ve used back when we thought balancing a checkbook was some sort of circus trick.
But they also stress the importance of setting a reasonable rent. Some experts even suggest researching the cost of renting a room in a shared house, with bills and food included, just to show your kid how good they’ve got it.
Image credits:Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Of course, every family situation is different, so it’s important to have a sit-down chat that doesn’t end in a door slam. Set some ground rules about why the rent is necessary and where the money’s going—hopefully not all toward avocado toast.
Parentsshould make sure they’re not putting unnecessary pressure on their kids, especially if they’re still trying to get their financial footing or save up for theirown place. And that’s exactly the 18-year-old’s concern here.
The daughter’s made it crystal clear: she thinks her mom is being unreasonable for asking her to fork over £400 a month. Her big argument? She’s already pulling her weight around the house, slaving away over the stove, doing dishes, and probably folding the never-ending pile of laundry.
What do you think of this story? Is the mom being unreasonable to charge her daughter £400 for rent, or does the daughter need to step up and pay her fair share? Let us know in the comment section.
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