A MUM has shared how she makes her teenage daughters pay rent to stay in their own “apartments” at home.
Taja went all out to make her girls their own spaces, complete with doorbell, welcome mat, numbers on the door, a “seasonal” wreath and a letter box.
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But staying in the self-contained room doesn’t come cheap, and the girls are made to pay rent every week.
However, Taja explained in a video on her TikTok page that the only reason she does so is because the kids are listed as employees in her company, and therefore get a salary into their accounts on a weekly basis.
And in the clip, she showed a whiteboard with all the costs they have to cover with their wage.
“This is their bills,” Taja said.
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“They have to pay £3.75 ($5) every week for rent and another £3.75 ($5) every week for utilities.”
They also have to put £7.50 into their savings account, with all the money due by 9pm on a Friday night.
“If they do not have it paid by 9.01, their first notice is no phone for 24 hours and they have to pay an extra dollar,” she added.
“Second notice is no phone for three days, and five dollars.
“And the third notice is eviction.”
Another thing Taja can do as their “landlord” is to inspect their apartments at any point.
“Random inspections can happen anytime,” she explained.
“The first notice they get 24 hours to clean it, the second notice they get no phone for two days and the third notice is no phone for a week.”
Taja also said that she’s been trying to get them to do “extra chores” but that was “not happening”.
“But do they do their extra chores?” she sighed.
“Absolutely not.”
Taja’s setup for her kids divided opinion in the comments section, with one writing: “How can you make your children pay bills when it is your responsibility as a parent to take care of them?
More parenting hacks
IF you want to make your life easier as a first-time mum, here’s nine hacks you won’t want to miss.
1. Routine Charts
Create visual charts for daily routines. Use pictures and stickers to make them engaging for younger children.
2. Meal Planning
Plan meals a week in advance to save time and reduce stress. Involve your children in meal prep to teach them cooking skills.
3. Toy Rotation
Keep a portion of toys stored away and rotate them periodically. This keeps playtime fresh and exciting without the need for constant new purchases.
4. DIY Cleaning Solutions
Make child-safe cleaning solutions using vinegar and baking soda. It’s effective and keeps harsh chemicals away from little hands.
5. Time-Out Jar
Create a time-out jar filled with calming activities written on slips of paper. When emotions run high, children can pick an activity to help them settle down.
6. Educational Apps
Utilise educational apps and websites to make screen time productive. Look for ones that offer interactive learning in subjects your child is interested in.
7. Command Centre
Set up a family command centre with a calendar, key hooks, and a bulletin board. It helps keep everyone organised and aware of daily schedules.
8. Emergency Kit
Keep a small emergency kit in the car with essentials like snacks, water, first aid supplies, and a change of clothes. It’s a lifesaver for unexpected situations.
9. Label Everything
Use labels for clothes, school supplies, and lunch boxes. It makes it easier to keep track of belongings, especially in shared spaces like schools.
“I understand if they were adult children but they are not!”
“Dang you gotta keep it clean 24hrs?” another added.
“That’s unreasonable – especially when they are paying rent…in apartments you have a heads up!”
However, others insisted she was doing the right thing by asking her kids to pay for their accommodation.
“Setting kids up for success,” one wrote.
“Such a neat idea!” another added.
“Oh my God, I think this is an amazing idea when they pay the rent,” a third commented.
“I would definitely put their money in like a bank account to save for them for like college or when they turn 18.”
“This is GENIUS,” someone else said.
“Those kids will be independent and successful because of you momma! I am inspired!! Good job mama!!”
“What a creative way to teach them to be responsible,” another added.
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