‘I’m charging my kids rent when they turn five - they have to be independent’

“I’m gonna try and teach them financial skills … they'll more likely save and put a deposit down.”

A single mother has been slammed online for insisting she would start charging her daughter rent as soon as she turns five years old.

Nikita had her first child when she was 17 years old, dropping out of school to care for her child. 

Now 22 years old, the single mother recently welcomed another child into the world and decided it was time they learned essential things she missed out on as a kid, including how to be financially independent. 

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The British mum divided the internet with her controversial" parenting rules. Picture: nikita_shakira4/TikTok

“Yes, I will be charging my five-year-old rent”

Nikita recently took to TikTok to share the “controversial” rules she plans to share with her children, who are four years old and four months old, respectively. 

Some of the rules in the 22yo’s list included making the kids “do chores around the house” and making sure their “shoes [are] off at the door”. 

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She insisted her kids will “have to learn to cook”, and once they reach 12 years old, “they have to cook a family dinner at least once a week”.

While a few on the list weren’t too out of the ordinary, people raised their eyebrows seeing the first item on the list: “You have to pay rent after five”.

In a later video, she confirmed that she would, in fact, be charging her children “rent” from the age of five. 

However, she believed it was purely for educational purposes. 

“Yes, I will be charging my five-year-old rent,” she said in the clip. She explained that her two children “are gonna do chores throughout the week and will get a set amount of money at the end of the week”. 

“They'll pay a set amount for water, a set amount for electric, a set amount for gas, a set amount for rent,” she added. While she predicted it wouldn’t be a lot of money, “probably only gonna be like £1 (A$2)” per bill, it was enough to help out the family. 

“The rest they can keep and spend however they like,” she continued. “They can put it into savings, they can go to the shop, buy sweets, whatever.” 

Her initial TikTok was met with a wave of criticism, with many wondering how a parent could expect such things from a child. Some labelled the move “ridiculous” and “cruel”. 

“I get them all but the rent one!” a person wrote. “Rent at 5???” another wondered. “Pls tell me this is a joke.”

“The rent at five is crazy,” a teen added. “I'm 17 with a job my mum still doesn't charge me rent or take ANY money away from me.”

RELATED: I make my 16yo nephew pay rent ... his mum says it’s OK but others say I’m cruel

“I actually love this idea!”

In a shocking twist, she revealed that the money she was charging her kids wouldn’t actually contribute to the rent or bills. 

“The money that they give to me, I will be putting into a savings account for them, for when they're older,” she said in the follow-up video. “I'm gonna try and teach them financial skills.” 

Her plan was simple: deduct the money from her kids’ pocket money, and rather than put it towards the bills, she’d put the money into a savings account. 

“They can use this money however they like when they're older,” she explained. “To get a house, to get a car, whatever they like.”

She argued it also be a great way to save money on toys down the line. “Instead of me just saying no for toys at the shop, he'll have his own money,” Nikita said. “If he wants something bigger, then he'll use those financial skills to save and get it. Not just get what they want.” 

The mum-of-two believes the rules would be beneficial when they’re older, too. “They'll more likely save and put a deposit down,” she said. 

After revealing her real plan, some fans started changing their tune. “That's actually really smart, you'll be teaching them some very important financial skills and the difficulties that come along with it,” a person wrote. “Well done.” 

One person commented: “I think that’s a fantastic idea!” 

“I actually love this idea!” a mum shared. “Too many people start renting and panic at suddenly having so many expenses.” 

“They are never too young to learn the value of money and financial literacy and responsibility,” another parent agreed. “The world is changing and sadly, times are hard. When they are teenagers, they will have money sense.” 

But not everyone was convinced. 

“I don’t think this is a bad idea, but I just hate the thought of my kid paying bills sooner than they need to cos I absolutely HATE paying bills,” a mum wrote. 

“Did your mum make you pay any money at five? Ridiculous!” another commented. “Ridiculous, let them be kids while they can,” someone chimed in. 

Originally published as ‘I’m charging my kids rent when they turn five - they have to be independent’