As the cost of living crisis continues to bite and more and more people are hit in the pocket, one woman sought advice online after her 18-year-old daughter refused to contribute towards bills despite having more 'disposable cash' than her mum. The dilemma sparked a huge debate online.
Taking to social media, the woman claims that, after finishing college, the daughter earns more than £800 a month working at a popular supermarket. According to the mum, and reported by the Mirror, the job features a variety of perks including receiving discounted prices on food shopping. However, she says the teen has refused to contribute money towards bills despite having more 'disposable cash' than her.
She explained: "My daughter is 18. She finished college last year and is taking some time to decide what she wants to do, etc. Since August she's worked at a well-known supermarket, earning just a bit above minimum wage and about 30 hours a week. Her employer gave her a staff discount card for a family member as well as herself which was saving me quite a bit on the shopping. I still charged her £50 a month which I think is reasonable, considering she has been earning around 800 a month. She has more disposable cash than me".
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She continued: "Last week she decided to quit her job, she had a falling out with her manager and quit on the spot, she says she hated it there, etc etc. To be fair, it was a stressful environment but she seemed to be doing okay there until recently.
"So she's quit her job, she has got a new job lined up, she's going to work with her boyfriend at a fast food restaurant, her boyfriend has gotten her the job and she starts next week. She's actually going to be earning less there than she was before, and tbh I think the main reason she quit was that she wanted to work with her boyfriend. I think it's a bad idea but she's an adult she can do what she wants.
"I've said to her since bills are going up and I won't have access to the discount anymore I want her to contribute more - I'm asking for £75 a month instead of 50. Which is actually less than I would have saved with the discount, etc. But even still, she'll be earning upwards of 500 a month, I get she needs to save but I feel like what I'm asking isn't unreasonable.
"She's lashed out at me and said that it's not fair because she's earning less why should she have to pay more, and that I'm being mean and horrible basically."
"When she got the job at the supermarket I said that her staff discount would count towards her contribution, but she's saying that I'm penalising her for switching jobs," she added.
Since sharing, the woman's post has raked in more than 150 comments to date - where people were torn over the parent's decision. One person wrote all in capitals: "YOU ARE NOT BEING UNREASONABLE, £75 A MONTH!!!!!", adding: "I would love her to be able to point to anywhere where she would be able to live for £75 a month. Do not back down. She should still be able to save with that amount."
On the other hand, someone else said: "I'll never understand parents who make their children pay rent, whatever age they are it just seems odd to me. You should never charge your child for something a parent should do for free."
Mirror readers joined in the debate. One wrote: "At that age I handed over my full pay and was happy to do so and was given back a reasonable amount." Another said: "Our son still lives at home (he's 25) and he pays us £350 a month board which includes all food, utilities, laundry being done for him etc. He's a software engineer so is well paid, he's happy to pay it as he knows he couldn't live in a house or flat for that amount."
Do you think the parent is right or being unreasonable? Let us know in the comments below.
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