Mom Makes Her 7-Year-Old Daughter ‘Pay Bills’ To Teach Her The Value Of Money, Sparking Fierce Parenting Debate
Teaching kids the value of money is an important thing. It doesn’t matter how many times we repeat to ourselves that money isn’t the most important thing in the world; in reality, our survival does depend on it. So to avoid seeing your kids making financial mistakes, it’s great to start at a young age.
A mom on TikTok, whose user name is @feliciaraefarley, is doing just that. In a video, she shared her tactics of giving her daughter a weekly salary and then taking money for bills, which she actually puts back in her daughter’s savings so that her daughter will see how savings work and learn the value of money. However, not everyone liked this idea and people had mixed reactions.
More info: TikTok
This mom on TikTok shared her parenting hack to teach children the value of money
Image credits: feliciaraefarley
The TikTok user @feliciaraefarley goes by Felicia and she is a mom. On her account, she shares her parenting experiences, inspiration, and just everyday thoughts. One of her videos really blew up. It currently has 7 million views and was liked by 1.7 million people. In this video, Felicia shares a tip on how to teach your children to value money.
The mom gives her daughter chores and pays a salary for them, from which she takes a part for bills
Image credits: feliciaraefarley
Felicia explains that she has some daily chores for her daughter and if those chores are completed every day, the child will get paid $7 at the end of the week. However, the daughter has to pay bills: $5 in total for food, water, electricity, internet, and rent. The she has $2 left and can do anything she wants with them.
A lot of people in the comments were interested to know what kind of chores the mom gives to her daughter and in a different video, Felicia showed an example. She said that she searches for age-appropriate chores on Pinterest and interchanges them so that it won’t get boring to do them.
Felicia searches age-appropriate chores on Pinterest and interchanges them to not be repetitive
Image credits: The Crafting Chicks
There are benefits of paying your children to do chores. It surely teaches them financial responsibility without any real consequences yet. They also learn the relationship between money and labor. Of course, it makes them more motivated to do the chores which then can become habits.
But children may get the wrong idea that every task or duty they do must be rewarded. They may not do those tasks if they think they don’t need more money or they still have some saved up. So paying children for doing small things around the house should be more educational rather than only about the money.
Image credits: feliciaraefarley
People in the comments were concerned what happens if the daughter doesn’t do the chores and if there’s some kind of punishment. Felicia makes a video clarifying that it’s not the case at all and the weekly ‘salary’ isn’t that serious. The daughter just doesn’t get paid for that chore.
The mom was surprised how people could think that she doesn’t take care of her child if she misses a day of chores. Felicia reassures her viewers that she stills buys things for her child and she doesn’t live off $2 a week.
Also, she mentions a couple of times that her daughter loves doing the chores and they don’t take her even 15 minutes to do. Those $2 are just something extra to have of her own and learn the value of money at the same time.
Image credits: feliciaraefarley
The money she takes for bills go to savings and the daughter will get all the money when she turns 18
Image credits: feliciaraefarley
But the thing that made people change their minds and love this idea is that the $5 for ‘bills’ actually goes into savings and the daughter will be given all the money she earned when she turns 18.
Felicia mentioned in the comments that she started giving chores and paying for them when her daughter was 5, so she has been saving up for her daughter for 2 years now. If we do the math and assume that the kid doesn’t miss any days, she will get more than $3,000 for her 18th birthday.
@feliciaraefarleythey just don’t teach this stuff anymore ##mothersofchaos ##momlife ##momthings ##parentinghack♬ Aesthetic Girl – Yusei
Video credits: feliciaraefarley
Commentators’ opinions were divided; however, the majority were praising the mother for teaching budgeting from a young age. The ones that were doubting this method of teaching were of the opinion that it’s too early for a 7-year-old to be thinking about bills. Do you have an opinion on this topic? Share it in the comments!
Many agreed that the mom’s idea was great, but there was a significant number of people who were skeptical
Board Panda seems to be getting overrun by Reddit AITA and TikTok parenting “hacks”.
Looking at the chores list - expecting a 2y to dust and a 12y to iron ... you don´t like your stuff, do you?
2 year olds love to help with dusting. I could iron at 12.
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I'm amazed that she has chores for such young children, especially during the terrible twos! And is she saying that kids have to do the WHOLE list, or that parents should pick and choose?
I think that parents should pick and choose, but switch it up every few weeks if you can.
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To the lady that said "It's kind of sad that she thinks she has to earn things like food and water", unless they have a trust from from their parents, everyone has to earn things like food and water.
You need to let kids me kids. They shouldn't have to worry about earning basic human needs before they turn 12.
Learning basic human needs begins much earlier than 12. This is not just about doing chores, this is about learning how to manage money and how to look after yourself so that you grow into a capable and independant human being. As parents, we really want you to succeed. The children here are not doing every thing on the list every day - the list is a suggestion of age appropriate chores. If you go back and read it again you will see that the mother mixes the chores up and they dont take any longer than 15 minutes for the child to so its really not a case of the mother slacking off. (Although as a teen, I remember accusing my mother of the same thing. lol) and there is plenty of play time. My kids also contribute 15 minutes a day to household chores. They get pocket money every week for thier contribution. They also spend hours and hours in the park playing with their friends, on the switch, playing lego, riding thier bikes and just generally being kids.
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Well they don't teach you money management in schools. I think this is a simple raising awareness exercise
same that is great that it goes into a savings account for when she turns 18 then she will feel so rewarded about her own hard work
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I had regular chores as a kid. But at age 11, I wanted a Gucci handbag so badly it hurt. So my mom said she's pay me $20/week to vacuum the entire house (must be able to see vacuum lines and furniture had to be moved) and dust the entire house (moving every figurine and statue, etc.). It took a long time, but I think within 4 months I had enough to buy the bag as they were cheaper in 1981.
We're still learning as we go but our daughter has weekly chores that she is required to do before she can watch TV. Anything extra she does around the house that is not on her chore list she gets paid. So far she is learning that she doesn't get paid doing things that we should all be doing around the house and if she wants something extra that we are not already providing for her she has to work for it. Seems to be working for her. I think the next step now is to teach her how to budget. I've been showing my simple spreadsheet and how we budget. Her eyes went huge when she saw how much it costs just to live.
My parents bought a phone for me and I have to pay the bill at a young age.
I like the concept, but kids should not be led to think that parents providing food, water, and housing is something that they have to earn. Rather than paying "bills", I'd do local research with my child to find local events he is interested in. Then we'd look at the price and figure out a savings plan that fits the timeline and maybe even make a little line graph so he/she can see and celebrate their progress towards their goal. No actual kids yet, but I am a Special Ed teacher.
This exactly. A child has no choice. They can't just find a new set of parents if the game doesn't appeal to them. Money is surrogacy in the actual trade. In a home the trade doesn't exist. Parents choose to put you on this planet and are obliged to love you and take care of you. Taking care does include learning household tasks and responsibilities. But that's the other way around. Kids help out to learn for themselves. Not to make the job easier on parents.
Load More Replies...
You could also get your kid(s) Greenlight card(s). They're basically debit cards for young children. The parent and child both download the app on their phone or other mobile device, and the child can see the amount of money she has, transfer money to savings, sort money into different categories (any restaurant, any shop, any gas station, etc.), and the child can make savings goals, too. The child can even donate to charity and invest! The parent can give or take money to/from the child, gets notifications about their child's activity, and can set allowances and chores to earn money, plus chores they need to do regularly!
This is a great idea! Someone complained about kids "shouldn't feel they have to pay for food and water". Umm, then what is the little bill every month from City Hall? Or the little tag under that bag a of rice, or loaf of bread at the grocery store? Or even under the spring water at that store? If she is accustomed to not getting to use ALL of her earned money for toys and stuff, she will find it way easier to accept and stick to a budget as an adult.
I mean, it is, but not at 7. The child should start doing basic chores then, but not for money.
Load More Replies...
I Know there are hard times for all of us. I was researching a lot and Found Some Helpful Resources. I might be able to help you https://linktr.ee/Your_gift
Nice, I don't get paid for chores but I think I should so unlike some people who didn't get paid for chores I'm glad she does.
Does the daughter know her mother is saving $5 for when she turns 18? Because if she doesn't I don't know how she will learn about saving if the mother is doing it for her behind her back. It will make an awesome surprise though. I had a piggy bank as a kid and that's how I learned about saving.
I was raised exactly like this but it somehow backfired spectacularly. I put money on savings (and future funeral expenses) but after I spend everything else with the madness of a deprived piranha.
Some of these chores seem kinda extreme for the age... I don't think two year olds should clean silverware and I don't think a 5 year old should spend most their day doing "chores" so they can have food and water. Some of these are dangerous, especially unsupervised, like taking in mail, mowing the lawn, and ironing.
You give a two year a spoon and a cloth and let rub the spoons. How is that not age appropriate? Two year olds LOVE to help and they LOVE to learn. If you read it, she also said the kids spends not more than 15 minutes per day - not even close to "most of thier day" and no-where does it say she would withhold food and water for failure to do chores.
Load More Replies...
Board Panda seems to be getting overrun by Reddit AITA and TikTok parenting “hacks”.
Looking at the chores list - expecting a 2y to dust and a 12y to iron ... you don´t like your stuff, do you?
2 year olds love to help with dusting. I could iron at 12.
Load More Replies... I'm amazed that she has chores for such young children, especially during the terrible twos! And is she saying that kids have to do the WHOLE list, or that parents should pick and choose?
I think that parents should pick and choose, but switch it up every few weeks if you can.
Load More Replies... To the lady that said "It's kind of sad that she thinks she has to earn things like food and water", unless they have a trust from from their parents, everyone has to earn things like food and water.
You need to let kids me kids. They shouldn't have to worry about earning basic human needs before they turn 12.
Learning basic human needs begins much earlier than 12. This is not just about doing chores, this is about learning how to manage money and how to look after yourself so that you grow into a capable and independant human being. As parents, we really want you to succeed. The children here are not doing every thing on the list every day - the list is a suggestion of age appropriate chores. If you go back and read it again you will see that the mother mixes the chores up and they dont take any longer than 15 minutes for the child to so its really not a case of the mother slacking off. (Although as a teen, I remember accusing my mother of the same thing. lol) and there is plenty of play time. My kids also contribute 15 minutes a day to household chores. They get pocket money every week for thier contribution. They also spend hours and hours in the park playing with their friends, on the switch, playing lego, riding thier bikes and just generally being kids.
Load More Replies... Well they don't teach you money management in schools. I think this is a simple raising awareness exercise
same that is great that it goes into a savings account for when she turns 18 then she will feel so rewarded about her own hard work
Load More Replies... I had regular chores as a kid. But at age 11, I wanted a Gucci handbag so badly it hurt. So my mom said she's pay me $20/week to vacuum the entire house (must be able to see vacuum lines and furniture had to be moved) and dust the entire house (moving every figurine and statue, etc.). It took a long time, but I think within 4 months I had enough to buy the bag as they were cheaper in 1981.
We're still learning as we go but our daughter has weekly chores that she is required to do before she can watch TV. Anything extra she does around the house that is not on her chore list she gets paid. So far she is learning that she doesn't get paid doing things that we should all be doing around the house and if she wants something extra that we are not already providing for her she has to work for it. Seems to be working for her. I think the next step now is to teach her how to budget. I've been showing my simple spreadsheet and how we budget. Her eyes went huge when she saw how much it costs just to live.
My parents bought a phone for me and I have to pay the bill at a young age.
I like the concept, but kids should not be led to think that parents providing food, water, and housing is something that they have to earn. Rather than paying "bills", I'd do local research with my child to find local events he is interested in. Then we'd look at the price and figure out a savings plan that fits the timeline and maybe even make a little line graph so he/she can see and celebrate their progress towards their goal. No actual kids yet, but I am a Special Ed teacher.
This exactly. A child has no choice. They can't just find a new set of parents if the game doesn't appeal to them. Money is surrogacy in the actual trade. In a home the trade doesn't exist. Parents choose to put you on this planet and are obliged to love you and take care of you. Taking care does include learning household tasks and responsibilities. But that's the other way around. Kids help out to learn for themselves. Not to make the job easier on parents.
Load More Replies... You could also get your kid(s) Greenlight card(s). They're basically debit cards for young children. The parent and child both download the app on their phone or other mobile device, and the child can see the amount of money she has, transfer money to savings, sort money into different categories (any restaurant, any shop, any gas station, etc.), and the child can make savings goals, too. The child can even donate to charity and invest! The parent can give or take money to/from the child, gets notifications about their child's activity, and can set allowances and chores to earn money, plus chores they need to do regularly!
This is a great idea! Someone complained about kids "shouldn't feel they have to pay for food and water". Umm, then what is the little bill every month from City Hall? Or the little tag under that bag a of rice, or loaf of bread at the grocery store? Or even under the spring water at that store? If she is accustomed to not getting to use ALL of her earned money for toys and stuff, she will find it way easier to accept and stick to a budget as an adult.
I mean, it is, but not at 7. The child should start doing basic chores then, but not for money.
Load More Replies... I Know there are hard times for all of us. I was researching a lot and Found Some Helpful Resources. I might be able to help you https://linktr.ee/Your_gift
Nice, I don't get paid for chores but I think I should so unlike some people who didn't get paid for chores I'm glad she does.
Does the daughter know her mother is saving $5 for when she turns 18? Because if she doesn't I don't know how she will learn about saving if the mother is doing it for her behind her back. It will make an awesome surprise though. I had a piggy bank as a kid and that's how I learned about saving.
I was raised exactly like this but it somehow backfired spectacularly. I put money on savings (and future funeral expenses) but after I spend everything else with the madness of a deprived piranha.
Some of these chores seem kinda extreme for the age... I don't think two year olds should clean silverware and I don't think a 5 year old should spend most their day doing "chores" so they can have food and water. Some of these are dangerous, especially unsupervised, like taking in mail, mowing the lawn, and ironing.
You give a two year a spoon and a cloth and let rub the spoons. How is that not age appropriate? Two year olds LOVE to help and they LOVE to learn. If you read it, she also said the kids spends not more than 15 minutes per day - not even close to "most of thier day" and no-where does it say she would withhold food and water for failure to do chores.
Load More Replies... 
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