Some parents think having their children pay rent is the lease they could do.
Two Texas parents have sparked debate after revealing that they charge their 19-year-old daughter rent for living in their house after graduating high school.
Cody and Erika Archie charge their teenager $200 a month to live under their roof and asked their 860,000 TikTok followers to share their opinions.
“Do you make your graduated high school student pay rent in your house if they aren’t going to college yet?” they asked in a reposted video that garnered 208,300 views and 12,100 likes. The original video received over 700,000 views last year.
Cody explained that he told their daughter, Kylee Deason, that her rent was due on June 1 post-graduation if she was going to continue to live in their home, which Erika said she thought was “a little harsh” to not have leeway but ultimately agreed.
“Two hundred bucks a month is plenty cheap to live like a grub in your parents’ house,” Cody said.
They added that the $200 monthly rent did not include her eating out of their refrigerator. If she opted to not buy her own groceries and instead eat what her parents buy and cook, her rent increases to $300.
“We think it teaches them a good lesson in paying bills,” Erika added.
People in the comments were divided, but a majority seemed to disagree with the sentiment.
“A definite no for me … I know it’s rare, but I will forever help my kids … no matter the age,” one person said.
“For me it’s a no. My bills were here before them and will be there after them. Now they can pick up some TP or supplies time to time but no 4 me,” a mom commented.
“We didn’t but we were allowing him a safe place to save every penny before he was launched into this cruel world,” another wrote.
“Never made my children pay rent,” someone commented.
“To each is their own but my parents house was always a place I didn’t pay bills. It’s hard out here,” shared another.
Others had the idea of collecting “rent,” but putting the money away so their kids can have money saved when they leave home.
“Collect rent then give it back when they move out,” one person wrote.
“Yes then when they move out give it to them to buy stuff for their place,” another added.
“200 a month and save it for her without her knowing. when she moves out she uses it towards a place,” a user advised.
“I did this with my oldest and then when he moved out I gave it back to him to start out with a savings account,” someone shared.
However, some did agree with the parents that it teaches people responsibility.
“I had to pay rent after I graduated until I left for the Marine Corps. I turned out all right I think,” a user shared.
“My 20-year-old still lives at home. She works and pays all her own bills. Car, insurance, etc. It’s expensive out there these days,” another said.
“Yes. It’s a great lesson. I told my 17 y/o I cannot wait till she has to buy her own groceries. She picks everything apart and wastes so much food,” a parent wrote.
“Good to teach children to be mature, but it needs to be in loving environment. Stop it if the child perceived it as [an] unhealthy pressure,” someone suggested.
Meanwhile, Kylee told NBC News in an interview that she was actually fine with the arrangement.
“I wasn’t that mad about it,” she admitted. “I would much rather have to pay my mom and dad $200 a month than go pay somebody else $800.”
