I was in a wedding dinner some months ago when a friend commented that he just could never understand how can parents collect rent from their own children who are staying at home.
Well, I didn't understand it either until last night.
After our usual fortnight Bible study, we were sitting down over supper chit-chatting. With parents together, the topic of conversation quickly shifted to children - teenage children.
The lament was that these kids have no regards for money, or resources. Part time job comes easy - and a 16 year-old could earn eight or nine Aussie dollar an hour. For a weekend job of 8 hours, that's close to 250 Aussie dollar a month - besides money that the government pays. For an 18 year-old they could earn even more. With all the bills paid by the parents, this is free cash that they can spend on anything they like.
So the parents complained that some of these children spend their money on expensive mobile phones, party, and some even on drinks and drug. One parent lamented that some teenagers have no idea of stewardship of money - and they would waste almost anything and everything.
Insisting that they pay some of the bills perhaps is a good idea to instill a sense of good stewardship, and sense of financial accountability and responsibility in these teenagers.
Perhaps I should consider collecting rent from my children once they reach 18 if they still stay with me.
1 comment:
Teaching stewardship of money is important.I stopped giving my eldest and allowance once he got a part time job.But since is is quite disciplined now in things like tithing and is generous in helping others etc I doubt I will charge him rent if he makes m more money :-)
But consider the typical middle / upper middle class Malaysian teen (urban churchgoer) - a few have more spending money each month than I used to make!
More food for thought ...
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