Mom budgeting lessons for young daughter's hypothetical income takes a hilarious turn

It's always up to parents or teachers to educate children about money from an early age. Growing up while learning how to manage their budget and be mindful while making expenses can prove to be beneficial in the future. We can consider budgeting a vital life skill and that is exactly what this mom on TikTok teaches her kids about. @The__Ariel_B, a single mother, is making sure that her children are well-versed with taxes, insurance and the art of budgeting before they can start earning.

In the viral TikTok video, which Ariel B also shared on her Instagram, we can see her giving the kids a hypothetical amount of $3000 per month and then telling them to figure out how they are going to live off their "earnings." The children can be seen trying to figure out their money woes and how the apartment's rent system works. Ariel, who is a mom of five and an entrepreneur, manages an online shop that sells budgeting worksheets and planners for those looking to get some order and perspective on their finances.

Ariel then proceeds to explain to her daughter that her rent is going to be $1,200 a month and additionally she also has to pay the security deposit. "They will need first, last and security deposit," Ariel tells her utterly confused daughter. "Why do they need last month's rent if I wasn’t in there?" the daughter questions back. "You’re signing for a year," Ariel clarifies. "They just want to make sure you have the money to provide. You’re good with your money."

"But I still wasn’t here last month!" Ariel's daughter laughs and remarks. Ariel further explains that last month’s rent means the last month of the rental year as opposed to the month before the rental agreement.

"Pay it for a full year, and we get the first month and the last month, you’ll make sure to stay because you already paid for it. You won’t leave us out in the wind to try to find another tenant. So, make sure you stay," Ariel continues. "Oh, God. What a scammer!" her daughter jokes. When the young girl moves onto her car budget, she feels like it is way too high for a 2010 car and opts to ride a bike instead. "That’s $60," she says while going through her budget worksheet. "You’re going to pedal to work every day? What if it’s raining? What about your child?" Ariel shows her concern, to which her daughter replies that she is never having kids.

When the mom asks the young girl about her views on adulthood, she sets off on a hilarious rant. "I’m in debt already. I have nothing. Where did my freedom go? Where did my friends go? Where does this say, 'Got money for friends?'” she asks while pointing at her budgeting worksheet. "I have nothing. I have no money at all, and I don’t know what to do about it." 

Ariel's video has garnered over 7.5 million views on TikTok and over 6 million views on Instagram so far and caught the attention of netizens who could almost relate to the young girl's concerns about money and adulthood. Many applauded the money-savvy mom for introducing her kids to the world of budgeting early on. "This is the education our children need. You are doing a wonderful job preparing them for the future," commented @czeesworld and @kevinilango added: "I like that she ended up taking it with a bit of humor, but I hate that kids her age are already distressed by what the future may hold."