Parents ask their graduated teen to pay rent for living in their home, sparking debate

After college, many of us decide to move back home to cut our expenses and figure out what we want in life. Many parents expect their children to pay their bills at this age so that they can become independent. But when a high school pass-out was asked by his parents to pay rent for their living in their house, the internet had mixed feelings about it. “Do you make your graduated high school student pay rent in your house if they aren't going to college yet?” Erika Archie said in the TikTok video which she shared. “Tell us what you think." 

Erika's husband, Cody Archie said that they asked their 18-year-old daughter, Kylee to pay $200 while she figured out what she wanted to do in her life. Kylee told her parents that she did not want to go to college and is figuring out what she wants to do in life. “That’s plenty cheap to live like a grub in your parent’s house," said Cody. They also added that if she wanted to eat food at home and buy groceries at her home, she would have to pay an additional $200 and $100 for it. These parents then asked TikTok users for their advice and thousands of people came to the comments section to share their views.@MyLittleBee wrote, "That's life. So better start early so they know part of how it is. That is nothing compared to what she will have to deal with when she moves out." @tracywaddingtonart.co.uk commented, "As soon as I left school, I went to work straight away and paid rent. All of my siblings did. Life is real, especially when you leave home." Other TikTok users disagreed with these parents. @Chase commented, "Charging rent? No. Some kids graduate at 17. I am not making a 17-year-old kid pay rent. No calling them "grubs." 

These parents also spoke with TODAY and said, “Her plan changed all year long,”. “All kids are not ready at the same time to go to college. If you don't know what you want to do, work until you figure it out.” Kylee became a clerk at Coryell County. As a tenant, she also had more freedom and she could come in and go out at any time. However, she have to follow some house rules to not disturb her 14-year-old brother and if she wasn't coming back home for the night, she had to let her parents know. 

"We see it as our responsibility to raise productive members of society," says Cody. “We want our children to realize that if they want something in life, they have to work like mom and dad to get there.” Now, Kylee is living with her aunt and she babysits her kids to pay the rent for her aunt's house. "Kylee doesn't have any hard feelings toward us,” says Erika, “and she learned that living as an adult isn't free.”