Parents Charged Their High School Graduate Monthly Rent, and Here’s What Experts Think

A couple from Texas shared that they have decided to ask their adult daughter to pay monthly rent to continue living under their roof. And they turned to social media to discuss this controversial practice with other parents. Their video post stirred a debate among internet users, but here’s why Erika and Cody Archie believe their method is good for their child.

The rent scheme started after their daughter graduated High School in 2022.

In an Instagram video, Erika and Cody asked their followers their thoughts about making the child pay rent after graduating from High School. “Our thought together is that since [Kylee] has graduated... I’ve been telling her, ’June the first, our rent’s due if you continue to live here,’” Cody said. “I thought that was a little harsh, maybe a little leeway,” Erika quipped.

Their then 18-year-old daughter, Kylee Deason, wasn’t sure if she wanted to pursue college yet. And the Archies came up with the idea to charge her $200 each month. “That’s plenty cheap to live like a grub in your parents’ house,” according to Cody.

Erika also mentioned that the amount they were asking for was cheaper compared to the value of what Kylee eats at home. “Well it’s $300 if she wants to eat here... if she wants to eat out of the fridge. It’s $200 if she wants to buy her own grocery,” Cody added.

The Archies were met with an entire spectrum of reactions from internet users.

The couple asked, and well, social media delivered. Comments from TikTok users ranged from total support to complete disagreement.

“Good for you! It’s called adulting and have her help buy groceries too!” one user said. “My parents gave me about 6 months before charging rent. It helped me learn to manage my money better. They gave it back to me when I moved out,” another chimed in.

There were naysayers too, with one person saying, “A definite ‘no’ for me. I know it’s rare, but I will forever help my kids, no matter the age,” while another asked, “That’s harsh though, paying rent the second they graduate? Do they have a job yet? Stopping allowance I might understand, but making your kid pay rent?”

And then there are those who believe there’s room from compromise — “That would be a good idea, but wouldn’t it be better if (they) just pay a few bills and have them save the rest for a house?”

Kylee, however, was fine paying the monthly fee, according to her parents.

Luckily, she found a job as a clerk, and was able to pay her monthly dues — albeit late most of the time. “I’d call to remind her, and she’d say, ’Can’t you pull it from my bank account?’ I wouldn’t do it for her,” Cody said.

Kylee also benefitted from her landlord-tenant relationship with her parents. She didn’t ask for permission when it came to many things, like going out with her friends. But she did have a nightly curfew, so as not to disturb her 14-year-old brother when it’s too late in the night.

The Archies believe paying rent is a good life lesson for their child. “We see it as our responsibility to raise productive members of society. We want our child to realize that if they want something in life, they have to work like mom and dad to get there.”

According to experts, asking children to contribute financially is a decision that should not be taken lightly.

A clinical psychologist said charging monthly dues should be a family decision. It could be considered if the parents are struggling with monthly payments and have the option to rent out one room to make extra bucks. “It might make sense for a young person to pay that rent.”

But if the folks don’t really need the money, it might be wiser to have the child save their earnings instead. “Whether they pay rent or not, young adults who live with their parents should think about how they can contribute to the household, either financially or by doing chores, cooking, or caring for children or aging relatives.”

Having kids learn money responsibilities may be a valuable life lesson for them, but it can also cause problems within the family. Just like this story of Emma, who ended up in a feud with her sister because of rent issues. But there are always solutions and silver linings to each problem, and we can explore them further in that article.