Mother charges 5-year old daughter $5 as rent

The mother of a five-year-old child has caused a stir on social media with her very novel parenting style.

Essence Evans and her 5-year-old daughter. Photo credit: Instagram

According to Essence Evans, she charges her little daughter five dollars every week to cater for her [daughter's] bills.

Evans who took to Facebook to share her tecnique revealed she gives her daughter $7 as weekly allowance. But she has taught her that in the real world most of the people’s money goes into paying bills.

In order to prepare the daughter for such future responsibilities, Essence takes $1 each for rent, water, electricity, cable, and food, leaving girl with $2 to spend on whatever she wants.

The money, she explained, was being kept in an account for daughter until she turns 18 and decides to move out.

“Now, what she doesn’t know is the $5 is actually going away in her savings account, which I will give back to her when she turns 18. So if she decides to move out on her own she will have $3,380 to start off", she posted.

She added: “This strategy not only prepares your child for the real world. But when they see how much real bills are they will appreciate you for giving them a huge discount.”

The viral post which is no longer available Photo credit: Essence Evans/Facebook

Her post divided opinions on social media. While many supported her unique way of teaching her child to be responsible with money and commedia her:

“You are an awesome mother / teacher!! We need more parents to teach their kids this!!!” one user commented.

“I wish this was a thing when I was a kid,” another agreed. “I’d probably be in a better situation by now.”

Others thought the child is too young and should be left alone to enjoy her childhood:

Why nor let the poor kid enjoy her childhood?” one user wrote

“No … noooo. She’s 5. FIVE. All she understands is you taking away her money. Doing way too much,” another user agreed.

Apart from the debate it caused, the viral post got on the radar of Facebook and they have pulled down Evans' account apparently over suspicious traffic.

"After getting 319k shares Facebook decided to disable my account for me 'pretending to be someone else...", she posted on Instagram.

No matter how unconventional her methods may be, there is no denying that most parents mean well for their children. And she is likely doing this with the best of intentions.