A mum has divided parents on the internet after asking her teenage daughter to start paying rent.
The woman was left deflated when she requested the 16-year-old contribute to household bills, only to have her outright refuse, according to The Mirror.
Posting on Mumsnet, she said her child had made her feel "like the worst mum in the world" after proposing the £200 a month payment.
The teenager, who turns 17 at the end of October, secured an apprenticeship earlier in the summer that has an annual salary of £14.500.
She does not currently have any other financial obligations, although will regularly buy her own lunch from the shop - even though there is food available to make at home.
She is meant to pay the bill for her new iPhone X, but so far hasn't transferred anything, which the mum has paid in order to ensure it doesn't damage her credit rating.
The mum said the money will be put toward the teen's driving lessons - after she paid for her provisional licence, and bought her a car to use after she passes.
"I have asked her to contribute £50 per week to the household," the mum explained.
"For that, she will have all food provided, washing done, all the hot water she can use, lifts to wherever she wants, pretty much whenever she wants them, a lift to and from work each day (we don't live on a bus route) and other usual stuff.
"Well, she's made me feel like the worst mother in the world for asking.
"I've explained that we've lost her child benefit now, and I'm expecting her dad to stop paying maintenance too (not that his £17 a week makes a huge difference to be fair) but our outgoings have remained the same or increased."
While the mum thought her requests were fair, she was left questioning the decision after her daughter refused to fork out the cash.
Fellow mums were quick to comment, with many people supporting the woman's request.
One wrote: "I’d be considering charging her more tbh, even if you don’t need to then it can go towards her driving lessons (as you have already planned) and anything else that might come up.
"Separately, she’d be paying for her own phone, no discussion. If she won’t pay you directly, I’d have it blocked so she can’t use it and she can get her own, possibly pay-as-you-go phone and have to pay for that. She needs a reality check."
Another added: "If this is the attitude she has now, she's really going to struggle in a few years. Why does she think it's acceptable not to contribute, especially for her own phone?
"She sounds spoilt honestly and like she needs some lessons in independence and responsibility."
But some disagreed, as one blasted: "You are asking a 16-year-old child to pay to stay in their own home. You shouldn’t have had kids you can’t pay for."
