A MUM has admitted she “taxes” her seven-year-old daughter’s pocket money and holds a “mini democracy” when it comes to making family decisions.
Phoebe Lee, from Twickenham, revealed her family’s unusual dynamic, which includes getting her young children to vote on household choices and even contribute a portion of their pocket money to daily upkeep.
4
4
The 35-year-old, who lives with her husband Alex and their three children, aged seven, four, and two, said the rigid governing is to help give the kids a sense of ownership and responsibility.
Phoebe, who is an AI architect and founder of Inherit Health, said: “While Alex and I pay for everything, this is their house too – we want them to feel like they can make decisions in their home.”
“I am aware there are so many decisions that are made for our kids, and they have a lot of agencies in a lot of areas, and we try to give them control when we can.”
Inspired by her own interest in ethical technology, as well as her husband’s background as a public servant, Phoebe said she wanted her kids to “learn a lesson” in contribution, community responsibility and decision-making.
READ MORE ON PARENTING
WEB OF LIES
I was smitten with dream ‘head chef’ as a single mum – I discovered dark truth
COST CRUNCH
A fifth of parents have not put money aside to support kids into adulthood
4
4
“We encourage the children to understand where money goes, including donations and public services,” she said.
“We handle donations and make sure we donate time or second-hand bits, or my daughter sells bracelets.”
Both parents and the children make weekly donations to a “fun tax”, a shared pot that they use when they want to splash out on treats.
For the time being, only the couple’s seven-year-old makes a 20p contribution to the family fund, though Phoebe said the younger two will follow in time to come.
Most read in Fabulous
MYSTIC MEG
If it makes you laugh, make time for it
NOT RAD
Sue Radford disgusted after daughter ‘refused school place due to condition’
FOREVER YOUNG
My £6 skin secret & recipe for ‘Mounjaro in a glass’ has kept me ageless
SENIOR SIREN
Science keeping Salma Hayek looking fab at 60 including not washing her face
“She gets £3 a week in pocket money and £1 goes into savings. Then she can make other money from chores, but we are very strict on what they are,” the mother said.
“We haven’t got much in the pot yet, but we are hoping to increase our side and have around £300 by December.”
Phoebe insisted that the unusual family finances are strictly “symbolic”, adding that they’re not actually getting the kids to pay for rent or Wi-Fi.
Meanwhile, each parent puts £4 each in the money pot, though they plan to increase the amount once all three children are paying in.
“The tax is about everyone. She will feel like she has contributed, even though it’s much less than us. There’s something in that where she feels like she’s paid for it too.”
Additionally, the mother-of-three hopes to teach “budgeting and delayed gratification”.
They even have a voting system in place for activities and purchases.
She said: “We are trying to keep her informed in an age-appropriate way.
“She benefits from things like the NHS and state school because we pay taxes for them – I want her to start to understand them.
“I want her to understand the system is designed in the UK to avoid entitlement while still giving children a sense of inclusion in family life.
“It is about bringing them into decisions in a way that doesn’t feel burdensome,” she said.
The family expects the shared “fun tax” pot to grow gradually over time as contributions increase, with Phoebe joking that it could eventually fund bigger household items like a trampoline.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
“We anticipate to grow the funds… which could buy a great second-hand trampoline.”
“It’s not about control, it’s about understanding how things work in a family, and eventually in the world.”