'My parents charge me rent': Entitled parents try to increase 16-year-old's rent from $600/month to $800, teenager moves out without warning

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
May 17, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

This teenager had to grow up a bit faster than he should have…

Unlike the author of this saga of family drama, I was lucky enough to grow up as a teenager where the most that was expected of me was that I apply myself and that I treat others the way I would like to be treated. I was fortunate enough not to have had to pay rent to my parents. Call me crazy, but I think that if you are reliant on your kid's rent contribution every month, then perhaps you should reconsider your living situation. In this instance, it was not a case of "need." It was a case of "want." This 16-year-old's parents wanted to upgrade to a nicer apartment, but they could only do it if they charged their kid even more rent than he was already paying them. At this point, it was too much for this kid to handle. 

Keep scrolling below to see how he got back at his parents just before their move!

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  • 01
    Background my parents are just barely making it, my mom doesn't work. Just my dad.
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 02
    Anyway that's not important rn. My parents charge me rent, 600 every month. Yep, since i was 16. So back then that was nearly all my money.
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 03
    Cheezburger Image 10505899264
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • In most situations where there's tension in the family, one would hope that a sit-down conversation in which both sides of the argument are given the opportunity to explain themselves would do the trick. Unfortunately, this was not one of those situations. Instead, this teenager decided that the best way to prove to his parents that what they were asking of him was unnecessary and unfair was to say nothing. Meanwhile, he was saving up money and looking for a place of his own on the side. Sure, it's a bit shady to sabotage his parents' move that way, but that's what they get for being overly reliant on their kid, who is still just a student!

  • 04
    My parents are planning to move soon, and I overheard them talking about increasing my rent to $800/month at the new place. They didn't
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 05
    talk to me about it-they just assumed I'd come with them and s kup the increase. I later found out the new place is out
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 06
    of my dad's price range unless I'm there paying the $800. My mom wants it because she "likes it."
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  • 07
    Here's the thing: I've quietly been applying for apartments in Texas behind their backs. I don't plan on moving with them
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 08
    at all. I'm ready to start building something on my own, i want to go to college. But if I don't go with them, they can't afford the new place.
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 09
    They're banking on my rent to make it work. So... AITA for not telling them I'm not coming, and letting them move under the assumption that I'll be helping with rent?
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 10
    MSCHAMOU SCREAMS
    via Muadz Nurhaqqi

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  • 11
    AJSCRPT 6h ago NTA because they are ahles for charging a child rent. Effectively what you're doing is quiet quitting by letting them dig their own grave. Telling them you're moving out would probably led to lots of guilt tripping,
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 12
    emotional manipulation or them kicking you out before you even find a place. I wouldn't tell them. They aren't safe people if they're trying to trick you by saying 600 and then secretly
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 13
    plotting to force you to pay 800. I wouldn't say anything until your bags are packed and you have your new keys in hand.
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 14
    Civil_Environment... .7h ago Info: have they told you they are moving and expect you to keep paying? But yes, either way it is the right thing to tell them you are not going with them or will be moving as soon as possible so they don't count on the rent.
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 15
    tof... 6h ago Edited 2h ago NTA Your parents are for charging a minor rent but this seems to be a huge US- thing. However, I wouldn't
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  • 16
    tell them a single thing about your plan about moving out. If they are not above demanding rent from their minor child, upping the rent without communicating
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  • 17
    it before the move, they might be ready (or desperate enough) to sabotage your wish to move out.
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 18
    Gather all of your important stuff and don't talk to anybody about your plan about moving out.
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 19
    EDIT: Thank you guys, your reponses made my view a bit better :) Good to read that there seem to be more good than bad parents who don't charge rent.
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 20
    Watching Telly Now ⚫ 6h ago If they need $800 to be able to afford it, they'll have to take in a lodger. Move, have a great life, and let them deal with their own mistakes because they're their responsibility, not yours.
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 21
    And as others have suggested, gather your important stuff and paperwork and move that out of their reach (do you have a trusted friend who don't have much to do with your parents?) and keep it
    via Alarmedlocal887
  • 22
    with them rather than at home. Also, stop paying the $600 immediately - what are they going to do about it - kick you out?
    via Alarmedlocal887

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family drama aita AITAH teenagers family feud parenting entitled people karma family Parenting Fail entitled people Parenting FAILS
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