‘She would be asked to do household chores to compensate for it’: Expert reflects on Shweta Tiwari’s parenting tricks that taught daughter Palak discipline and financial sense

Tiwari also ensured her daughter followed certain boundaries around freedom and safety. “If you have said that you will be back by 1 am, you should be at the door at 1. You can’t say I am leaving at 1. 1 o’clock is to come back home, not leave the party,” she explained, adding, “I would say I won’t call their mothers, but if your phone is off, I will call the people who are with you. If I can’t get through to them, then I will start calling their mothers because they would have the driver’s contact details.” 

She further noted, “I was a little scared that she is a girl and the society is weird.” Shweta also mentioned that Palak wasn’t allowed to wear makeup until she was 16 or have a phone until she finished schooling. Even now, she handles her daughter’s earnings. “I don’t let it stay in her account. And she keeps saying ‘Mujhe kangaal kar diya, mere paise nikal liye (You have made me poor, you took my money)’. I keep telling her that the savings you have now, no one else has that. I ask her to sign the cheques, all the banking papers, so I can save and invest her money,” she said.

 

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So, how effective is linking financial budgeting to household chores in teaching children and teens the value of money? 

Counselling psychologist Athul Raj tells indianexpress.com, “Linking budgeting with chores can be a meaningful way to help children understand effort, value, and responsibility. But the real impact depends on how these practices are introduced. When the focus is on contribution and choice, not control or reward, it becomes a learning opportunity rather than a transactional setup.”

Children around the age of six or seven can begin to grasp simple financial concepts, he adds. “Giving them a small allowance or letting them earn a bit through basic chores teaches the value of patience and decision-making. By the time they are ten or eleven, many children become more aware of their wants and peer influences, making it a good time to expand conversations around needs, savings, and limits.”

How can parents maintain financial control over their children’s earnings while still helping them become independent?

Raj explains that when a child begins to earn money, it often brings pride and anxiety to parents. “The challenge is to stay involved without stepping into control.” This shift from protector to mentor is crucial.

One way to support your child is to co-create a structure around money. Sit together and break down the income. What percentage do they want to save, spend, or invest in learning or personal needs? Let them take the lead while you offer gentle guidance.

“Children will make impulsive choices. That is expected and often necessary. Instead of reacting with worry or blame, use those moments as entry points for reflection. Practical tools help too. Joint accounts with visibility, prepaid cards with spending limits, or simple budgeting apps can offer a sense of freedom within safe boundaries. Avoid monitoring their every move,” concludes the expert.