The AITA for taking a percentage of my child college fund Reddit story is viral
In an age of social media where various platforms host public forums for people to share their opinions, a recent Reddit post about a father taking a percentage of his son’s earnings for college funding has garnered attention.
The father, who has been controlling his elder son’s finances, is now facing scrutiny from social media users.
What is the AITA for taking a percentage of my child story as it goes viral on Reddit and Twitter
AITA for taking a percentage out of my son’s work money?
by u/college_fund88 in AmItheAsshole
The Reddit user explained that his son turned 18 in March and has been working since he was 15 years old. During that time, the father took a percentage of his son’s salary to put towards his college fund. This arrangement never raised any issues until recently when the father tried to “teach” his son and his wife about budgeting for a safety net.
The situation escalated when the father asked his 18-year-old son to pay for a meal he described as “very poor,” assuming his son could afford it since he worked night shifts. However, the son came home drunk one day, leading to an argument about budgeting. The son revealed he regularly drank beer after work, with a particular incident involving two bottles on sale that day.
Reddit users weigh in
Reddit users were quick to criticize the father for maintaining financial control over his son. The father’s frustration over his son’s alcohol spending prompted him to question why his son would spend money on beer while budgeting for food. The son, however, argued that he could only afford breakfast after his father took interest from his income.
The argument took a heated turn when the father mentioned the money was intended for his son’s college fund, prompting the son to retort, “Oh, maybe I don’t want to go to college, maybe I want to eat.” The father, convinced that his son’s behavior was due to drinking the previous night, asked his son not to “save a percentage of his salary for college” the following day.
Calls for the father to let his son control his finances
One user commented, “You stole from the big man, YTA of course.” Another added, “You’ve been teaching him for 18 years, it’s time to really let him use it, maybe you’ll fall without stealing another grown-up’s money.” One user succinctly summarized the sentiment, “YTA is 18 years old and needs to control his finances. You can’t tell how a grown man spends his money. Give it to him and what he does is his deal.”
As the debate continues, it highlights the complexities of parental involvement in their children’s financial lives, especially when those children reach adulthood.
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