TikToker Whitney Ainscough, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, said she intends to give her two other children similar amounts of money each month when they get older
A mum who lives in a council house has revealed she gives her 11-year-old daughter £500 a month in pocket money and even lets her have a bank card.
TikToker Whitney Ainscough, 30, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, said people think she is “absolutely mad” for wiring £500 onto her eldest daughter Cora’s bank card each month. She added her daughter likes to use the cash to buy acrylic nails or designer shoes.
The mum-of-three has gone viral on the social media platform on several occasions. Last year Ainscough revealed she spent more than £10,000 on Christmas gifts for her kids.
“I personally don’t see the problem,” she said in the April 24 TikTok post. “If I can afford to do that, then why not?”
Ainscough admitted she monitored whatever Cora buys and makes sure her daughter does not purchase anything she shouldn’t. The mum said she never experienced anything similar when she was younger but wanted to spend her money on her children as she was in a good state financially.
She added when her other children – Addison, five, and Adley, two – are older, she will get them bank cards and give them similar amounts of cash. Ainscough further explained that by doing this her children would learn the value of money as well as understand financial responsibility.
Ainscough’s comments divided people on the social media platform with many believing the amount was too much for her children. TikTok user Boo said: “Put it away for a deposit for her house.”
Icam140 added: “Jesus my 14 year old gets £60 a month! We live a very fortunate life but that seems very excessive” What’s her incentive to go get a job at 16?” While Katei posted: “I’d personally put it in a savings so interest gets added and there will be a huge chunk for her when she turns 18 or 21.”
According to NatWest Rooster Money – a family pocket money app – the average 11 year old is given £5.75 each week. At 16, the average increases to £12.75. Ainscough was on Universal Credit up until just a few months ago. But the mum regularly racks up tens of thousands of views on her TikTok account @itsmebadmom.
Her pinned video “come make my child lunch with me” alone has been viewed more than 10.9 million times. She now makes thousands of pound a month from her videos.
Ainscough told Fabulous that she made £17,000 in February despite living in a council house. She also explained she came off benefits in August and is not committing fraud.
“I’m not fleecing the taxpayer, something I have been accused of by followers on TikTok. I am not committing benefit fraud,” the mum said. “I was legally entitled to Universal Credit and I’ve paid into the system for many years. And after on one occasion making more than £2,000 in a week through my TikTok videos, I’ve now come off benefits and make an average of £800 a week.”
The Mirror has contacted Ainscough for comment.
