Will you support your parents financially even if they make terrible money decisions?

[dos poptarts]

Wife and I already are doing / have done this. (though not due to my parents managing their money poorly)

• My parents are doing ok now that my dad is getting his pension/SS. But I did help out during the gap between him getting laid off and when he could start drawing.
• When my grandmother was still alive in Vietnam (Da Nang) and I sent her quite a bit of money over the years, mostly to build her a new house. Heh, only half of the 3rd floor ever got a roof put on, so it turned into a rooftop patio.
• We send money to Mexico every month to my wife's parents.

Arguments creep up when people don't spend wisely and I make my opinion known. I make it clear that I'm not going to tell them how to spend the money, but if they have money to blow, then I can start looking at adjusting the amounts they need. (I think this answers your OP)

[Davidson Deac II]

My mom and stepdad definitely if needed.  They helped me a lot when I was young and I feel I owe it to them. 

 

My father is dead, but even if he wasn't, I wouldn't spend a dime supporting him in any way shape or form. 

[Peppers90 NC]

yes, they supported me with mine.

[thefuzz]

I do, and have, but they are getting their feet under them now.

 

 

I will only go so far though, and it took them a little while to understand some of the bad decisions, but they are getting there now.

[SCMunnerlyn1]

Helllllllllll no. If my mother blows her retirement shes poo outta luck. All those years of gloating about how shes set for life and derpa derpa derr. Ohhh id lauuuuuugh

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[MadHatter]

that isn't true for all parents.

Saw a statistic on msnbc last night that said the avg cost of raising a kid to age 18 was $254k (up 2% from 2 yrs ago). So, I would expect that most parents do in fact spend more on their kids than their kids will ever spend on them.

[MadHatter]

Helllllllllll no. If my mother blows her retirement shes poo outta luck. All those years of gloating about how shes set for life and derpa derpa derr. Ohhh id lauuuuuugh

Sent from my SCH-I535 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

nice upbringing that you had to turn out like such a turd.

[Niner National]

nice upbringing that you had to turn out like such a turd.

maybe he didn't have a nice upbringing and that is why he won't help his parents out.

 

All parents aren't worth helping.

 

As for mine, I'd do anything I could realistically do to help them that didn't come at the expense of my own retirement. I wouldn't want to repeat the cycle with my children.

 

If it meant them living with me, so be it. If it meant simply writing them a check, that's fine too. My parents don't have any gambling, drug, or alcohol addictions, so I know that if I gave them money, they'd use it for legitimate purposes.

[Happy Panther]

Yeah my parents have no vices and are pretty responsible. They never made any money but mom is a teacher of like 40 years so they aren't going to starve. Dad made the choice to be an artist (and a good one but even good ones don't make jack) for most of his life. We grew up dirt poor and I remember when I had my first and only wreck my mom just looked at it and said "I just wish it wasn't now." They figured it out and also sent me to private school, then overseas for a year then Davidson.

 

So I would buy them a house tomorrow if I had to. If dad said he needed $1,000/wk to support gambling and drinking I'd probably do that as well.

 

On the flip side if my MIL needed money I would burn it while pooping and send her a video of it with "ice ice baby" playing in the background. 

[Davidson Deac II]

Saw a statistic on msnbc last night that said the avg cost of raising a kid to age 18 was $254k (up 2% from 2 yrs ago). So, I would expect that most parents do in fact spend more on their kids than their kids will ever spend on them.

 

I got the impression that he was referring to the crappy parents who abandon their families.   Maybe I am wrong though.  But it happens all to often. But I can sympathize.  My Dad abandoned us when I was around 5 years old, and didn't do a thing until the government finally tracked him down a few years later.  So I would have done for him exactly what he did for me.  In other words, nothing unless the government forced me to. 

 

When it comes to my Mom and Stepfather though, I would do whatever I could to help them. 

[SCMunnerlyn1]

nice upbringing that you had to turn out like such a turd.

Let me get this straight. So because I wouldn't help somebody that felt it necessary my entire childhood to tell my family and I just how awesome she is and how she would never need us and doesn't want us or our help. That makes ME  a turd? Seems legit. 

 

 My money is mine. I didn't ask to be born or raised. It's not of my concern what happens to her when she runs out of money. Love her all the same but the fact remains that's her screw up. I wouldn't run to her if I was out of money either.

[SCMunnerlyn1]

maybe he didn't have a nice upbringing and that is why he won't help his parents out.

 

All parents aren't worth helping.

 

As for mine, I'd do anything I could realistically do to help them that didn't come at the expense of my own retirement. I wouldn't want to repeat the cycle with my children.

 

If it meant them living with me, so be it. If it meant simply writing them a check, that's fine too. My parents don't have any gambling, drug, or alcohol addictions, so I know that if I gave them money, they'd use it for legitimate purposes.

 

#Preach

[MadHatter]

My money is mine. I didn't ask to be born or raised. It's not of my concern what happens to her when she runs out of money. Love her all the same but the fact remains that's her screw up. I wouldn't run to her if I was out of money either.

Yep...that is a turd quality post right there....unless she abandoned, abused you, or otherwise was a unfit parent.

[SCMunnerlyn1]

Yep...that is a turd quality post right there.

Awwe baby you know just what to say. <3