Aug 9, 2024
There’s an inevitable moment when the Bank of Mom and Dad closes its doors, and grown-up kids get the gentle (or not so gentle) nudge to start footing their own bills.
But not every tough-love parent is the same when it comes to determining how much responsibility to offload to their offspring.
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From charging rent to imposing fees for babysitting grandchildren, some parents are coming up with innovative and occasionally unexpected ways to teach the value of money.
Here are 10 surprising things parents are charging their adult children for – and some may shock you.
Cheaper than daycare, I guess
I have a 17-month-old toddler, and as per his father's demand, we had to pull him from daycare because it got pretty expensive, and our son was constantly getting sick. Now we are out of options because every daycare in the area will not accept any new children until next year. I had no other option but to quit my part-time job and stay home with my son.
My mother-in-law offered to babysit him for a fee of $30 a day. I told my husband that if my father were alive, he would never have charged me. My friend's mom even offered to watch him for free – and we aren’t even related.
| Dantewuzhur2021 / Reddit
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Family vacations 101
My parents are planning a vacation, and they require me to cover half the costs for the hotel, Airbnb, flights and meals. I am a 25-year-old with a decent income and am totally capable of this, but I don't know any friends who have been asked to do the same.
I understand the expectation to eventually care for them in their old age, but I barely just started my career and didn't anticipate this requirement for another 5-10 years. My parents are both high earners in their mid-50s and have yet to retire. They have millions saved up for retirement across various accounts, real estate and other investments, so it's not like they cannot afford to send the family on vacation.
| Sorry_Conclusion4768 / Reddit
Should have waited till your birthday
The first thing we made our son buy with his own money was a pocket calculator with engineering features. If he had waited three months down the road, he would have gotten it for his birthday.
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The first thing our daughter bought was her first day. She was about 6 years old and went to a friend's house to admire the puppies that were for sale. About 10 minutes later, she came racing home, got her piggy bank and headed back. She came home with no money and her first puppy. Then she asked if we could keep her.
| Angela / Quora
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Setting them up for the future
My mother-in-law sent us $500 a month while my partner was in medical school, even though we told her it wasn’t necessary.
Now, my kids are 20 and 17. We help them out because we decided we want to. It’s not that they can’t afford what they’re doing, but we want them to be able to accumulate savings. So, I Venmo them spending money sometimes. Most of our financial contributions to them are geared toward ensuring they are financially protected in the future.
We have told them we will cover their Roth IRA contributions each year. The long-term impact of saving for retirement at their ages is far more beneficial than paying their monthly bills.
| tinyahjumma / Reddit
Lend a helping hand
My parents paid my insurance until I got my first “real job,” which didn’t happen until I was 24. I also lived with them rent-free during that time.
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Now, I’m 42 and have sold my home to move in and care for my mom. My parents signed their house over to me and continue to pay for water, electricity and internet. However, I pay for cable and streaming services, and all the “fun” stuff like season hockey tickets for me and my dad.
Overall, we don’t really care who pays for what because we know the other is paying their fair share. If we need help, we ask each other.
| crazymastiff / Reddit
Is that legal?
When I was 18, my mom took out a credit card in my name and put the utilities of her failing business in my name. I was surprised when I did a credit check and found I had a score of 300.
| Walking_Apostasy / Reddit
Take the bus instead
I am 19 years old and still living with my parents. I am now working my first full-time job and have managed to save a little over $2,000. My family recently went on vacation, and since I don’t know how to drive, I have to walk to work.
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This wouldn’t bother me too much, but one of my tendons is inflamed, so walking long distances is very painful. Because of this, I asked my mom to pay for an Uber today. She said no since I have my own money.
Just get a job
My dad made me get a job, buy my own car, and pay for my own fuel. He always said that cars are a luxury, not a right. If you're just going to your friends' houses and back home, the fuel costs wouldn't be too much.
| Mark / Quora
A scholarship will save you
As a parent, I believe my kids are talented enough to earn significant scholarships, just as I did. Although everything is more expensive now, I can't transport them back in time 30 years — so they need to adapt to their circumstances.
They won't end up on the streets over college debt, and they will receive considerable financial help from me in due time. However, I firmly believe that making them pay for their own schooling will help them develop the financial discipline needed to be comfortable in the long run.
| guyincognito121 / Reddit
Legally an adult
My parents are making me pay rent and buy groceries when I turn 18. I'll be earning around $800 to $1,000 a month through my business, and they’ve decided to charge me rent and make me purchase my own food.
| Flat-Explanation-651 / Reddit
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Victoria Vesovski is a Toronto-based staff reporter at Moneywise covering personal finance, lifestyle and trending news. She holds degrees from the University of Toronto and New York University, and her work has appeared on platforms including Yahoo Finance, MSN Money and Apple News.
