Parents are spending an average of $1,474 a month supporting their adult kids — but at what point does helping out start holding them back?

Savings.com surveyed 1,000 parents of adult children and found that the average amount they give per month is $1,474. Moreover, the 2025 survey marked a 6% increase in the total amount compared with the previous year (1).

White some support may be necessary, USA Today suggests that parents — and even grandparents — are risking their own financial health in some cases (2).

Here’s what you need to know if you’re supporting your adult children, and how to pull back on financial support if you’ve overextended.

How often are parents helping out?

Half the parents surveyed for the Savings.com study said they provided regular financial assistance, with 83% of those respondents saying they help with groceries and 65% saying they help with phone bills.

Shockingly, nearly half (46%) of the parents who help out financially said they pay for vacations.

Another worrying finding of the study is that nearly half of the parents who say they financially support their children are sacrificing their own financial security.

Parents in the workforce who financially support their adult children said that they give 2.3 times more to their kids than they contribute to their own retirement accounts every month.

Grandparents are also shelling out

A separate survey from TheSeniorList.com found that 96% of grandparents financially help their grandchildren, according to a survey of 1,200 Americans 55 and over. The survey found that among grandparents who offer support, the average they spent per year was $3,917 (3).

Another concerning metric from this survey: 11% of grandparents said they had dipped into their retirement savings or accounts to help their grandchildren.

It makes sense to want to step in if your child, or grandchild, grown as they may be, can’t afford to put food on the table, or pay their phone bill.

But paying for a vacation, or giving money with no strings attached, especially when it comes at the expense of your own retirement savings, is a behavior that could be a sign of financial enabling.

When helping is hurting your finances

Experts suggest having a clear plan regarding your contributions to your children, what purpose they serve and how long you will be giving support.

For example, if an adult child has to move in with you because they cannot afford their living expenses, experts recommend that you require them to contribute to the household, whether through paying rent or helping with household expenses.

Setting a timeline for how long they need support is also a good measure. When expectations aren’t clear, there can be room for misunderstandings or conflict.

Be sure to watch out for signs that your offers of help have not become a crutch. Financially enabling a family member will hurt your relationship, and your child’s ability to develop skills to stand on their own two feet.