What percent of people do you know weren't financially supporting their parents before they turned 40?

[Anonymous]

The only person I know who helps their parents is a 16 year old I work with who was expelled from school and works with me. She helps her mom pay the bills.

[Anonymous]

I can think of 2 white American friends in their 30-40s (very far removed from being immigrants) financially helping their white parents. There are probably more but I'm not close enough to know personal info like that.

[Anonymous]

Zero.
Actually, I know an Asian couple in their late 40s who still expect the Asian grandparents to pay for the grandchildren's private school tuition.

[Anonymous]

I knew zero people who were supporting their parents by age 40, but I am also middle class.

Now some extended family members in their mid 50s have started supporting their parents because their parents were always poor, now have retired and have only social security, and would not be able to pay bills otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think white people don’t talk about it as much. I pay my mom’s mortgage at 37, and we are very grateful for some informal help as a grandparent but it’s a ton of money

How old were you when you started paying your mother's mortgage?

[Anonymous]

95% do not give money to their parents.

The one that does is chinese/ from Hong Kong.

Similar situation: failure to launch, single sister, parents had money, guilt trip my friend into send monthly allowances. She has a big prenup and post nip in her marriage plus she and her spouse run a business together.

[Anonymous]

Why do you keep asking this question over and over?

[Anonymous]

When we were 34, we helped my in-laws who could not afford first and last month on an apartment when they had to move. I'd prefer never to do that again.

[Anonymous]

1 percent. My foreign sister in law

[Anonymous]

Most couples age 30, 40 and 50 are NOT supporting one or both sets of parents financially.

Maybe a few have to do some of that when end of life care or assisted living.

Americans try to save and have LT care set up so they are NOT a financial burden to their adult children and their respective families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems to be pretty common on here for adult children in their 30s, and even mid-to-late 20s to be giving financial help to their parents.

No is not common.

[Anonymous]

I don't know a single person supporting their parents. And my family is white, American, middle class, some upper middle class.

My parents give their parents large gifts for Christmas or birthdays, but they have a lot of siblings to go in with them on a gift. So they have over the years given a TV, washing machine, deep freezer, etc. They aren't supporting them in any way however.

[Anonymous]

Only one set had to help a Mother who divorced in her 60s. They moved her to their state and did the downpayment on her condo and get her an office assistant job at their club fed office.

She saved money and retired 15 years later.

They did not want her living with them or their busy family of 6.

[Anonymous]

I can think of only one person who (I assume, based on career path) is doing so much better financially than his parents ever did that I’d bet he’s subsidizing them. He’s in his late 40s. I haven’t been in touch with him in years, but it’s something he would do and probably something he *can* do.

I know of no one else who provides financial support to their parents. I can only assume that this is something that does happen in OP’s subculture and OP is inordinately anxious about it.

[Anonymous]

Zero OP, I know no people who are subsidizing their parents.