My parents are in their mid-to-late 60s so definitely getting up there in age, and every now and then they mention how depressed they get for having no money to do things. They both work crap gig economy jobs now like Door Dash and Uber. They've never explicitly asked for money, but they have no plans either.

Part of me wants to help inso that you don't want to see your parents suffer. But I live pretty frugally myself (as a result of growing up and seeing their stupid financial mistakes), and refuse to give substantial savings of my own money to them to just undermine my own financial security. I have like a 40% savings rate and always wanted to be financially independent by early 40s as a FIREcel, so it eats at me to get in the way of that goal

However, other part of me realizes this is just the consequences of their own actions. Growing up this is the chit I saw:

-brb get a house they can barely afford that is way too big
-brb parents had split bank accounts. Ended up never being on same page about anything
-brb had to drive luxury cars
-brb financed everything or used credit cards for everything
-brb 2008 happened, our house got foreclosed on, parents still to this day blame Obama for everything instead of their own dumb decisions
-brb gambling addicts, would bet on sports via shady offshore websites and go to casinos every month and leave me alone as a kid in the gift shop while they played blackjack/video poker dead srs

even STILL now that they basically live in poverty they:

- both have newer cars than I do
- both have a newer iPhone than I do
- both have a nicer/bigger/newer TV than I do
- pay more in rent for their apartment than I ever have paid for rent or mortgage
- and they both still gamble lmao this despite having a HH income of like 40-50k Im sure if that even


So end of day just basket cases that are beyond saving. Think social security + low income senior housing isn't a bad option, but they are so fuarking entitled to this lifestyle that they cant afford which will never change. Not going to let them be on the street but got damn as a parent your kids shouldnt be the one parenting you.

What do misc?

yolo boyo

if you aint debt maxxing you aint living

You can't really do anything but be there to hold their hands through chit that will eventually come to pass.
My parents are the same, worse in the health department. They will likely die of heart disease or diabetes-related complications because they can't understand the concept of carbohydrate maintenance when suffering from diabetes and kidney disease. You can never force them to change their habits just know you got to be there when chit hits the fan.

I think in the end that's what matters, they can be too proud to take help but at least they know they can rely on you when it comes down to worst case scenarios I think its all good

yolo boyo

if you aint debt maxxing you aint living

And yet so many of you want to vote to cut social security lmfao. What you should do is help, but in a way 100% controlled by you and in a way where your parents don't become reliant on it and expect that as a regular part of their income. Basically, let them sweat a bit, but help out in emergencies and big expenses that come up. But don't enable their chitty lifestyle. You should help with big things like medical costs or necessary home repairs. Also, obviously, if they are struggling for basic chit like food then that too. Don't enable their gambling habits or help them pay for luxuries.

lol true me and my fellow dave ramseycels will finally have a chance to 'live like no one else' at 50 with a massive bank account only to get hit by a truck or stabbed by a future astronaut

Let them lay down and rot.

YOLO

It's okay to take debt strategically on chit like a home if you expect it to appreciate in value substantially. It is never smart to take debt for a car since cars generally lose value. You should just think about how best to grow your money. If you aren't sure, just put chit in SPY and don't touch it ever.

How exactly are they suffering?

It sounds like their needs are all being met. i.e. housing, transportation, entertainment

OP jealous that his parents mog him hard.

but muh 40% savings rate. Just lmao @ u

OP. I get you. I remember as a teenager telling my mom to be more frugal (even now i'm an old pickup and prius driver) and somehow for her having a BMW whatever was more important.

she still thinks of money as growing on trees. its weird. I think of money as a unit of time i have to work (for ex. a $20,000 car might be X hours vs. using that free time I've saved driving a prius not having to work more hours).

don't think there is much you and can do and MORE importantly....your parents don't want to change. if it makes you feel any better, they'll be dead soon enough.

btw: LOL at carcel pgghhots. if a femaloid likes you for your LOOKS you can ride a skateboard and still get that sweet puss.

This.

If they both have phones and both have cars, they can consolidate those expenses (sell a car/share a phone)

My parents are equally as wasteful. They have no savings but they also have a few properties they can sell when they get tired of renting them out.

They have to work still while their peers are all retired and traveling the world, and they can’t even afford to go out to eat except splitting a salad at some chit tier restaurant once a week. So always have to watch grocery bill


Idk I’m not even projecting they just break down and tell me this chit from time to time

Pretty depressing. Glad my parents aren’t like that.

Keep doing what you’re doing, learning from their mistakes.

It sounds like they’re just going to keep spending into debt until they get into SSI, then they’ll eventually be on Medicare or whatever and just be broke the rest of their lives.


I think you know in your gut that if you give them cold hard cash or any type of sellable asset, they are just gonna blow it on something wasteful like gambling.

If they were going to ever take their finances seriously, they would have done it by now.


They’re still your parents, if you want to do something nice for them, go for it. Just do it on your terms where you’re in control of the spending.