Many parents might feel awkward about demanding their credit cards back from their adult children, writes Bev O’Shea of Nerd Wallet. The problem is financial independence, which is something that’s delayed for young people in the USA. So, if you’re struggling with this, know that you’re not alone! One study showed that up to 70% of young adults aged 18-34 had received financial support from their parents in the past year.
In the Nerd Wallet article, Elaine King is featured as an expert in financial planning for families. As such, she suggests various ways that parents can work together with their adult children toward eliminating the pesky problem of prolonged financial dependence.
One important goal is to wean adult children off their parent’s credit cards. Elaine King, Certified Financial Planner and founder of the Family and Money Matters Institute, says the first step is setting an end date for using the cards. This is the same strategy that King’s father used when she was a college student. Even if you revisit the conversation upon reaching that date, setting a time limit keeps expectations clear. Putting a cap on the dollar amount the child can spend is also a good idea, King says.
Another way to increase independence is to stop giving complete hand-outs. It’s tempting to make your kids happy by paying for everything from their rent to their car, and even an entertainment fund. King recommends asking adult children to make contributions, especially towards optional expenses. For example, ask the child to contribute 25% or more of the cost of their vacation, she suggests.
Don’t miss out on other headache saving tips – read the full article to learn about other important areas of addressing financial dependence in adult children. Click the link to read the full article to get all the insider tips from the experts.
Another savvy way to prepare your adolescent child for financial independence by having them read Elaine’s book written for teenagers, titled Family and Money Matters: Life Lessons for the Next Generation.
For more advice on family finances, follow Elaine on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and Twitter.
