As young Americans drown in debt, growing numbers of parents have been footing the bill for their kids’ car insurance, cell phone bills, health care costs and debt payments – often at the expense of their own retirement.
A new survey from Bankrate.com reveals that 50% of American parents say they have sacrificed or are sacrificing their own retirement savings in order to help their adult children financially.
The survey asked at what age Americans think people should start paying for their own bills. According to Bankrate, “Most of the results dovetailed the traditional mindset that 18 is the golden age of adulthood — except when it came to big-ticket items.”
Car payments and insurance, cell phone bills, subscription services, travel costs and credit card bills all had the majority of total respondents saying that individuals between 18 to 19 years old should be paying for these bills themselves.
For example, the average age respondents expect individuals to start paying for their cell phone bill was 19 years old. Younger generations, or Gen Z and millennials, both said that age should be 20; Gen X and the silent generation said 19, while Boomers said 18. –Bankrate
Via ZeroHedge