<p>“Between 1984 and 2009, the median net worth of households headed by an adult younger than age 35 decreased by 68%, while the same for households headed by someone 65 and older increased by 42%, according to Pew Research Centers Richard Fry”</p>
<p>Mine get a Christmas check every year. Is that considered “assistance?”</p>
<p>And I’m still amazed when my 28 year old brings her laundry over to do it at our house when she visits, just to save the few dollars for the machines.</p>
<p>My brother just got his first job out of college and earns 3 times what my dad does as a teacher! My dad keeps telling us that we are going to have to be supporting him in his old age, not the other way around. :)</p>
<p>Sheesh, my parents (or parent, as it is now) still do. I was unemployed for 18 months and if not for loans from them, we would have had utilities turned off, etc. I fully expect to do the same for my kids at some point, although I’m also trying to teach them that poor planning on their part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on our part.</p>
<p>@emeraldkity - my dad works at a small Catholic school in the midwest. (I’m going to school in Boston.) He makes ~$30,000 a year, while my brother earns $90,000 as a software developer.</p>
<p>My S is doing great. He has had a FT job–got the offer Feb of SR year in EE. He also works PT, “for fun.” D graduated in May and finally is working with new MD to improve her health and stamina–we are happy to support her while she improves her health and hope she will eventually get internship and job. Glad to be able to have means to support D and that S is self supporting.</p>
<p>I feel for people who have no family to help out in time of need. Many of the homeless people in the LA streets wouldn’t be there if they had relatives to take them in and get them the help they need.</p>
<p>I am paying $100 a month for one of my older daughter’s Staffford loans. Meanwhile, my parents gave me $5000 last year for one quarter of my family’s health insurance after husband lost his job… unfortunately for them, their parents have all passed on!</p>
<p>My dad is helping float part of my flight home for Christmas because I couldn’t book it in September/October (stupid shutdown). I didn’t ask, it was an offer so that I didn’t have to choose between making my first car payment and a $500 flight home</p>
<p>Yes, there is NO safety net for many in society, especially if they don’t have relatives or loved ones that can afford to and are willing and able to help in times of challenge and hardship. Our kids would be very different if they grew up with food and shelter insecurity, which is the daily reality of kids whose families live paycheck to paycheck and have NO safety net to fall back on when disasters strike.</p>
<p>Some folks consider $100+ and more gifts “normal.” In this case, how many families are being supported and how many are doing the supporting, especially when the gifts go back and forth. ;)</p>
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