Retirement planning usually covers the obvious expenses: housing, groceries, healthcare, travel, taxes, and the occasional dinner that somehow costs more than expected. One expense often slips through the cracks, though: helping adult children financially. A struggling son or daughter can turn a carefully designed retirement budget into a financial revolving door, especially when a parent keeps stepping in to cover rent, car repairs, credit card bills, childcare, or a surprise pile of expenses.
The tricky part involves more than money. Parents naturally want to help their children get through a rough patch, and refusing assistance can feel harsh when the alternative involves watching someone struggle. But retirement comes with a hard financial reality: once regular paychecks disappear, there may not be an easy way to replace money that keeps flowing out the door. .
