I know opinions on this vary a lot depending on the country and culture, so I’m curious what others think. Personally, I have a 22-year-old son. I bought him a house and a car, I pay for his university tuition (his grades are high enough for a state-subsidized spot, but we feel that should go to someone more in need), and I basically support him fully. We want him to focus on his studies and enjoy this stage of his life. He will finish his dentistry degree in 2028, and then we plan to finance the opening of his private practice. We’ll stop providing financial support once he’s earning enough to live comfortably on his own. I see many parents online (especially in North America) talking about kids moving out at 18, paying rent to live at home, and covering their own bills, and it honestly shocks me. That feels unfathomable to me. I believe that as parents, we have a duty to give our children a good life since we brought them into this world.
I think equitable help makes sense as a parent, also fostering a mindset with your kids to not take much more than what’s needed. Post-18 I plan to help pay towards their car insurance, phone bill, and living expenses as long as they are at home. Once they move out, I’ll still help with what I can until they tell me otherwise.
I’m not optimistic I’ll be able to financially provide as much help as I would want to give. Also I’m not optimistic that a young person will be able to afford their own home easily 20+ years from now. Unless there’s more public housing or a sudden increase in the amount of houses being built, I expect real estate to keep going up but wages to stagnant, without intervention at least.