Managing Financially Dependent Grown Kids

By Anthony K

Are you the parent of an adult child who always seems to be asking for money or other forms of support? If yes, you can say you have a ‘mooching adult child.’ Mooching refers to the act of relying on someone else for financial or other forms of assistance without offering anything in return.

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Having adult children who constantly mooch off a parent can be challenging. You love your children and want to help them when they need it, but you don’t want them to become overly reliant on you.

Here are some tips for dealing with mooching adult children in a fun and engaging way.

Set Boundaries

The first thing you need to do is to establish clear limits. Let your children know what you are willing to do for them and what you expect from them in return. For example, you may be willing to lend them money, but only if they pay you back within a certain timeframe.

Encourage Independence

Encouraging your adult children to become more independent can help reduce their reliance on you. Offer to help them create a budget or find a job, but make it clear that you will not continue to support them financially forever.

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Use Humor

Humor works wonders in diffusing tense circumstances. Instead of getting angry when your adult child asks for money again, try responding with a joke or a playful quip. For example, you could say, “Sure, I’ll give you the money you need. As soon as I win the lottery!”

While we can’t say that these tips will work in your case specifically, it doesn’t take much to try them with your kids.