Just fledging kids into college and beyond is no guarantee that parents will be done paying for them. In fact, as costs of living have risen and could keep rising steeply due to new tariff increases, parents may find themselves continuing to fund their adult children’s lives for longer than they ever imagined. Find Out: 3 Reasons Retired Boomers Shouldn’t Give Their Kids a Living Inheritance Read More: How Far $750K Plus Social Security Goes in Retirement in Every US Region According to a 2025 study by Savings.com, interviewing 1,000 parents of adult children, the percentage of parents who are supporting these adults has actually reached a three-year high.
That’s not just for Gen Zers, the youngest generation to fly the coop. In fact, a significant percentage of parents are still forking out some monthly cash to their millennial children. Here’s what they’re paying for now.
The Average Amount If you think raising little kids is expensive, wait until you hear that some parents are handing over as much as $1,474 per month just to finance their adult children — which is 6% higher than the 2024 Savings.com report on the same topic. The 2025 study did find that at least 40% of the parents still financing their children plan to cut off these funds in the next two years, though economic changes may affect those decisions. Be Aware: 6 Cash Flow Mistakes Boomers Are Making With Their Retirement Savings Millennial Handouts by Category Millennials are approximately ages 29 to 44.
While it’s hard to imagine a parent paying for their 44-year-old’s expenses, it can happen. The average spend parents are making across the millennial age spread is $863 per month. Here’s the percentage of parents who are helping their millennial kids across specific spending categories: Groceries or food : 78%, average amount: $220 Healthcare or insurance : 58%, average amount: $165 Car and transportation : 41%, average amount: $218 Leisure and vacations : 39%, average amount: $190 Tuition or school costs : 30%, average amount: $1,198 Rent or mortgage : 24%, average amount: $653 Cellphone : 21%, average amount: $63 Student loans : 19%, average amount: $226 Discretionary spending : 18%, average amount: $126 Credit cards: 9%, average amount: $160 The Toll of Support While it might seem just like parental love and generosity to support your kids, the study found that supporting adult children comes with a good deal of anxiety for parents.
In fact, 79% of the people who reported that they are supporting their adult children are also worried they won’t have enough money for their own retirement.
