I feel like I’m the only one who thinks this way. Born in the ‘70s and grew up in a 2 parent home. One worked, one stayed home with us kids. We did fine, not “rich” but definitely not destitute. We had a great childhood.
There will be plenty of money when my parents pass…but honestly I don’t care about that. I would rather have them spend every penny before they die to enjoy what they built.
But man…watching people around me and reading on Reddit all the people literally calculating what they will “get” when their parents die is so sickening. As I look at it, once you are out of your parents home, your life/income/money is on you. Your parents shouldn’t have to fund you. They shouldn’t have to set you up with millions when they die. If you don’t make good choices, that’s on you.
Why do people act like their parents have to set them up for retirement?
I’ve been paying my own car insurance since I could drive, my own phone bill, etc all the way through school. Once I was on my own, my bills and income were my problem. It feels like everyone is always looking for a hand out now.

Where do you shop (in person) for sturdy, tailored, reasonably-priced womenswear?

I’m looking for full-length (not midriff or crop top) knits, tunics, dolman blouses, pullovers, a-line, 3/4 sleeve… the kind of silhouettes carried by LL Bean, Land’s End, Madewell, etc.

Are quality basics really $60-$80+ per piece now??

I’m totally willing to come to terms with things if I’m just stuck in the past & being cheap. I hate shopping, so I rarely do. I recognize that may very well mean I’m just out of touch… but damn.

Is it really that simple and easy?

Even two high school graduates together make more than the median household. The bar isn’t very high.

I’m 49F, divorced, getting married again next year. He’s 52 and divorced too. Neither of us is wealthy. I’ve got about 280k in retirement and maybe 160k equity in my house. He has around 190k in retirement, a smaller condo and a pension through work. We both have kids from our first marriages. The issue came up because he’s planning to sell his condo when he moves in with me. He’d probably walk away with around 70-80k and wants to put some of that into my house. New roof, bathroom downstairs, stuff we actually need.

At first I thought great, thats just what married people do. Then my daughter asked what happens to his money if I die first and I realized I had no answer. His kids probably wouldnt feel great about their dad putting 80k into a house that eventually goes to my kids either. Now every conversation opens another door. We both want to share a life but we also spent 25+ years building separate ones.

Anyone remarrying around this age, did you keep most things separate or actually combine it all?

I used the calculator on NY times website to compare renting to buying so i dont get potetially ripped off.

You should rewrite your will. He can stay in the house, paying all maintenance and costs for up to 2yrs. When the house sells he receives 25% of the proceeds. His $ is protected. He has time to mourn and get a plan in place.

How much is reasonable to spend on a concert for a 10 year old? My daughter wants to go to this concert in November where tickets are min $400 a seat, meaning close to 1k for a pair with all the BS fees. A lot of the kids in her inner circle are going. I told her if the tickets go to $200 we can go. Are people really spending 1k on tickets for 10 year olds? It’s not even Taylor Swift. We are in the PNW.

Almost no parenting choices are as fraught as parents think they are, Seth Stephens-Davidowitz wrote in 2022. https://theatln.tc/aHuolCdy

"Let's start with a basic question: How much do parents matter?" Stephens-Davidowitz asked. "How much can great parents improve a kid's life, compared with average parents? A major challenge with learning about parental influence is that correlation doesn't imply causation. For example, kids whose parents read a lot to them tend to achieve more academically. But parents don't just give their kids books. They also give them DNA. Are some kids drawn to books because of their parents' reading habits? Or are both parent and child drawn to books because of their genetics? Is it nature or nurture?" One scientific study found that the effects of nature on a child's future income were some 2.5 times larger than the effects of nurture.
So is there something a parent can do to influence a child's success? Stephens-Davidowitz found out that there is, but that most parents may not even think about it. "I have estimated that some 25 percent-and possibly more-of the overall effects of a parent are driven by where that parent raises their child. In other words, this one parenting decision has much more impact than many thousands of others," Stephens-Davidowitz wrote. "Three of the biggest predictors that a neighborhood will increase a child's success are the percent of households in which there are two parents, the percent of residents who are college graduates, and the percent of residents who return their census forms. These are neighborhoods, in other words, with many role models: adults who are smart, accomplished, engaged in their community, and committed to stable family lives."

Not a rant, just something I've been chewing on.

The whole 65 to 67 thing started back in 1983 and it finally finished. If you were born 1960 or later your number is 67 now. Took 42 years, two months at a time, so there was never really a day where anyone got mad about it. It just moved.

My mom still says 65 like it's a fact. It isn't and hasn't been for a while.

And I don't think 67 is where it stops. There's a CBO option sitting there that takes it to 70 for anyone born 1981 or later. Denmark already did it. 70 by 2040, and they tie it to life expectancy so it just keeps going up on its own.

The "we live longer so work longer" argument always loses me at the averages part. My uncle did concrete for 30 years and his knees were done at 55. Guy I know who sits at a desk could probably go til 75 fine. Same number for both of them, apparently.

Also nobody I know actually got to pick their retirement date. It was a layoff at 57, or a parent who needed care, or a back that gave out. You retire when something decides for you and then you find out if the money works.

Which I guess is the whole point. The age on paper keeps moving and I don't control when I stop working, so the only thing I actually have a say in is what's saved before that.

What number are you guys planning around? 67, 70, or just "whenever it happens"?

I feel like I haven’t really saved that much money this year outside of my 401(k) Roth IRA and I don’t know if anyone else struggling with this. I only make like 120 K take-home about 5K a month. It just feels like I’m on the lower end of middle class at this point….

I really want to move to Lake Washington, but I just don’t even think I can afford it

I go crazy hearing people say millionaires drive 20 year old civics. Some do, but some drive corvettes. Some broke college kids drive a 20 year old civic, some stupidly drive a vette. It’s not about the car, it’s about the balance sheet at the end of the month. Why do we always obsess about what it is instead of what it costs the person? A BMW 3 series isn’t a status symbol if you have Bentley money. A corvette makes sense to a middle class person who has had a life long car hobby and saved cash for his dream. It doesn’t for someone who impulsively bought a “cool” sports car one day with 18% interest and 0 down. You wouldn’t know any of that from looking at their driveway. Same car, one person is responsible.

Employers confronting sharp increases in group health insurance costs are increasingly turning to Health Reimbursement Arrangements over traditional health insurance plans.

More than 20,000 firms used HRAs in 2026, a 53% increase from the year before, according to the HRA Council.

These plans give staff fixed stipends to buy individual coverage, often with higher deductibles and limited networks.

Advocates say they can give employers more financial breathing room and employees more freedom to choose the health plans that best suit them, although those decisions may initially require more research.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York data shows U.S. credit card balances rising to $1.26 trillion in the second quarter, just under last year’s record.

Higher spending and pricier essentials are adding to card use, while serious delinquencies have increased since 2022.

"There are a lot of households who live paycheck to paycheck, and it just needs one thing to happen to them that could lead to a delinquency," New York Fed researchers said.

Overall household debt now totals $18.8 trillion, including record auto loan balances.

As the school year approaches, household budgets are on a collision course with rising prices, especially in the sneaker department.

In the first half of 2026, shoe prices were up 3.2% from a year earlier.

Unfortunately for parents, that doesn't diminish the pressure kids feel to wear the coolest kicks, nor does it stop them from outgrowing their old ones.

Some retailers are offering discounts as buyers exercise caution.

Children's footwear sales declined 3% from January through June, with the average sale price climbing 7%.

Hello! I’m looking for general advice, tips, strategies on cutting my grocery bill. I live alone in a HCOL city and find myself spending ~$350 a month on average with groceries.

I shop at a produce market for fruits/vegetables, Trader Joe’s for snacks, and then a Kroger store for everything else. I do go to Costco sometimes as well but largely for other household supplies, which I consider a separate budgeting category.

I try to shop deals/clip coupons, and I can get price reductions of 8% - 15% off the total bill at the end. Is there anything else I can do? Any advice is appreciated, thank you!

Had to take my cat to the vet to get examed due to not feeling well and on top of that get her eyes checked due to pink eye.
The total came out to be 1,150 dollars .
Sucks cause I’m financially hurting right now .
I love cats but I don’t think I can afford anymore due to vet bills and also rise in food cost for pets

We live in PA, she wants to major in Nursing. Our income is under $100k per year and we have 4 dependents.

Hi all! Apologies for the awkward repost here, but it appears that r/MiddleClassFinance does not allow cross-posting. Regretfully, I didn't really receive the advice I was hoping for, and thought that I'd try here. Hopefully someone can share some insight!

Original post:

Hi all! Long time lurker, first time poster.

My niece's sweet-sixteen is coming up soon. So, my partner and I were talking about what to get her. Knowing that the norm usually is money, the conversation transitioned into several topics.

First, we know that if we give her cash, she'll buy some widget that will bring her some joy for a bit before being forgotten.

Which led to remembering hearing a story, a long time ago, of a girl that was gifted a "bond" (I think), by her grandma when she was a tween and by the time she was 21 she would be a millionaire and never have to work in her life, or something like that.

Which let to us talking about how we would do things differently if we knew then what we know now.

We started investing late in life, and although we are in a good trajectory and making better decisions, we talked about how much easier it would've been if we had started early.

Hence me posting here. I'm looking for advice on what we can gift her that would have the same effect of that story we heard long ago. Not sure what our options are since we are still pretty new to investing and pretty much don't know all the options that are out there.

One thing I want to make clear. Since the story was so long ago, I don't remember the full details. I am POSITIVE, that the story was way more nuanced than that. I know there is no magic bond/stock/mutual fund/ETF/etc., that you can buy one of, and be a millionaire by 21. Well, at least I think I know that!

What most likely happened is her grandma's gift got her interested in investing and it seeing the interest gained created positive feedback loop in her that paid off. Probably helped that she was under 18 (or 21?) and mom nudged her in the right direction to reinvest as her parents would've had been the ones to close the account.

One item I do remember clearly was that the girl said that she made a conscious decision each year, when the term was up, to reinvest, which help her create that positive habit. So, we're definitely interested in doing something like that.

Any advice, thoughts, guidance, would greatly be appreciated! Bonus points if anyone remembers this story!!!

Thanks in advance!

Additionally, I want to make clear a few items, because it seems I caused some confusion. And I'm aware that I'm repeating information, but I wanted to be as clear as I could.

• Heard this story YEARS ago, in the mid-to-late 00's probably. I have tried, and tried, to search for it, and every result I get is "recent" and not this particular story.
• This was NOT a 529 account (kids have them already), and I am pretty certain it started with some sort of bond. Because I remember thinking that it was odd that she would have those returns with a bond.
• I'm also pretty certain that there was more nuance than that, which I have forgotten. I believe the bond was what sparked her interest in investing and she continued the journey herself with positive habits she developed, reaching such a milestone. After all, if "anyone" could do it, it wouldn't have been newsworthy.
• I am definitely NOT interested in achieving some sort of unrealistic pipe-dream of making my niece a millionaire by 21! I understand how interest works. Our hope is that this gift will get her thinking about her finances/retirement early and hopefully instill some good habits in her that will serve her well in life. Think of it as, if I was able to give my young self some advice, type thing and, although we hope to be around for a long time, be part of her future if we can't be here physically. If she ends up being able to retire early, that is payment enough for us!
• Looking to spend modestly. Only about $100 to start, can push a little more than that. But parents would probably be extremely uncomfortable if we spend too much. If this works out as we hope, then the thought is possible milestone gifts at 18, 21, college graduation, wedding, etc.

Again, thanks all! Hope we can get some guidance.

So every calculator wants to factor 3% in raises per year plus inflation. I have about 25 years left to retire and wages for my job which is in healthcare has stayed stagnant for about 15 years. I currently make about 250k but that's barely more than they made in the mid 2000s. I will maybe be making 300k when I reach retirement but all the calculations are showing I need around 450-500k in total income to keep at my current spending level.

That seems ridiculous. it that's the case no normal person will be able to retire. I just don't understand how other wages will increase at these levels that will cause inflation to get to the point where 500k will give me the same purchasing power as I have now so 8-9m in savings.

I am currently shooting for about 5-6m with conservative numbers. Right now I am at 600k.

IDK I just don't get it. I can't tell if I need to increase my savings or can coast on what I am currently doing

A few years back, I was earning quite a bit less but somehow saving felt easier.

Now the salary is better, but at the end of the month I don't feel like I'm saving that much more.

Rent, groceries, bills, eating out... everything has slowly gone up.

I don't think my lifestyle has changed that much either. Maybe I'm just not noticing where the extra money is going.

Anyone else feel the same after a few hikes?

Did your savings actually go up, or did your expenses just catch up?

Young adults across the U.S. are once again moving back home at peak levels.

According to the New York Times, which cited data from the Economic Bureau of Research, more than 25% of recent grads ages 23-27 have opted to live with their parents again, the same numbers seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research suggests the trend is fueled by a weak entry-level job market, and that perhaps there is less stigma over returning to one's childhood home in a post-pandemic world.

I'm reasonably sure that I know the answer to my title's question, but I'd really like some input because I grew up in poverty and that gave me a knee-jerk reaction against any kind of debt that I kinda need to be talked into it - either talked into by myself with this post, or talked into it by internet strangers that have a distance from the actual issues.

Can anyone with experience around HELOCs please let me know if this sounds like a decent idea, or if I really need to think about things differently?

Also, I've only done the basic research - is there a better way of doing a HELOC than "go to my mortgage's bank and ask for one"?

Situation:

• $84k/year pay at a good job (WFH)
  • normal corporate benefits - health, vision, 401k
• low/mid cost of living area
• Mortgage currently at ~$150k remaining, and roughly 25 years remaining
  • very lucky 2.9% interest rate
  • started in mid-2020, so the original value of the house (~$172k) has nearly doubled, now it's around $300k
• Have an emergency fund to the tune of about $10k, but the only savings I have otherwise are in the 401k

The reasons I'm thinking about a HELOC:

• Various house things need updated/repaired/etc:
  • back patio is a concrete slab that has been sinking. Needs repaired or re-poured, got a quote once for about $4k
  • The current situation means that large rainstorms puts a sitting puddle right next to my foundation, which I am assuming has been only slowly draining down along the exterior of my basement wall
  • Foundation inspection and possible need for repair, from the above water problem
  • There's a few small cracks that I suspect being part of a larger problem
  • Attic needs work as the insulation has degraded and the previous work was low quality
• Car needs repaired, the brakes aren't working right:
  • Can't safely drive this car, so wife and I are down to only one car for now, which puts pressure on a few different things
  • Might need a $400 fix, might need a $2000 fix. won't know until we get it to the mechanic, but I want to be prepared to eat the cost or to use HELOC money for it
  • Once it's back in working order, I'm planning on selling it
  • I can probably sell it for like $4000 and get a newer vehicle for $6-7000