Adult Allowance: One In Five Young Adults Receives An Allowance

Nearly one in five adults between the ages of 18 and 34 get some kind of regular allowance from parents or family members, according to data from the Pew Research Center.

Living at home, doing chores and getting a regular allowance. Not much has changed since middle school--except that this describes nearly 20 percent of adults old enough to vote.

Nearly one in five adults between the ages of 18 and 34 are getting a little help from the Bank of Mom and Dad. Overall about one in 10 of all adults still get some kind of financial help from parents or relatives, according to new data from the Pew Research Center.

Parenting websites and blogs offers many different kind of tips on how to calculate what a weekly allowance should be--for young children. But what's an appropriate allowance for a 26-year-old college graduate who has to live at home because the job market stinks? The Pew research didn't get into details on the amount financial assistance young adults received from family, but it's not enough to live large: The survey showed that eight in 10 of 25-to-34 year olds who are living at home say they don't currently have enough money to lead the kind of life they want.

How much do you get on a regular basis from your parents or how much do you give your adult children? Email [e-mail] or share your comments below.

Three out of 10 adults between the ages of 24 and 35 are living at home with their parents--that is highest number of live-at-home-grown-children since the 1950s. The data is based on a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center with 2,048 adults nationwide between Dec. 6-19. 2011.

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Comments

[49tales]

08:57 PM on 03/26/2012

I don't give my kids allowance but they both still live at home. One just finished college and the other is just finishing high school

I'm content with them living here as long as they want because they are both responsible, motivated and working towards goals. To me it would seem silly for them to move out just for the sake of moving out and throw away large portions of their income on rent. I'd rather them stay here for a few more years, save their money and be in a position to buy a home when they finally move out.

We also have older relatives approaching retirement who all live by themsleves and struggle each month paying for the basics. It doesn't quite make sense to me why they all struggle when they could pool together and things would be a little better for all. There's nothing wrong with multigenerational homes as long as one isn't taking advantage of another

[Fud Casablancas Idris]

10:47 AM on 03/26/2012

It is appalling to be reading this. When I was younger I do receive pocket money / allowance just enough to get me by for lunch in school everyday but once I'm entering the pre-university stage and at a legal age to get a job, I did not ask nor receive any kind of help from my parents because I know that they can't afford it and being that age of 17, you would already feel quite embarrassed to be receiving from your parents. Right now I am trying my best to save up for my own education for university plus help out with the bills at home, paying for the house and my own personal commitments that I have.

These kids, i mean, "adults" need to be aware about the struggles of people like us to appreciate money and to show them that sacrifice is an important aspect of life, no matter what your status is.

[CharlesBrown008]

11:11 AM on 03/26/2012

Why? Seriously, why should other people be impressed by your accomplishments or lead their lives by your standards?

[piceaglauca]

10:21 AM on 03/26/2012

Right, just what I need, my kids sucking at the trough. It's bad enough that my wife does it though I have tried to teach her independence even putting her in her own place ( a small cottage over looking the lake). No, my kids work and come back to the house from time to to time to get a free meal and see how I am spending my money. Short of raiding the fridge which I fill up with things I don't want everything is great. The world is open to many opportunities self made or educational parachutes. The point is, if you have been mother coddled and silver spoon ed in the mouth raised then shame on you. If you have come up from the other side and done well, roof over your head, food in your stomach, supporting partner, kids not in jail, then you are my kind of person. Don't let anyone stop you from being successful. All you have to do is work for Roter Rooter for two weeks to know hard work pays off, you'll move forward pretty quickly and your parents aren't a bank.

[Glass Cannon]

10:02 AM on 03/26/2012

The world isn't set up anymore to easily go out and get a job that can support even a single person, let alone a young family. The family model where the young are launched from the nest to fly or fall is not really ideal anymore. Many Asian cultures share family resources and often have homes that accommodate 3 or 4 generations because they have long had the necessity to pool resources. Now we do too. But that's not to say that the young should not shoulder the lion's share of the responsibility for the family, they should. The parents should be getting the helping hand from them, especially if they are retired.

[piceaglauca]

10:26 AM on 03/26/2012

Persopnally, never had trouble finding a job, always there for the taking after applying. Many I've turned down and still doing it. Have retired twice and went back to something different for more fun. The point of this is there are jobs. People are too spoiled and your point is taken when you have to refer to an immigrant to get the right message off. "Many Asian couples.....blah, blah," and that is the key. Too many are about me when a family can do so much more. I don't want to share a butter bowl but will when there are bigger fish to fry.

[Glass Cannon]

12:08 PM on 03/26/2012

Are you in the age category that's referred to here in the article? Life at 30 now is quite different now that it was in 1970. I think this article is recognizing that change, at least partly.

[pierre cache]

08:02 AM on 03/27/2012

I guess if I wasted my money putting my daughter through college majoring in Woman's Studies(with a minor in Gay and Lesbian studies) I would allow my daughter to live at home while she was looking for a non-available job she was qualified for. Roof, food and maybe a little for gas to get her for interviews. But my daughter is majoring in Engineering so I doubt very much she will be moving back home!

[Glass Cannon]

11:24 AM on 03/27/2012

That's good to hear. Best of luck to her!

[mikebianc]

10:13 AM on 03/21/2012

As a kid, I did not get an allowance. As a parent, I do not give an allowance. I will pay my children for work and chores, etc, but I do not believe in simply giving money to a child just for being a child.

For the younger kids, we set up a reward system in our house. We have a bin of quarters and ecah week, they start off with $5 in quarters. Throughout the week, they can earn or lose quarters for various things. At the end of the week, we count them and they are allowed to keep anything > $5. In addition, whoever has the most gets to choose a prize from the treasure box which has some games, toys, sometimes movies, vouchers for "cold stone alone with Dad", etc.

When we go shopping, they bring their own money that they have saved and can spend it on whatever they want (or not spend, but save it instead if they choose).

[piceaglauca]

10:28 AM on 03/26/2012

What a silly game. Why would anyone do this unless you're bored. You know what "rising expectation" causes? What do you plan to do when they gorw up, have $50 bills in the jar?

[mikebianc]

10:59 AM on 03/26/2012

Not sure I follow. I am speaking of children, not "grown ups." Setting an expectation early in life that you have to work for things and nothing is handed to you. To me, the idea of an adult receiving an allowance is *ludicrous*.

[CharlesBrown008]

11:21 AM on 03/26/2012

I just leave a pile of cash in a drawer and I told the little ones to replace what they take with receipts. Oh, and I told them there may be 'discussions' about how they spend the money. The system works pretty well, and I like the fact that I can track what they spend money on. Most of the receipts are for grocerys.

[ashesashesj]

09:47 AM on 03/21/2012

This kind of statistic always blows me away.... I'm 28 years old. I have worked since I was legally able to do so. I paid for my own college, earned my own scholarships (because I knew my parents couldn't afford to pay for it), and I moved out at the age of 18. Now I own my own house, and I help my parents pay for their bills because I am financially savvy and successful. I knew that I wasn't going to get any handouts from my parents, so I never expected any. The entitlement factor has gone way too far...

[CharlesBrown008]

11:35 AM on 03/26/2012

I am more impressed by co-operation than I am by self-reliance. But that's just me. Hey do you get a lot of women with that speech? Share some notes.

[cupido]

08:49 AM on 03/21/2012

And 5 out of those 5 will vote for Obama this coming election.

[piceaglauca]

10:28 AM on 03/26/2012

Will his kids be living at home?

[mteston1]

08:21 AM on 03/21/2012

Don't buy a house, live in a tent.

[piceaglauca]

10:29 AM on 03/26/2012

A tongue in cheek remark but why think big when you can save big.

[Remy Arrr]

03:00 AM on 03/21/2012

Seriously? Are they, like, adopting, by any chance?

[oldwolf49]

02:44 AM on 03/21/2012

Last time I got any kind of "help" from my parents or any relative I was 14. Since then it has been job, selling plasma, or living on savings. Must be nice.

[piceaglauca]

10:30 AM on 03/26/2012

If you react to others (just saying) you'll never get out of bed.

[hammhome]

02:37 AM on 03/21/2012

This age group has been hit very hard by the lack of jobs from the very anemic Obama recovery.....These kids have to take an allowance from Mom and Dad cuz they haven't been able to start their careers and move out. A little compassion, please.

[Glass Cannon]

09:56 AM on 03/26/2012

The GOP needs them in the military. That's an option they won't consider. Slackers.

[piceaglauca]

10:31 AM on 03/26/2012

It could have been a McCain recovery. the people at the top don't matter. the problem was already there, it just appeared like a festering boil.

[Leonid Basin]

02:25 AM on 03/21/2012

Interesting!

[CommunistMold]

02:19 AM on 03/21/2012

You know, sadly this happens. But would you rather their parents help them out(if they can) or the government. With food stamps, unemployment, ect. If I have the resources no matter how old my child is...if they need anything they can always come to me.

[piceaglauca]

10:34 AM on 03/26/2012

They shouldn't need anything. They should want something then work for it. Needs, were parent responsibilities at 2 years. Raise them right and set them loose. Giving them something is a free jesture based on some form of feeling like love which isn't the same as come in "you must be starved". Poor thing.

[CommunistMold]

08:55 PM on 03/27/2012

ok so I your kid who is the parent of your grandcild loses his job. Tell him/her no if they need any monetary help because you raised them right and you set them lose.

[KIVPossum]

02:02 AM on 03/21/2012

Can't believe it! If a kid is still at home, even if they only earn burger flipper wages, they have no expenses...mommy is buying their food and paying the electric bill.

[pepper1311]

02:46 AM on 03/21/2012

Yes because mommy wants kids to live like he did. Wonder why people over spent on everything from homes to every toy on earth.

[KIVPossum]

03:15 AM on 03/21/2012

Subsidising a grown child is only encouraging them to be dependent.

My step son understands that when he graduates this year he has 6 months to find an apartment or start paying rent. We might give him pocket money for a month while he hunts a job and after that if he needs cash, he better find an alternative source

[piceaglauca]

10:35 AM on 03/26/2012

You can't live like "he did" if you are always giving to someone else. they are the ones living.

[OneTop]

01:42 AM on 03/21/2012

""1 In 5 Adults Still Receives An Allowance""

It's a shame they aren't Oil companies then it would be 5 in 5.