Boston.com readers still pay for their adult children's phone bills — and they're not happy about it

Boston parents are still shelling out the cash for their adult kids' phone bills, and they're not happy about it. The cost of these family plans can quickly add up when you start adding in grandchildren.

According to Boston.com readers, many (62%) have GenX or baby boomer parents with adult children on their plans. Some are disgusted with themselves, saying that it doesn't work - "Our kids are 36, 35, and 33. They all work and we should not be funding their cell expenses. Shame on US!" Others can't bear the thought of dealing with phone companies more than they already do.

On the other hand, some parents see it as a financial win-win: "We have both our adult children AND OUR ELDERLY PARENTS as well as a sister, her spouse, and their two kids on our plan because it is less expensive for everyone." Others are happy to do it, even going so far as to write notes to remind their kids that they're being paid for.

Of course, not all parents are keen on the arrangement. Some millennials have been on their parents' plans since college and aren't ready to switch just yet. "I've asked many times if my parents will allow me to come off their ancient family plan as I’ve felt like a deadbeat not paying for a cell phone this entire time."

The reasons for staying on the family plan vary widely, from financial necessity to convenience. One parent noted that they're only canceling when their child gets a job and can afford their own plan. Another joked about having a "silly running gag" with their parents about who's paying for what.

As one reader pointed out, it's all about making financial sense - even if that means continuing to pay for someone else's phone bill.
 
I'm still shocked when I think about my own parents' generation... back in the day, they'd have just bought a landline and been done with it 📞! Can you believe they're still shelling out cash for their adult kids' phone bills? 62% of GenX or baby boomer parents are stuck like this too? Some people are even paying for their grandkids' phones on the same plan as their grown kids! I mean, isn't that just... something? 😲 On the bright side, some parents say it's a win-win - everyone pays less. But honestly, I think my own parents would've never done this. We'd have just gotten our own plans in college and been like "good riddance" 👋!
 
🤦‍♀️ "You can't fix stupid," but you can try to make the most of it! Some people might feel like they're enabling their kids, while others see it as a way to save some cash and have more peace in their lives. It's all about perspective, right? 📈
 
omg this is wild lol like how do ppl not have kids of their own by 36? anyway i feel for the parents who are stuck with these plans tho 🤷‍♀️ they're literally doing math on it, trying to figure out when their kid can afford their own plan. and some ppl are just not ready to deal with those phone companies again 📞 like, can't we all just get along? but at the same time, i think its great that ppl are making a financial plan work for them. its all about finding that win-win situation 💸👍
 
📱💸 I feel like many people are just stuck in the moment, you know? Like, they're just trying to survive and make ends meet, so they don't want to deal with the hassle of getting a new plan or worrying about their kid being on it forever. But at the same time, some parents are like "peace out, I'm making that cash" and using it as a win-win for everyone in the family! 🤑 It's all about finding that balance, right? And honestly, who can blame them for wanting to keep it affordable and not deal with another bill to pay? 🤷‍♀️
 
🤦‍♀️ Can you believe how far back these family plans go? I remember when my friends and I were in college, we thought it was so cool to have our parents footing the bill for our phones too... Fast forward 20 years and now it's like a rite of passage to not be able to get off the family plan. 📱 I feel for the millennials who are still on their parents' plans, it's like they're stuck in some kind of mobile phone limbo 😂. And can you imagine having to write notes to remind your kids to pay up? 🙄 That's just crazy...
 
OMG I was just at the park yesterday and I saw this squirrel 🐿️ trying to steal a kid's ice cream cone... like who needs that much sugar anyway? Anyway, back to these family plans... isn't it weird how we still live in a time where people feel obligated to support their adult kids financially? Like, what even is the deal with that? Shouldn't they be paying for themselves by now? And can you imagine having to deal with phone companies more than once? 😩 my internet just went out last week and I was totally freaking out... anyway, yeah, it's all about making financial sense, right? 🤑
 
🤔 I mean, can you believe some people are still shelling out cash for their adult kids' phone bills? Like, 36, 35, and 33 years old? 🙄 What's next, paying for them to get married and have kids of their own? 😂 But seriously, it's like, financial sense, right? Some parents see it as a win-win - less expensive for everyone. Others are just too lazy to switch plans. 📱 I guess it's not all bad, though... some people are making it work and even getting paid for being on the plan! 💸
 
Ugh 🤦‍♂️, I'm so over these family plans! It's like, I get it, they're convenient and all, but come on, who thought it was a good idea for parents to be shelling out for their adult kids' phones? And now grandma and grandpa are getting added too 🤯. It's like, we're never going to pay our own bills anyway... 😒. I mean, I've got my friends who are all about switching out of their parents' plans as soon as they can, but others just seem to be stuck on this arrangement forever 💸. At least the ones making the note reminders know how to handle it though 📝. Anyway, I guess it's all about making financial sense... or just getting away with free phone bills 😂.
 
😩 This is just crazy talk... remember when your parent's plan was actually meant for their own kids only? 📱 Nowadays, it feels like we're all just adult children ourselves 🤷‍♀️, and our parents are expected to keep funding us into our 30s and even 40s 🙄. I mean, come on, some of these millennials should be ashamed of themselves for expecting their parents to foot the bill forever 🤑. And don't even get me started on grandparents – is it too much to ask them to chip in a bit? 😒
 
It's wild how some parents are literally funding their adult kids' phones 📱🤑 and then feeling guilty about it... Meanwhile, others see the benefits of sharing a plan with other family members 👪💰 Like who doesn't love having one less bill to pay each month? 🙌 And honestly, if your kid can afford their own phone bill, why should you be funding theirs too? 🤑 It's all about making financial sense... even if it means being the mom or dad who gets reminded "you're paying for this" every month 😉
 
😊 I feel so bad for these parents who are still shelling out for their adult kids' phone bills. It's like they're being forced into a never-ending cycle of financial responsibility. 🤯 But at the same time, I get why some people might not want to switch plans - it can be just as expensive, if not more so, than having everyone on one plan. 💸 The fact that some parents are having to deal with the stress of phone companies is no joke, and I think we should all take a collective sigh of relief when someone finally gets off their parent's plan! 🙌
 
🤯 I feel like this is soooo familiar... my aunt still shelled out for my cousin's iPhone when he was in college! 😂 It got to the point where she wrote him a note saying "You're getting paid, kiddo!" 📝 Anyway, it just goes to show that family plans can be convenient (and sometimes expensive!) - I know some friends who are still on their parents' plan too... they say it's better than switching and dealing with new rates all the time. My grandma used to do something similar for my uncle when he was in his 20s, but now she says it's getting hard to keep track of everyone...
 
🤑 this is wild how some people are basically financing their adult kids' cell phone plans and still complaining about it 🤦‍♀️ meanwhile others see the benefits of having everyone on one plan, especially when you've got multiple generations living together 💸 like a financial win-win situation for them 👍
 
LOL what's wrong with our parents?? I mean I get it, phones are expensive and all but is it really worth shelling out that cash for your adult kids when they're already 36? Can't you just budget or find a cheaper plan? 🤷‍♂️ And yeah some people might not wanna deal with the phone company drama too. But at the same time, having all your family members on one plan is like a financial win-win, right? Less stress and more savings for everyone. I mean what's wrong with that?! 💸
 
😊 this is just wild, right? Like, our parents are basically paying for our cell phones and we're not even adults yet 🤯 some ppl r like "no way" while others r all "meh, it's less expensive 4 everyone". idk about the latter though... seems kinda weird that they'd be cool w/ their kids being on their plan too 💸 but i guess when u gotta pinch pennies, u gotta pinch pennies 🤑
 
😂 I feel you! I know some of my friends are still on their parents' plans too and it can get pretty annoying (not just because of the money 😅). But at the same time, I get where they're coming from - especially when there are a lot of mouths to feed. My friend is actually really smart about it tho... she's got her own plan but also has her parents' number saved on her main line so when she needs to call them she can just use that and save the family $$$ 💸. Not sure if that's weird or genius? 🤔
 
omg I feel u guys!! 🤦‍♀️ my mom is still paying for my aunties phone bill lol we're all living together and it's just easier to have one plan but idk how many ppl can afford that anymore 😩 anyway I think its all about making the most of it right? like some parents are literally saving money by having their whole family on one plan so yeah let's give those moms a shoutout 💁‍♀️
 
I feel so bad for these parents 🤕 they're literally getting taken advantage of by their adult kids. I get why some of them are doing it out of love and convenience (my mom has done the same with me, but now that I'm all grown up, I'm like "mum, pay up!")... but 36 is still kinda young to be expected to pay for your own phone bill 📱. Can't we just have a conversation about it instead of just shelling out cash?
 
I gotta say, I'm not surprised when I see my own mom still shelling out cash for my phone bill 📱😂. Like, what's wrong with being a good kid and paying your own phone expenses? But at the same time, I get where parents are coming from - it can be super expensive to set up and cancel plans, especially if you've got other dependents on there too.

I've seen my mom do that silly running gag thing with me, too 😆. She's all like "oh no, who's going to pay for the phone bill now?" and I'm just like "mom, come on..." But seriously, it's all about making financial sense, right? If having a family plan is less expensive for everyone involved, then yeah, it's worth it.

I do wish some parents would be more open with their kids, though. Like, if they're going to keep paying for your phone bill, can't they just tell you why? 🤔 It'd make life way easier for us kids. But overall, I guess it's just one of those family things that we've all gotta deal with 😂.
 
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