by: Dick Stroud
MoneyPlus, the magazine published by Standard Chartered, has an article about the extending period that children are dependant on their parents for money. The article is actually called: “How not to be helicopter parent” – the sort that ‘hover’ over their kids every financial decision. I would think this is easier said than done.
There were a few facts in the article that caught my eye. How true they are I have no idea but I suspect they are in the right ball park.
40% of parents worry that they will be saddled with their kid’s debts
9% of men are still at home when they are in their 30s
23% of graduates are still at home and 53% have delayed buying a home by 6 years.
76% of first time house buyers (under 25) couldn’t afford a property without their parent’s assistance.
All these figures are pre-recession – so the situation now will have got even worse – assuming parents perceive having their adult children living at home and still requiring their financial help, a bad thing.
Bottom line all of this argument is that parents, many of them being 50-plus are important elements of their children’s decision making process for large capital purchases. Marketers should understand that.
Original Post: http://www.20plus30.com/blog/2009/01/you-can-always-rely-on-bank-mum-and-dad.html
