I recently read a survey - I wish I could remember where, but I can't - and was surprised to learn that more adults than I would have guessed received financial help from parents or other relatives to support their lifestyle. Do you receive help, or did you at one time (after college, that is)? How much of your current lifestyle could you attribute to the help? If this is too personal a question, I've provided a poll as well.

No significant help: Relatives provide no financial help, or small gifts that don't impact our lifestyle
Some help: Relatives help pay for little things that impact our lifestyle (memberships, buying furniture, etc.)
Substantial help: Relatives help support our lifestyle (impacted our home purchase, standard of living, etc.)

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We do not get any from them, but if we got ourselves into a crisis situation, they would be there to help us out.

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My mom is helping pay for me to attend WW. Other then that we have too much pride to ask them for help. After all they paid for so much already and are still paying the parent student loans. If we were in real trouble they would be there but I don't want to have to ask them for the little things.

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006

We don't get any help from relatives, but we aren't ones to ask either. I put down some help because my dad would be especially good at helping us in tough situations like he sometimes helps us with buying food. He will look in our fridge and make sure we aren't running low I am not good at asking for help and neither is DH but for the most part God is really blessing our financial situation. We run low on food only once in awhile and all our bills get paid and our children have clothes We never go hungry.

We do not get financial help from our relatives. In fact, we help out my inlaws financially every so often. Long story there.

When I first got a job and was on my own, my grandmother gave me $1000 to move to a new city with and she did buy me a washer and dryer - that are still working and being used, gratefully, since 1995! Past that, I have not had any help. Since being married, none other than small gifts here and there.

But, I know my parents would be there to help us if we needed it.

We have received help. But I'd like to "clarify".

Dh's parents are frugal - they have gotten early inheritances and b/c they are financially set they will pass on the money to us. Did we ask for it? NO. We have accepted it with gratefullness. Dh's paternal grandfather also paid off a large piece of land for dh's parents. This is how the family is. This "gift money" then went to paying down mortgage and buying our van

Dh's dad will also help with our home improvements and dh has helped them.
Both sets of our parents watch our children often so that we don't have to pay for a sitter.

Do we need help in any regular basis to get by? No.

We have gotten quite a bit of help in the past. My inlaws will always help if they think we need it. My parents have helped in the past, but not often. My mil still ends each conversation by asking us if we need any money!!!

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~Happiness is a large family~

This is the same with us but it's both sets of parents. I'm glad you wrote that because I didn't know how to clarify our situation but you explained it well. We never ask. We never assume. But we are very grateful for 'old' money that has passed down through generations and onto us by frugal and generous parents. And they share equally with all the siblings .. not just us because we make less.

We don't either but it does substantially improve our quality of living. But could we survive without it? Absolutely.

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my parents will help pay for the kids to get some new clothes when needed or even there activities! wich helps!! Ihave asked only when needed but not regualr;u and other times they are just around! when Im paying and hand me the money or send it when I dont know about it!! It really helps and the kids can get the fun they deserve!! Im really thankful for it!!

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Kelly mom to 2 gymmonkeys!!!

I voted we get some help...but not sure if that's really the right category. If I ever needed money for something they would be there to help in a heartbeat but we don't ask.

For the baby shower my mom bought the baby's crib and carseat because she wanted to help out and of course start spoiling her first grandchild. She does things like this often. For example we are wanting a new computer so my mom and dad offered to get us one for our christmas present. They would rather give gifts that are needed than things we don't. Does that make sense?

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Proud mommy to adorable Kinsley

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