Have you ever been faced with a parent that may not have the means to retire? What have you done? Do you just accept that your parent or in-law will need to move into your home someday?

This is something that my DH and I might face one day with one of our parents. She never did anything to further her own education past being a SAHM. Her husband died when she was only 40 and she never tried to make it on her own past any small inheritances she received. My DH has tried to tell her for years and years that she needed to do something for herself. Then nada, nothing, zilch. Now, she is running to DH for help and suggestions on what to do................after he has already spent years offering some suggestions. Now it all seems too late. Or is it? She's still only 60.

She's a nice lady, but the idea of her living with us is not too exciting for me. Not that this has come up yet, but I worry about it. Especially since she and my DH argue like crazy!
It would just be a lot of stress on our family if it ever came to this.

Now that she is finally realizing her situation is not that grand what sort of advice could my DH give her now?

My parent's and my FIL will be able to retire comfortably. My MIL has not remarried in the 30 years since her divorce and is the worst spender I have ever seen. She doesn't have a penny saved and I WAS very worried as it would have driven me crazy having to support her. This is a women who is in massive debt but has more designer purses then I can count and once called me from the limo she had use of for the day while her car was being detailed. But about a year ago, she started a very serious relationship with a very, very wealthy man. I hope it works out!

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I like that one............yep, I have thought about it too! But, she has not dated a single person, and is very Catholic. (Not that should matter.) I'm thinking she'll become a Nun before she finds that wealthy man.

Yep, we are in this rocky boat!

My parents are divorced, but were married for 39 years and retired comfortably at 50 years old before the divorce. When they split they each got half, so it is still OK. DH's parents on the other had are pushing 60 and are just now starting to save for retirement. MIL drops hints about us helping to care for them and such, going so far as to claim it is the LAW that children take care of their parents when they are older. I have to say, we will never have any of our parents live with us. when our last child leaves the nest we are selling the house and relocating to a warm climate....far from Illinois, to spend time with just US. I had a son when DH and I met and we had 2 more in the next 5 years, so we look forward to just being a couple.

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Illini Bob's wife....mom to 3 little chiefs

My parents are set. No mortgage, no debt, savings and investments. They have lived below their means for a long time. I like to get my dad's thoughts on money issues because he is a wise resource, but I don't want him to know we have cc debt. lol.

My in-laws are great people and I love them a lot, but I don't get the impression that they are where they thought they'd be at their age. FIL is still working long hours at a stressful job and I worry about his health. I truly do hope they'll be okay.

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Attaining financial freedom is like eating an elephant . . . it takes one bite at a time.

My grandma was widowed at 60 with nothing. She was always a sahm, but went to nursing school at age 60 and became an LPN. It didn't enable her to retire, but she worked for another ten years before she had to depend on her children. She is most likely going to be living with my parents soon as my aunt that she lives with now has cancer. Grandma is now 89.

So, it isn't too late!!!

My parents are retired now and doing fine. My inlaws are semi-retired (they sort of work, but earn very, very little). They do not know how to spend money wisely so we will most likely have to help them out. We have in the past helped them financially already.

Yes...my parents and my inlaws were all able to retire as planned.

Thankfully, both my parents and my husband's parents are all retired and living comfortably. My mother was just saying how lucky they are the other day because not all of their friends are in the same situation. I also have a friend whose parents were middle class, but paid for both kids to go to private schools and colleges. They're now in their late seventies and have no money beyond their house, and that needs significant repairs. My friend is trying to help them out a bit but they refuse to take any help. She just sees the situation as getting worse and worse and is very worried about it.

My parents have been retired quite comfortabley for awhile now.

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~Happiness is a large family~

My dad is officially retired ( he did so at 51) and my mom is on disability, and would have been okay to retire in a few years had she not become gravely ill 5 years ago.

My in-laws....they could retire...if they would consider moving out of the state they currently live in. THAT is an ongoing issue with DH, BIL and my in-laws.

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