Parents worth $3M ask to borrow $1200 from their 20-year-old to pay for his 17-year-old brother's braces: 'I don't know if they can even repay me, or meet their bills'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Nov 7, 2025 11:00 AM EST

Net worth doesn't mean anything if you can't pay your bills.

Have you ever heard the term "house poor?" It means that someone has a really expensive house, but while they're paying off said expensive house, they have little money for anything else. In an ideal world, you'd be able to have the home of your dreams with a monthly mortgage payment of 25% or less of your monthly take-home pay, but we don't live in an ideal world. In the real world, you have to choose between spending too much for your dream house and spending an amount you can afford on a more modest home. 

You can be house poor in a responsible way by not spending a ton of money on vacations, new clothes, or other "fun" purchases. But if you are so house poor you can't afford groceries or medical bills, then you need to cut your losses, sell your home, and buy a house you can actually afford. Otherwise, you're going to have a net worth in the millions while asking your teenage kid to pay the water bill. 

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  • A man and a woman hugging each other
    via Luwadlin Bosman

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The parents in this story are relying on their 20-year-old to pay half of their medical bills. While their young adult son lives in the home they can't afford, they expect him to cover the bills that they can't cover, which would be fine if they were living below the poverty line, but they have a net worth in the millions.

  • Am I the bad guy for asking my mom to hurry up with deciding if she needs my $1200 or not?

    I'm 20 years old, and I have about $7500 USD with $2300 of it being in cash.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • My parents are financially fucked. Technically they're worth 2 mil, but their mortgage is so big and my dad makes 2/3s what he used to make.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • They pretty much live paycheck to paycheck, and sometimes need loans from me or grandparents to survive.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • They've borrowed 1600 from me in the past, and paid it off in full. They do not like it when I ask them to repay me, or if they've got the funds.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • Fair enough tbh, I wouldn't like it if my loanbrorker lived in my house, and asked me for money.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • Tho I asked once every week. Anyway my little bro needs braces, and my parents were quoted $12k.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • A man with braces smiling at the camera
    via JSB Co. (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • They got a loan, and their first payment will be 2200. I MAY(probably) pay 1200 and they will pay 1000.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • My little brother needs it, and I'm happy to help pay for it. Hell for my little brother, I'll even let my parents take up to a year to repay me.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • BUT I do not like their(mostly my mom's) behavior in regards to my money. She'll let me spend $1100 of it, and wants me to give $1200.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • BUT she refuses to state WHEN she'll take it, saying "You still have your money". I tried pressing her and she said "Why are you so selfish, all you care about is money, have some emotions", and I got yelled at.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • With repayments, I'm aware my parents financial situation have changed, and I do not know IF they can even repay me, or meet their bills.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • I need to know when I can expect my money. Imo not the way to treat someone who's giving a 0% interest loan, for god knows how long.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • You wouldn't treat a bank this way. All I want to know is "When will you be taking my money" "how long will it take for you to pay me back" Am i the asshole for asking them?
    via u/richmnsworld
  • Also they let me stay in their house rent free, and pay for food. EDIT: My parents are worth closer to 3 million USD, have 4 deeds on, two properties and I'm 100% Indian and I live in and hold Australian citizenship.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • Aeriel photography of Sydney Australia
    via Jamie Davies

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • My parents lived rent free until they were 25. Don't know why it's relevant but here we are.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • 333Nereus If their net worth is $2m and they are living paycheck to paycheck, they need to sell their expensive house and buy a home within their means. I'm betting they go on vacations regularly and spend like drunken sailors on luxury items though. Nobody here is an AH, just living beyond their means.
    via u/333Nereus
  • OP richmnsworld >I'm betting they go on vacations regularly and spend like drunken sailors on luxury items though. No. They haven't been on a vacation since 2022 and haven't been overseas since 2017. They don't drink or eat anything fancy. They don't have ANY luxury items. Not a single one.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • actualchristmastree INFO why won't they downsize their houses? ETA you said they won't accept rent payments but they do accept help for emergencies, what if you put money aside each month for your parents, and give it to them when they ask?
    via u/actualchristmastree
  • OP richmnsworld >INFO why won't they downsize their houses It isn't profitable for them to sell. Shit ton of taxes. They Also my little brother's in his final year of HS. >what if you put money aside each month for your parents, and give it to them when they ask? It's what I'm planning on doing
    via u/richmnsworld
  • guppytub Maybe it's time for the parents to get a more affordable home if this one is so expensive. Though at your age, I would expect my kid to pay some form of rent unless they are in school full time. Regardless, money borrowed is money that should be repaid. It's also not unreasonable to want a timeline of when they need the money. NTA
    via u/guppytub
  • OP richmnsworld They'll leave in 2-3 years I predict. They've finally given up. My little bro needs to grad HS, then they're out, and I'll buy my own place soon after.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • Spare-Airline-1050 Giving and loaning are different things. You mention still living at home, and your parents cannot afford "their" bills. So you mean your bills? Since they are still supporting you by providing a place to live, eat and provide your transportation. If they can no longer pay those things they may lose the house, the cars, their ability to provide food for you and your brother. Set stipulations behind your LOAN if you wish. But don't claim to be "giving them money" if it's not a
    via u/Spare-Airline-1050
  • OP richmnsworld >Set stipulations behind your LOAN if you wish. But don't claim to be "giving them money" if it's not a gift. fair >You mention still living at home, and your parents cannot afford "their" bills. So you mean your bills? Since they are still supporting you by providing a place to live, eat and provide your transportation. My bills and their bills are the same thing. $50 dollars worth of food/water, and $20 on petrol is all I add. It's not like they'd move houses or change anything
    via u/richmnsworld
  • meewwooww Are you sure they are worth 2mil if they still have an expensive mortgage? For example, if they owe 1 million on a 2 million dollar home, the home would only add 1 million to their net worth. Idk what other assets are involved here though.
    via u/meewwooww
  • OP richmnsworld My parents have told me multiple times they owe one million on each property. They own 2 properties. They told me one is worth 3.5 million, and the other is worth 3 million. 6.5 million is approx 3 mil USD. I lowered it by a million, cause | don't know how reliable their numbers are.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • FnafFan_2008 Start paying room and board if you value your relationship.
    via u/FnafFan_2008
  • OP richmnsworld They won't accept it. They're very proud people, and they wouldn't like being given stuff by their children. I'll get yelled at if I even offer. If they ask for it, I'll give something. Indian culture. My parents lived rent free, and got free uni from their parents.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • PinkNGreenFluoride No, this is contradictory. Two multimillion dollar mansions is absolutely "luxury items." They'll just have to figure out how to somehow get by on only one multimillion dollar mansion. Ah, nevermind, I see. This one can't keep its story straight, from a comment by OP an hour before this one: "FOUR very large mortgages, they own 4 houses, and one flat."
    via u/PinkNGreenFluoride
  • OP richmnsworld 4 deeds. 2 lots of land. it used to be 1 deed, but my parents built 3 houses on one lot, then got a deed for each one. Then they bought another lot of land, and built 2 houses, but didn't get an individual deed for each. One flat is still attached to one house. So 5 houses total.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • Beneficial_Sun_2459 That is absolutely NOT financial independence. You may consider it so, but you're not correct.
    via u/Beneficial_Sun_2459
  • OP richmnsworld It certainly isn't. But it happens in stages, and I'm meeting my requirements. Parents asked that I pay for my phone plan, computers and my public transport, and I did so.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • TheOracleofGunter Financial independence is usually defined somewhat differently. As... being financially independent. If you are a student at a university, but don't understand basic English, you are likely to be wasting your money in any case.
    via u/TheOracleofGunter
  • OP richmnsworld Financial independence happens in stages, and I'm meeting my commitments for my age. Kids don't get abandoned at 18 in Australia/India, like in your country.
    via u/richmnsworld
  • Competitive_Ninja668 I wouldn't give them a penny. Why is their financial irresponsibility your problem?
    via u/Competitive_Ninja668
  • OP richmnsworld Because I live with them. If they're gone, I'm gone. They even drive me to wor. I can't afford to live without them. Plus they've raised me. Family don't betray each other like that. They're good peple. Plus I feel kinda shit for my brother, like I gotta let him have his braces. I value my relationship with my parents more than 1000 dollars.
    via u/richmnsworld

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