Parents allow unemployed 23-year-old son to move home, he requests $10k from Dad after quitting new job: 'You don't quit your job without having another lined up'

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Dec 20, 2025 3:00 PM EST

People of all ages are trying to make ends meet, and it's not easy. It feels like we're all a bit stagnated right now! Many of us grew up planning to have lives similar to our parents: get married, have 2 or 3 kids, have a long career, then retire in our 50s to enjoy the slow life. But uh… that's not working out, is it? Most of us can't afford to have that many kids — we can hardly afford to stock our pantries, let alone have enough to feed a huge family. And we'd love to join a workplace, stay for a few decades and rise through the ranks, putting money away for retirement. But instead, we're cycling through temporary job after temporary job. Just forget about a 401 (k) when there are overwhelming bills to pay! 

Although a lot of parents have a "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" type attitude, more and more people are seeing this reality for what it is. We're already working as hard as we can, but we're still left spinning our wheels. That changes the future that young people — and the parents who are supporting them — envision for themselves. 

Without major life milestones that used to be common, like having kids of your own or becoming a manager at a company, many people are left adrift in their own lives. This dad and his kid are feeling that pinch, too. As Dad explained in the story below, his kid is in his 20s, but he's not exactly planning out his money usage well, nor is he particularly savvy about getting and keeping a job. While the son certainly holds a lot of blame here, commenters blamed his parents for enabling his flighty tendencies. They point out that if their son is never allowed to fail, and can always depend on Mom and Dad to be his backup plan, he'll never truly mature. Check out the story as told by the father down below, and see who you side with. 

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  • 01

    'Kids these days!'

    Cheezburger Image 10589297920
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    So, short back story: My son failed out of college and bounced between meaningless jobs and fell way behind on his car payments and insurance. He kept asking for Dad Loans, etc. and going down hill. He started stealing from the house, and one day my wife accidentally left the safe open and he made off with about $5k in cash. Weeks later,
    via u/Acrobatic-Classic-41
  • 03
    he needed $400 to pay for his insurance. Like a fool, I gave it to him. He took the money and went on a 3 day fishing trip. I found out where he was, and when he got back his shit was on the porch. He came home and I informed him that I was done, and he was out the door...
    via u/Acrobatic-Classic-41
  • 04
    He couch surfed for a while, then finally went to a trade school, got a decent job about 2 hours from us, and rented an apartment. We were starting to reconcile, and he came for Thanksgiving.
    via u/Acrobatic-Classic-41
  • 05
    We thought it was odd that he spent 8 days with us. He went back for 4 days (He normally worked 4 10s and had 4 days off.) then showed back up to hang out for another 4 days... He shouldn't have had that much vacation and claimed he had to use it before Jan 1st... I was seeing SM posts during hours he should have been at work. I finally got him to own up to the truth...
    via u/Acrobatic-Classic-41
  • 06
    He quit his job back in October. He is still unemployed, he is 4 months behind in his rent, his truck payment is 3 months behind, his car insurance is lapsed, he did not pay his personal property taxes for his truck, etc. and his checkbook is $600 overdrawn... He has gotten a new credit card and already owes $7,500 on it and is over the
    via u/Acrobatic-Classic-41
  • 07
    limit. So, by definition he is BROKE. However, he has not canceled his subscriptions, still buys vapes, eats out every day or has it Ubered in, etc. His spending is out of control for an unemployed man... He asked to move back home so he could get his shit together, find a new job, etc. My wife, the emotional one, said yes without consulting me. We always back
    via u/Acrobatic-Classic-41
  • 08
    each other, so I will allow it, with firm rules. She said she could not say no because my oldest son and his wife are currently 'staying' with us because they lost their house in a natural disaster. They are buying a new house soon, it is not permanent.
    via u/Acrobatic-Classic-41
  • 09
    Older man in denim jacket sits outside next to younger man in checkered shirt who shows him iPad
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 10
    I have a classic car. I am out of carage space, so it is stored in my enclosed car hauler. He wants me to go home (I am on a trip) and put that car out in the weather, and come and get all his shit so he can be out of the apartment and home for Christmas. Naturally, he has no money for a U-Haul or a storage unit. He thought my car would just to sit outside while his shit is
    via u/Acrobatic-Classic-41
  • 11
    stored in my trailer until he gets it together. I agreed only under conditions... He has to line up some friends to help, and he has to find someplace to put it all so my car can go back in the trailer.
    via u/Acrobatic-Classic-41
  • 12
    Of course I threw the obvious at him: He should have ditched the apartment the day he quit his job. You don't quit your job without having another one lined up. You always pay your truck because you can sleep in your truck but you cannot drive your apartment. You quit buying shiny shit when you are broke and have your hand out. You know, all the same
    via u/Acrobatic-Classic-41
  • 13
    shit I taught them all (5 kids, all adults now) growing up. The other 4 picked up what I put down, and are doing fine. THEN, he related that he now owes $13k to the city he was working for because they paid for his trade school (signed contract, 3 year obligation).
    via u/Acrobatic-Classic-41
  • 14
    Now for the mildlyinfuriating part: He wants me to pay off his contract so he doesn't have that hanging over his head, pay off his credit card, and boost him. another $10k to help jumpstart things. Really? He is 23, I threw his ass out when he was 21. I recently lost my good job due to downsizing at 58 years of age. I do have enough savings to bridge the gap until SS and 401k withdrawals.
    via u/Acrobatic-Classic-41
  • 15
    I would have to get a job to bail his unemployed ass out!
    via u/Acrobatic-Classic-41
  • 16

    Commenters weren't super sympathetic to these parents

    Gothy-Mistress I mean.. you enable his behavior. Why would he try to be better when his parents will always clean up his messes?
    via u/Gothy-Mistress
  • 17
    CollectionHauntin... There's a difference in helping and enabling. You both have enabled him to get to this point. Stop giving him money. And honestly, the fact that he steals from you and you still let him back in is insane. If he had previously left your home under good standing, okay..fine. But he treats you
    via u/CollectionHaunting94
  • 18
    both like you're disposable bank cards and you're okay with that? He will never break this cycle if you keep letting him back in. I'm sorry, but grow a spine.
    via u/CollectionHaunting94
  • 19
    Possible-Tangelo... Your wife can't see the difference between one child losing their house due to natural disaster and your other child losing everything due to their own shitty choices? You're gonna die broke cuz she's gonna give your deadbeat son everything
    via u/Possible-Tangelo9344
  • 20
    Taphouselimbo Wow I wish I had rich parents to sponge off of for ever. Parents that are mildly affluent making the next money monster. Remember frankensteins monster really wasn't the monster in the story.
    via u/Taphouselimbo

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