Role Reversal: Louisiana Kids Are Helping Parents Pay the Bills

(KMDL-FM) - Have you ever lent money to your parents? Well, if you have, you're surely not the only one in Louisiana.

While it surely has been common over the years for parents to be the go-to lenders for their kids in need of a few bucks, the tides may be changing.

A new survey shows that about 40% of adult children in Louisiana say they have lent money to their parents, flipping the script.

How Much Louisiana Kids Are Lending Their Parents?

A survey by MarketBeat of more than 5,000 respondents showed the average total loaned by adult Louisiana children comes to $900. In most situations, the money was lent for practical things versus indulgent purchases.

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Why Parents Are Asking for Help

Nearly half (48%) of parents asked their kids for help with bills or day-to-day expenses, while 34% needed support in an emergency. Only 12% said the money went toward lifestyle purchases such as vacations or luxury items.

The Emotional Side of Lending to Family

The survey dug a little deeper and found that emotionally, most children felt proud to help their parents (78%). But, naturally, it wasn't all positive as 8% said it damaged their relationship. Another 6% admitted to resentment and 8% vowed never to lend again. A not-too-surprising 22% even said they would consider charging their parents interest.

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Parents Charging Interest, Too

It's not surprising in that MarketBeat previously found that parents themselves are increasingly charging kids interest on loans, averaging 5.1%. Compare that, though, to the national personal loan rate of 11.25%.

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Other broader findings in the MarketBeat survey included:

• Loan comfort levels: 29% of parents won't lend more than $100 at a time, while 15% are comfortable lending $5,000 or more.
• Repayment terms: 21% expect money back within a month, 21% within six months, and 15% are willing to wait up to a year.
• Inflation's impact: Half of parents say rising living costs have changed how much they're willing to lend.
• Family drama: While 86% insist money hasn't damaged relationships, 14% admitted lending has caused lasting conflict.

“Family lending has always been about generosity,” said Matt Paulson, founder of MarketBeat.com. “What’s changing is that both generations are now on the hook. Inflation and tighter household budgets mean kids are stepping in to cover the basics, and parents are sometimes acting more like banks by charging interest. These transactions aren’t just about dollars - they’re tests of trust and responsibility within the family.”