The majority of students think they contribute fairly to their family household, but parents in the north east disagree and see outgoings increase by £1,845 when their children return for the summer holidays
Family tensions rise over kids not picking up after themselves and mum and dad asking where their children are going
When youngsters fly the nest and head off to university, parents expect to be relieved from the pressures of playing taxi driver, doing a big grocery shop and constantly cleaning up after them. They may also hope to have few extra pounds in their pocket. But that dream is only a reality until the kids come home.
New research fromTopCashback.co.uk, the UK’s most generous cashback site, reveals that 36 per cent of parents in the north east feel under financial pressure when their children return home and three in five (60 per cent) are stressed as a result.
However, children in the north east are blissfully unaware of the strain they put on their folks with the majority (64 per cent) admitting they do not know if they change their parent’s financial situation when they are living back at home.
The study of parents and students who come home for the summer holidays, in the north east, finds that parents see their outgoings increase dramatically by £1,845 over the summer months. They face an additional £317 in bills, £36 more in fuel costs and give their children, on average, £352 in cash. Parents in the north east also pay for them to go on the family holiday, and even shell out for their kids to go away with mates, costing a staggering £1,140 combined.
Nevertheless, it seems parents are shielding their children from the financial burden. More than a quarter (27 per cent) do not make their children aware of the increased monetary worries while 45 per cent ask their kids to do more around the home instead of paying rent or helping with bills. As a result, 67 per cent of youngsters in the north east think they contribute fairly to the running of the household, yet more than half (55 per cent) of parents disagree.
Feuding families: what really winds them up?
The research also reveals parents and children’s pet peeves when living together. Parents become frustrated when their children do not pick up after themselves and children dislike it when their parents are overly protective.
| Children’s top 10 pet peeves of living with their parents | Parents’ top 10 pet peeves of living with their children |
| 1. Treating them like a kid (28%) | 1. Having a messy bedrooms (61%) |
| 2. Not respecting their privacy (25%) | 2. Children not tidying up after themselves (59%) |
| 3. Asking where they are (25%) | 3. Leaving the lights / switches on (34%) |
| 4. Giving them chores (19%) | 4. Leaving towels on the floor (32%) |
| 5. Judging what they spend their money on (19%) | 5. Eating all the food (29%) |
| 6. Being overprotective (17%) | 6. Not cleaning the bath (27%) |
| 7. Asking serious life questions (14%) | 7. Sleeping in all day (21%) |
| 8. Small talk (14%) | 8. Not spending time with family (16%) |
| 9. Opening their post (14%) | 9. Swearing (16%) |
| 10. Forcing them to eat food they don’t like (11%) | 10. Water on the bathroom floor (14%) |
Natasha Rachel Smith, Consumer Affairs Editor for TopCashback.co.uk said: “With the rise of the boomerang generation and more and more children relying on the Bank of Mum and Dad, it’s not surprising that parents are feeling stressed about finances. However, our research also shows nearly two fifths of parents in the north east use budgeting throughout the year as a way to ease the financial strain.
“From switching energy suppliers to booking holidays, with a little know-how, parents can make a saving or even get money back to help with their increasing outgoings. Looking for voucher codes, discounts and cashback opportunities can also help free up some cash.”