47% of adults claim they don't have $400 for an emergency?

[MIGrandma]

The grandparents didn't have to help with their granddaughter's college educations, it was their choice. I don't feel sorry for them, or the guy who the OP is talking about. They made their choices.

Our son didn't go to college, he had no desire to go and the occupation he went into didn't require it. Our daughter went to college for two years and paid for it herself, along with several scholarships she received in high school. At the time we didn't have the $$$ to help. We did, however, take out a small loan to pay for her wedding. It took us 3 years to pay it back, but we felt it was worth it and it was our choice to do. I paid for her dress out of my tip money (I was working as a waitress), and her future in-laws gave money towards the reception.

We have good life insurance policies, investments, etc. and we keep money in our savings account for emergencies. We also have zero balance credit cards that we could use in a pinch if we absolutely had to.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I have an emergency fund. I try to put away as much as I can. We live on one income. I don't work and can't even collect disability as I have no doctor. We have not had a vacation in 4 years. And can't afford it. And I won't charge to do it either. I don't want payments. Some people can have a hard time for simple things.

If you are disabled shouldn't you be seeing a doctor anyway? Or find one so you can apply?

 

[ronandannette]

So on top of everything else, he wastes $200 or whatever to have the wedding announcement published in the NYT? I know, his daughter deserved it.

This is such a weird but prevelent mindset that evolved; idolizing children and gaining a sense of self-worth and accomplishment through "providing" for them. The author seems so proud of what he's done, and kind of defensive, as if no rational person could have possibly made any other choice... I also wonder what happens to DD #2 now - who's left to bankrupt themselves to pay for the wedding that she (supposedly) will "deserve" when the time comes?

Never in a million years.
But I often wonder why grandparents that have been frugal minded their entire lives are willing to do this? What kind of child did they raise that would even _ask_ them to do such a thing?

Maybe they were on the cutting edge of the "my kid deserves anything his heart desires" trend? It does seem absolutely AWFUL that the author knowingly compelled his parents into the financial ditch. How could anybody be so monumentally selfish and blind to reality? And I'm not reading any sense of remorse for the state he's left them in - quite the contrary. His self absorption is really quite breathtaking.