‘Grow up, already, you’re an adult’

Dear Amy: I am in my late 20s. I live with my parents. They paid for my college education and they are currently paying off the corresponding loans.

My father is not in the best shape, but he is working a lot of overtime in an attempt to get everything paid off before retiring.

They have not asked for any help with these bills, but I would like to offer without offending anyone.

There are two loans in my name, and I’d like to offer to take over one of them.

This would give me the ability to continue saving for a place of my own, yet relieve them of some of the burden.

I am looking for the best way to approach this, any ideas? — Overburdened

Dear Overburdened: If you have two loans in your name, you should be paying off not one but both of these loans. Your parents have done enough.

You are in your late-20s. Congratulations, you are an adult! Grow up, already!

You are the person who should be working overtime to make these loan payments, not your father.

You are a college graduate (thanks to your folks). And you are (presumably) also ablebodied. Postpone your plans to move out and double up on your own work to help retire this debt.

You should ask your parents to have a family meeting. Thank them from the bottom of your heart for all they’ve done for you. Tell them you have figured out how to pay off your loans; ask them for the paperwork and then make the payments.

If they refuse to let you contribute, then you should take the money you make from your own overtime, sock it into an account, and present them with the balance when you move out and/or they retire.