Woman, 24, Says Big Sister Quit Job and Can’t Pay Bills — Now Family Wants Her to Help Because She’s Young. ‘Can Always Save Again Later’

Saving is hard enough when you’re living at home, skipping dinners out, and quietly building a bank balance one boring weekend at a time. It’s even harder when your older sister decides that since you’ve managed to be responsible, she’s entitled to your money.

A 24-year-old woman took to Reddit after her 29-year-old sister came to her asking for help covering bills. The younger sibling, still living with her parents, explained that she’d been saving for years to eventually move out—but the moment her sister ran into trouble, she assumed that safety net was up for grabs.

“I told her I didn’t really have money to spare,” she wrote. “She then said she already told our parents that I’d help her.”

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Then came the line that summed up the entitlement perfectly: “You can always save again later.”

According to the woman, her sister quit her job last year and hasn’t had steady work since. She’s picked up odd jobs here and there but nothing consistent. Now, facing bills she can’t cover, she’s turned not to her parents—but to her little sister, who doesn’t even have her own place yet.

The kicker? Their parents aren’t exactly forcing her to hand over the cash, but they’ve made their position pretty clear. They keep reminding her that she’s “young” and that “family should support each other”—even though the support here seems to be flowing in the wrong direction.

Everyone Agrees: This Isn’t Her Job

While commenters didn’t hold back, most skipped the drama and went straight for the logic: If anyone should be stepping up to help a struggling 29-year-old who quit her job, it’s the parents—not the sibling quietly trying to move out.

“If family should help each other, why don’t they give money to your sister?” asked one.

“She needs to stop using you as a backup plan,” said another. “Your parents also need to stop the passive-aggressive comments.”

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Many warned that once you say yes to this kind of request, it rarely ends with a single transfer. “Hold your ground,” one top comment read. “If you say yes now, they’re going to see you as a cash cow forever.”

And then there was this brutal truth bomb: “Never share with anyone that you are saving money.”

Why This Happens More Than You Think

Guilt trips like “you’re young” and “it’s just this once” are common in families—especially when someone’s been responsible while another hasn’t. But the stats show the woman is far from unusual for living at home and saving hard. What’s unusual is the direction of the financial expectation.

According to a Savings.com report last year, more than 50% of U.S. parents with kids over 18 give their adult children regular financial support—averaging about $1,500 per month. That support most often comes from parent to child, not sibling to sibling. Which makes sense: helping your kids get on their feet is common. Expecting your younger sibling to float your bills? Not so much.

What this woman is doing—living at home to save, delaying independence to build a cushion—is what 41% of young adults say they’re doing too, according to Empower. It’s a strategy, not selfishness. And quitting your job without lining something else up? That’s not a strategy. That’s a problem of its own making.

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The numbers make it clear: the typical family support system is vertical, not horizontal. Parents help kids. Kids sometimes help aging parents. But siblings aren’t automatic emergency funds—especially when one of them actually planned ahead.

Setting Boundaries Without Apology

The overwhelming response to this post wasn’t about drama—it was about boundaries. Being the responsible sibling doesn’t mean you become the bailout plan. You’re allowed to say no. You’re allowed to protect the savings you worked hard for. And if the people around you can’t respect that, it might be time to make your exit plan move faster.

If you’re navigating these kinds of blurred lines, it’s worth talking to a financial adviser. Not just to protect your money, but to protect your peace. A professional can help you separate guilt from goals—and make sure your future stays yours.

Because the truth is, you can’t “just save again later” if you keep giving away the progress you’ve made. 

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