Son Earning $112K Asks Dad for $20K to Pay Credit Card Debt
The Original Post
My son calls me out of the blue (since he got married 5 years ago we haven’t had the close bond we once did). He told me he can’t live on his 112k a year salary. He then asked me if I would help him (monetarily). He traded his 240k house for a 350k house, has 2 new vehicles he leases, who knows what other expenses and asked me for 20k to pay his credit card debt. I have no expenses beyond my rent (im never home so buying a house makes little sense) and my utilities. I don’t have 20k to give him and I feel like even if I did, I wouldn’t. He must be living beyond his means. And he went to a baseball sme on the company credit card and now worries he could lose his job as a new owner takes over. AITA for referring him to a debt consolidation company and refusing to financially help my child?
What Reddit Said
Redditors overwhelmingly supported the father’s decision to refuse financial help. Most commenters pointed out the son’s obvious poor financial choices and irresponsible spending habits. The consensus was clear: someone making six figures should be able to manage their finances without parental bailouts.
However, many users were particularly shocked by the company credit card misuse. They noted this wasn’t just poor budgeting but potential fraud that could result in job loss. Moreover, Redditors appreciated that the father still offered constructive help by recommending professional debt counseling.
The Verdict
The overwhelming consensus: Dad is Not the Asshole (NTA). This case perfectly illustrates how a son earning 112k asking money from parents reflects deeper financial irresponsibility rather than genuine need. Reddit agreed the father made the right choice in refusing to enable his son’s poor spending habits while still offering practical alternatives through debt counseling resources.
Original post from r/AmItheAsshole (1,206 upvotes, 458 comments)