Being a Grandparent Can Take a Big Toll If You’re Not Careful

“Children are often spoiled because no one will spank grandma.”

I smile every time I see that quote. I know my own mom loves nothing more than spending time with — and spoiling — my two young kids and her other grandchildren.

According to my folks, being a grandparent is pretty much the best thing ever. My mom says it’s way better than being a parent because you can love and dote on the kids, then send them back home with their parents.

I must admit, that does sound pretty amazing.

But there’s a monetary cost associated with being a grandparent who loves to spoil the grandkids. And if grandma and grandpa don’t keep the spoiling in check, they run the risk of taxing their own limited resources, says The Motley Fool.

An AARP study found that 1 in 4 grandparents spend a whopping $1,000 or more each year on their grandkids.

“And considering that many grandparents are also retirees, that’s a lot to spend for folks living on a fixed income,” The Motley Fool says.

Although many grandparents are shelling out for the traditional birthday gifts and holiday presents, more than half (53 percent) of those surveyed by AARP said they’re writing checks for their grandkids’ educational expenses and 37 percent said they’re providing money for day-to-day living expenses.

All that generosity can take a significant toll on older Americans’ finances. Says The Motley Fool:

Imagine you become a grandparent at 52, only instead of saving an extra $1,000 a year for retirement, you spend that money on your grandkids. Assuming you’re looking to retire at 67, and that your investments could’ve generated an average annual return of 5 percent, giving your grandkids that money means losing out on about $21,600 in retirement income.

Now let’s visit another scenario. Imagine you’re already retired and living on a fixed income of $2,000 a month between your Social Security benefits and your retirement savings. Spending $1,000 a year on your grandkids means parting with over 4 percent of your income — and that’s probably not something you can afford to do.

If you’re a grandparent who loves spoiling your grandchildren, that’s great, as long as you’re not putting your own financial health at risk. If you’re the parent of a spoiled grandkid and you’re worried about your folks’ (or your partner’s folks’) spending on your kids, don’t be afraid to speak up.

“Reinforce that your children love spending time with their grandparents as much as they like spending money (a fact you can remind your children of as well),” says Time. “Sometimes grandparents (and parents) forget that it’s the thought that counts, and get caught up in expectations that can be corrected.”

Check out “Grandparents: Here’s Why You Should Talk Money With the Grandkids” and “Here’s the Ideal Gift for Your Grandkids.”

Are you a grandparent who loves to spoil your grandkids? How do you keep your spending in check? Share your comments below or on our Facebook page.