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So it turns out that Boston.com readers have a lot of very good reasons as to why they’re still on their parents’ cell phone plans. And a lot of other Boston.com readers have a lot of very good reasons as to why they’d like their kids off them. To hear the kids tell it, the shared phone plan makes financial sense for everybody. “My mom gets a senior citizen discount; I give her two thirds of the bill every month, and she pays it,” explained Jason from Peabody. “My wife and I were paying $200 by ourselves before, and now we pay $160; $40 is $40 and every little bit helps!” But some of the parents who own the plans were having none of it. “I kicked my kids off my cell phone plan several years ago to stop their mooching and, more importantly, to help them think and act like independent adults,” wrote GenXer Jeff W. of MetroWest. And D.G., a baby boomer from Mass., wrote, “Can’t wait for them to get their own plan! I think it may go hand in hand with rolling off my health insurance plan at 26.” You’ll recall that, according to a survey by the cell phone and internet plan comparison site WhistleOut, one in five American adults is on their parents’ cellphone plan, although that number has been shrinking — from 34% of American adults in 2022 to 22% today. The reduction could be the result of families just outgrowing their family plans. “Years ago it was cheaper to enroll in the family plan,” wrote Sue, a baby boomer from Medfield. “Now with grandkids on the plan it’s gotten expensive.” Grandkids! Of the close to 250 Boston.com readers who responded to our questions, most (62%) were GenX and baby boomer parents with adult children on their plans. Some of them are, admittedly, disgusted with themselves: “It doesn’t work,” wrote one anonymous boomer. “Our kids are 36, 35, and 33. They all work and we should not be funding their cell expenses. Shame on US!” Others can’t bear the idea of dealing with the phone company more than they already have to. “Any interaction with a cell phone company is so painful from a customer service/customer experience point of view, I’d rather my children stay on my plan than have to deal with the cell provider,” wrote Roger M. from Boston, one of several who expressed that concern. And others are happy to do it, and to remind their kids that they’re doing it. “It is a Christmas gift,” wrote an anonymous baby boomer from Marshfield. “We write a note and put it in a box or give them a card which reminds them that we pay and it costs us money every month.” Hopefully Rick from Back Bay is doing at least that: “I support them a lot!” Rick wrote. “Credit cards, phones, FastPass, Sirius/XM, Netflix, and more. All three are in their 30s.” Fans of “Parks & Rec” can be forgiven for assuming that at least some of Rick’s children may be Jean-Ralphio and Mona-Lisa Saperstein. (“Money please!”) Below, parents and children defend their positions on the great cell phone debate. Responses have been edited for length and clarity. Here’s what people say about having their adult children on their plan: “We have both our adult children AND OUR ELDERLY PARENTS as well as a sister, her spouse, and their two kids on our plan because it is less expensive for everyone. The plan originated with my husband and me.” — Anonymous (GenX), Arlington “Trying to help them with the expenses of living in such a high-cost area — a small subsidy that I can contribute while they get their feet on the ground.” — Anonymous (baby boomer) “It works for now. Both my kids just entered the workforce. I’ll probably let them stay on my plan until I retire (2-3 more years). I also have my father on our plan. I haven’t asked him to pay, but I’m sure he would if I asked.” — Michelle F. (GenX), Rowley “We are soon changing our personal policy. Once our oldest turns 25, he will need to get his own cell plan. We will most likely require the same for our youngest. Right now, they have part-time jobs and live at home, like many other 20-somethings. This generation seems to need a bit of a boost to cut the apron strings and live independently. They are more likely to hold out for their ‘dream job’ rather than taking any old job to pay the bills. That coupled with the fact that rent is impossibly high right now and we have a whole situation.” — Brenda (GenX), Whitman “I feel like most kids/young adults have it hard enough these days trying to get themselves financially established. Cars at 8% interest, mortgage rates in the 7’s, house prices through the roof. Most other parents with kids the same age as mine have them living at home with them. At least mine is paying for her own place! — Patrick (GenX), Cohasset “The current situation is mainly due to inertia. The last time I looked into getting my 25-year-old son, who has his own place, off my plan, it involved some annoying paperwork that felt not worth tackling.” — John M. (GenX), Maynard Here’s what people say about still being on their parents’ plan: Note: All who left comments identified themselves as millennials. “I’ve asked many times if my parents will allow me to come off their ancient family plan as I’ve felt like a deadbeat not paying for a cell phone this entire time. Since my grandma is still alive and using a phone on this plan, it makes sense to keep it until one of us dies. Before you criticize me, I will attest to being a successful member of society, able to pay my own way, and I’ve tried to repay my parents in many ways over the years to sort of make up for this free ride. It doesn’t sit well with me being almost 40 and my parents still pay for my phone bill that I’ve had since I was 13, but it is what it is right now — someday it will change.” — Craig, East Bridgewater “My parents got my sister and I our own cell phones starting in 7th grade in 2004. The Verizon family plan we are grandfathered into with unlimited data is much less expensive than moving to new individual ones. My parents pay the bill and my sister and I pay our share. They also used to make us pay when we racked up fees for text and data overages. If anyone has an issue with consumers doing what makes financial sense for them, then they are quite simply idiots with misdirected anger.” — Matt, Beverly “Still can’t afford another $100/month despite nine years [working] and a graduate degree. And spouse working full time as well.” — Michael E. “My husband is also on his mother’s phone plan, so there has been no need to combine forces. Neither of our moms have wanted to rock the boat in terms of current rates, and I’m not inclined to deal with the logistics of switching for no reason. I also worry about losing my phone number! However, I’m not sure what we’ll do when our son gets old enough for a phone.” — Tina D., Boston “I pay for the streaming services that my parents use, which are equivalent to, if not more than, my portion of the phone plan. Overall less expensive than if I had my own phone plan and my parents paid for their own streaming services.” — C., Plymouth “Started on a family plan 20+ years ago because cell providers charged college students extra without an ‘adult.’ All us kids are in our 40s now, but the family plan continued. Mom (late 60s) accepts monthly calls and refuses money as payment. It’s been a silly running gag in our family. But, we’re reversing roles in a few weeks. We’ll be canceling the big family plan for a variety of cheaper plans/providers better suited to each sibling. It will save Mom $150+ a month and she’ll be on my plan. I won’t be charging her!” — Lynn, Lakeville Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
