Singaporeans Share Shocking Stories Of Parents Demanding Allowance — Including One Who Turned Up At Workplace

Giving parents an allowance has long been a hotly debated topic. While some see it as an important act of filial piety, others believe it should depend on whether their parents genuinely need the financial support.

A Redditor recently asked: "What's the most extreme case you've seen of parents demanding an allowance?"

The question quickly went viral, with users sharing stories that ranged from awkward to downright shocking.

The original poster kicked things off with the story of a man in his late twenties who moved out after constantly clashing with his mum, saying he was tired of being treated "like a teen."

After moving out, he reduced the allowance he gave his parents because he now had rent and other expenses to pay.

His mum reportedly didn't take it well.

"She came to the office, told the receptionist she was there to bring him food, then caused a massive scene," the OP wrote.

Another netizen shared an even more heartbreaking story.

After a friend's father passed away, her mum allegedly asked, immediately after returning from the crematorium, how much allowance she would now receive since her husband was gone, "basically demanding that she gets both shares".

The friend later called the commenter in tears, saying her "dad's bones weren't even cold yet", but all her mum could think about was money.

Another commenter recounted their friend's experience with her ex-fiancé, who worked in customer service and reportedly earned between S$10,000 and S$12,000 a month.

Despite his salary, his entire paycheck was deposited into his mum's bank account. She would then transfer him an "allowance", an arrangement he apparently preferred because he didn't trust himself to manage his finances.

Things came to a head after he treated his fiancée to a Valentine's Day dinner.

A few days later, his mum allegedly called the woman to question why the meal had cost so much, why they hadn't split the bill, and even accused her of trying to take her son's money and being a gold digger.

According to the commenter, that was the final straw. Their friend ended the engagement and gave up their BTO flat.

Many netizens felt she had made the right decision, saying there is a fine line between being filial and being a "mummy's boy".

Another story came from a commenter whose former colleague worked as cabin crew during the pandemic.

Before Covid-19, she gave her mum around S$1,000 a month, roughly 20 to 25 per cent of her salary.

When the airline slashed salaries to around S$1,000 during the pandemic, she could no longer afford the same allowance.

According to the commenter, her mum threw a tantrum and still demanded the full amount, insisting she was entitled to it because she had raised her daughter.

The stories sparked a lively debate, with many agreeing that parents should not expect an allowance if it compromises their children's own financial well-being.

One commenter wrote: “Many of the parents here sound as if they have no retirement savings and they are 100% reliant on their children for monthly allowance. I don't believe that fully, I think that they are just being greedy.”

Another added: "I believe once your adult child moves out and pays their own bills, any money they give you is supposed to be a gift, not an entitlement. Showing up at their workplace to demand more is way over the line, that is control.”

A foreign commenter said the thread helped them better understand why many Singaporeans feel stressed, noting that family expectations can be just as overwhelming as work.

Amid all the jaw-dropping stories, one netizen said the thread reminded them to thank their own parents.

Another agreed, saying that after reading all the "cuckoo stories", they felt even more grateful for their family.

Honestly, same.