That whole “I’m an adult now” energy Gen Z gives off? It comes with some pretty significant asterisks. The same people posting their apartment aesthetic and “adulting” wins on TikTok are also the ones texting mom about how to cook chicken properly or calling dad when that mysterious car light appears on the dashboard. The independence is selective, to say the least. While they’re building careers, managing their own social lives, and developing their unique identities, there are still plenty of areas where parental backup remains crucial. Here are the things that even the most independent Gen Z adults still rely on their parents for—no matter how much they insist they’ve got everything figured out.
1. Decoding Insurance Paperwork
Insurance might as well be written in ancient hieroglyphics for all the sense it makes to you (most Americans agree with that, according to The New York Times). Deductibles, premiums, out-of-network providers—it’s like they deliberately make it confusing just to see if you’re paying attention. When those forms arrive, they immediately get forwarded to the family insurance expert (usually a parent who’s been dealing with this nonsense for decades).
Your parents have somehow developed the ability to understand what’s actually covered and what hidden fees are lurking in paragraph 17, subsection B. They know which insurance representative to talk to and exactly what to say to get things covered. It’s a skill you hope to develop eventually, but for now, you’re grateful that someone in your life speaks fluent insurance-ese.
2. The Family Phone Plan
You might be living on your own, cooking most of your meals, and paying your own rent, but somehow you’re still riding the family phone plan wave (according to mobile plan search engine, Whistle Out, you’re part of the 12%). It’s not just about saving money (though let’s be honest, those individual plans are highway robbery). It’s also the comfort of knowing someone else is handling those random “your plan is changing” notices that make absolutely no sense.
Your parents probably tried to kick you off once or twice, but then realized they’d be paying almost the same amount anyway. So here you are, sending that occasional Venmo payment that probably doesn’t cover your full share. Just try not to think about the fact that your parents can still see exactly how many hours you spent on TikTok last month.
3. Car Maintenance
You know your car needs regular oil changes and tire rotations. You even have a vague idea of when they should happen. But somehow, when your car starts making that weird clicking sound, your first instinct is still to call home before calling a mechanic. There’s just something about vehicle maintenance that activates immediate regression to childhood.
Your parents probably still remind you when it’s time for your inspection, ask if you’ve checked your tire pressure lately, or suggest you bring your car home during your next visit so dad can “take a look at it.” And let’s not even talk about that moment of pure panic when the check engine light comes on. No matter how many YouTube tutorials you watch, some automotive wisdom just seems to skip a generation.
4. Proofreading Important Emails and Applications
For casual texting, you’re all lowercase and minimal punctuation. But when it comes to those high-stakes messages—job applications (according to Forbes, about 1 in 8 people had their parents write their resumé), emails to your landlord, or anything with legal implications—you still find yourself forwarding drafts to your parents with “does this sound okay?” Before sending anything that could impact your future, you need that parental stamp of approval.
They catch the typos you missed after reading it fifteen times, suggest better phrasing, and help you strike that perfect tone between professional and personable. Sometimes they even talk you down from sending that passive-aggressive email to your boss that definitely would have gotten you fired. Their outside perspective has saved you from countless email disasters, and you’re not about to stop using that resource anytime soon.
5. Storage Units (Also Known As Childhood Bedrooms)
You’ve proudly moved out, but somehow half your possessions are still occupying prime real estate in your parents’ home. Your childhood bedroom has transformed into a bizarre museum/storage facility containing everything from sports trophies to winter clothes to that collection of something you swear you’ll sell online someday.
Every time you visit, your parents gently remind you that “you might want to go through some of your things” before they eventually snap and make your stuff the core plot of a yard sale. Yet you keep putting it off because your apartment is too small, and paying for actual storage feels like admitting you own too much stuff. Plus, having a permanent archive of your life stages gives you a weird sense of security that you’re not ready to let go of yet.
6. Financial Gut Checks
You’ve researched the pros and cons, created spreadsheets, and read all the online reviews. Yet before pulling the trigger on any major purchase or financial decision, you still find yourself running it by your parents. It’s not that you need their permission—you just want that reassuring “that sounds reasonable” before committing your hard-earned money.
They’ve typically seen more financial cycles than you have and can spot potential pitfalls you might miss. Whether it’s negotiating a salary, buying a car, or deciding between retirement plan options, their experience provides a reality check that no amount of internet research can replace. You act like you’re just “keeping them in the loop,” but both of you know you’re actually looking for that parental validation before proceeding.
7. Last-Minute Outfit Approvals
Despite being part of the most style-conscious generation, you still occasionally find yourself sending mirror selfies to your parents with “Does this look okay for a job interview?” or “Is this appropriate for meeting the potential in-laws?” Some fashion judgment calls just require family input, especially for those milestone events where the stakes feel higher.
This habit started back in high school before big events, and somehow it never fully went away. Even with friends who are brutally honest, there’s something about the parental perspective that feels more grounding. They know when to tell you that yes, you should absolutely change, or when to reassure you that you’re overthinking it. Their fashion sense might be questionable, but their judgment of social appropriateness remains surprisingly reliable.
8. Home-Cooked Meals
Your cooking skills have evolved beyond microwaving ramen, but they still don’t compare to the meals you grew up with. There’s something about food made by parental hands that simply hits different. That’s why you find yourself strategically planning visits around mealtimes or casually mentioning dishes you’ve been “craving lately” as subtle hints.
When you do visit, you mysteriously end up leaving with enough leftovers to feed you for days. And let’s not forget the care packages that arrive with homemade cookies or family recipes that somehow never turn out the same when you make them. Food might be the most honest reason you still depend on your parents—because no matter how sophisticated your palate becomes, nothing quite compares to the comfort of familiar family cooking.
9. General Life Advice
Google can answer what, but parents answer why. When life throws those existential curveballs—relationship troubles, workplace drama, or just general “am I doing this right?” moments—parents remain the ultimate advice hotline. They’ve seen enough life cycles to provide perspective when you’re stuck in the emotional weeds.
The beauty of parental life advice is that it comes from people who actually know you—your patterns, your tendencies, and your blind spots. Unlike friends who might tell you what you want to hear, parents typically shoot straight, even when it’s not the validation you were hoping for. Their guidance comes with decades of context that no internet search or self-help book can provide, making it a resource you’re not likely to outgrow anytime soon.
10. Funding For Special Occasions
Your budget covers the basics, but when special occasions arise—graduations, weddings, milestone birthdays—there’s often a mysterious influx of parental funding. Whether it’s helping with a security deposit, contributing to a wedding fund, or surprising you with flight tickets to attend a friend’s destination event, parents still step in for those irregular big expenses.
You didn’t explicitly ask for this support (most of the time), but you also don’t refuse it. There’s an unspoken understanding that these landmark moments deserve a little extra, and parents often find joy in making them possible. While you’re building your financial independence, these occasional boosts help bridge the gap between your everyday self-sufficiency and those exceptional life moments that strain even the most carefully planned budget.
11. Random Home Issues
Adulting hits different when water starts leaking from somewhere it definitely shouldn’t. Despite all the DIY YouTube tutorials and home maintenance TikToks you’ve watched, when actual household emergencies occur, your parents are still on speed dial. From identifying strange smells to troubleshooting appliance malfunctions, their accumulated home knowledge remains unmatched.
They know which issues need immediate professional help and which can wait, saving you from both unnecessary panic and costly mistakes. They’ve developed an almost supernatural ability to diagnose problems through phone descriptions alone. “It sounds like your dishwasher just needs its filter cleaned” or “Check if the circuit breaker tripped” are the kinds of practical wisdom that only come from years of homeownership battles that you’re just beginning to experience.
12. Emotional Support
The digital generation might be comfortable sharing feelings online, but when life truly hits hard, nothing replaces parental emotional support. During breakups, job rejections, friendship dramas, or those random existential crises that strike at 2 AM, parents often remain the safest harbor. They’ve seen you at your worst before and still answer the phone, providing that unique comfort that comes from unconditional love.
While your friends offer solidarity and your therapist offers strategies, parents offer something less definable but equally necessary. They remember the resilient child you were and remind you of that strength when you’ve forgotten it. They provide the perspective that this current crisis, like all the ones before it, is just one chapter in your ongoing story. That kind of emotional anchoring isn’t something you outgrow—it just evolves as you do.
13. Career Decision Making
Despite all the career resources at your fingertips, major professional decisions still warrant a parental consultation. Whether it’s weighing job offers, considering graduate programs, or contemplating a complete career pivot, parents provide a sounding board that combines practical wisdom with personal knowledge of who you are and what matters to you.
They remember your childhood dreams and can help connect them to your adult options in ways you might miss. They’ve weathered enough workplace politics and economic shifts to spot red flags or opportunities that your less experienced eyes might overlook. Even when they don’t understand the specifics of your industry, their broader life experience often translates into surprisingly relevant insights that complement your technical knowledge in decision-making moments.
14. Finding Personal Documents
Birth certificates, social security cards, immunization records, and other vital paperwork—somehow your parents are still the ultimate archivists of your existence. Despite considering yourself organized in other areas of life, these essential documents have a mysterious way of remaining in the family filing cabinet rather than your own records.
Each time you need these documents for a new job, apartment application, or other adult milestone, you find yourself calling home. “Do you still have my…” is a question your parents have heard so many times they probably have your documents in a ready-to-mail folder. This dependency isn’t just about physical storage—it’s about the security of knowing someone is keeping track of the paper trail that validates your official existence when you’re busy managing all the other aspects of adult life.
