With the development of urban-rural integration and social changes, the phenomenon of "living off parents" in rural areas has gradually emerged. Among young and middle-aged people, there are both helpless actions under economic pressure and dependence on parents' resources under the influence of consumerism. Against the background of rising overall living costs and rising rural marriage expenses, the phenomenon of "living off parents" in rural areas is no longer just a personal problem, but a challenge that requires coordinated responses from society, family, and policies.

Rural Living Phenomenon: The Collision of Living Cost Pressure and Traditional Concepts

The survey found that the "living off parents" of young and middle-aged people in rural areas has covered the age range of 20 to 40 years old. Some young people still cannot make ends meet after entering the workplace and need to rely on family support; while many people over 30 still rely on their parents to buy houses and repay loans. Some middle-aged parents not only have to support their children to get married and start a family, but also have to bear the economic burden of raising the third generation. Take 24-year-old Ning Bo as an example. Although he has worked for many years, he has not been able to save money for marriage, and all the wedding expenses are borne by his parents. Economic pressure and limited income make many rural young people "unable to support" their families, and relying on their parents becomes "natural".

The saying "the rich eat the rich, the poor eat the poor" also reflects the helplessness of rural families in "eating the parents". Parents with good family economic conditions can provide full support for buying a house, while parents with poor family conditions try their best to pay for the living expenses of their grandchildren and sacrifice their own pension money. Some families have to bear additional financial pressure or even go into debt to meet their children's marriage or life needs.

The boost of rural consumerism and comparison psychology

Behind the phenomenon of "eating the parents" in rural areas is the rising consumerism and comparison atmosphere. High consumption desire and vanity psychology have aggravated the pursuit of "face consumption" by rural middle-aged and young people, thus further increasing the burden on the family. Some young people have a strong demand for high-priced items such as Apple mobile phones and cars, which far exceeds their personal economic ability, and ultimately rely on their parents for funds. Wang Chao, who has a relatively affluent family, said, "We have to compare everything, and we have to look decent when buying mobile phones and cars." Such consumption behavior has further increased the economic burden on rural families, and some middle-aged and young people are accustomed to their parents' assistance and take their parents' financial support for granted.

Objective "have to": the increasing cost of marriage and education

With the development of the economy and the advancement of urbanization, the cost of marriage for rural families has continued to rise. Houses, gifts, vehicles, etc. have become the "standard configuration" of marriage, which makes many rural families feel more stressed. In some areas, marriage requires not only buying a house in the county town, but also buying a property in the urban area. In terms of education, some rural families need to pay high tuition fees for their children to enter key middle schools in the city. In some areas, the tuition fees are as high as tens of thousands of yuan. The high expenses of families with many children have invisibly increased the burden on the family, making parents overwhelmed on the road of their children's growth, and it has become normal for the elderly to pay for their grandchildren to go to school.

In addition, many young and middle-aged people face the problem of unstable income during employment. Against the backdrop of a sluggish economic situation, the risks of entrepreneurship are also increasing. Some entrepreneurs who return to their hometowns face huge losses and finally have to rely on their parents for support. For example, Zhang Long in a certain place in the east fell into debt due to the failure of his business. His parents not only repaid his loan for him, but also provided "ransom" when he was in trouble, which once made the elderly lose their living security.

Paths and challenges to solve the phenomenon of "living off parents" in rural areas

To eliminate the phenomenon of "living off parents" in rural areas, family support alone is far from enough, and comprehensive governance in terms of policies, economy, culture, etc. is also needed.

Reverse the trend of comparison and restore the traditional family functions in rural areas

The trend of comparison in rural areas is an important cause of the phenomenon of "living off parents". To improve the rural atmosphere, positive incentives can be used to guide villagers to respect morality and be kind, improve villagers' values, and make them aware of the importance of self-reliance. At the same time, cultural construction and education and publicity can be used to make young people re-recognize family responsibilities and strengthen the concept of independence.

Strengthen urban-rural integrated development and reduce the cost of living for farmers in cities

Part of the reason for the phenomenon of "living off parents" among young and middle-aged people comes from the sharp increase in the cost of living after farmers move to cities. To ease their living pressure, the government can provide support in terms of affordable housing and basic education to reduce the cost of living for rural families after they move to cities. Properly provide affordable housing and supporting policies to help rural youth and families take root in cities, reduce their economic burden, and thus reduce the economic dependence of families on their parents.

Reasonably guide the cost of rural marriage and reduce the economic burden on families

The "high-priced bride price" in rural areas not only increases the burden on families, but also further promotes the phenomenon of "living off the elderly". By rectifying the high-priced bride price and strengthening the guidance of rural marriage concepts, rural families can be helped to reduce marriage expenses. At the same time, the government can make young people aware of the importance of spending within their means and consuming reasonably by providing publicity on marriage cost control, so as to avoid long-term family debt due to high marriage consumption.

Build a rural culture of self-reliance and self-improvement

The phenomenon of "living off the elderly" in rural areas is a product of social and economic changes. The importance of family support in the lives of rural youth cannot be ignored, but the consequences of over-reliance on parents are worthy of vigilance. In the context of rural revitalization, improving rural family concepts, reducing the burden on rural families, and strengthening economic support for farmers are important measures to deal with the phenomenon of "living off the elderly". Through policy guidance, cultural construction and educational support, we can help rural young people establish the belief of self-reliance and self-improvement, and lay a solid foundation for rural economic development and social stability.