Taking care of ageing parents does not always mean waiting for them to ask for help. Entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo has shared three financial rules he and his wife follow for their parents, including sponsoring their travel, transferring a fixed amount to their accounts every month and replacing their phones every two years.In a video shared on Instagram, Ankur explained that the rules are meant to make life easier for their retired parents while allowing them to enjoy their money and make their own choices. His third rule also came with a light-hearted detail: he never tells them the actual price of the phones he buys.
5 Oct 2026 | 12:06
Parents, when your child refuses to greet relatives, do you make them say hello or respect their choice?
They sponsor their parents’ travel
Ankur said the first rule has been in place since he and his wife started earning. They pay for their parents’ travel so they can visit places they want to see and travel with people they choose. “Since we started earning, we sponsor our parents’ travel. So, wherever they want to go, with whoever they want to go, they feel very good to travel at their age,” he said. He repeated the idea in the video’s caption, explaining that the intention is to let their parents enjoy travelling without having to worry about the expense.
A fixed amount goes into their accounts on the first of every month
The second rule began after their parents retired. Ankur said they transfer a fixed amount to their parents’ accounts on the first day of every month. “Since they have retired, we give them a monthly expense. So, first of the month, money goes into their account, and they use it however they want,” he said.The important part, as he explained, is that the money is theirs to spend. His parents are not required to ask for money every time they want to make a purchase or explain how they have used the monthly amount. In the caption, he described it as a fixed monthly amount that gives his parents the freedom to manage their own expenses.
They replace their parents’ phones every two years
Ankur’s third rule is about something many parents are reluctant to replace: their mobile phones. He said he and his wife buy their parents a new phone every two years without asking them first. Otherwise, he joked, they would continue using the same device despite problems with its battery. “Because if we don’t, they will keep using the same phone, they will keep crying that the battery is not working, and we will never tell them the real price of the phone,” he said.He then joked about the discounts they claim to have received. “50% off, since when?” he quipped. The caption repeated that they do not reveal the actual price of the phones, suggesting that the parents might otherwise hesitate to accept the upgrade.
“Taking care of your parents isn’t always about giving them money”
Explaining the thinking behind the three rules, Ankur wrote in the caption: “Taking care of your parents isn’t always about giving them money. It’s about giving them the freedom to enjoy it.” His approach combines financial support with a degree of independence. The travel expenses allow his parents to make plans, the monthly transfer gives them money they can manage themselves, and the phone upgrades take care of a practical need they might otherwise postpone.The three rules also offer a useful parenting lesson for adults raising children: conversations about money and family responsibility can include how we care for our parents as they grow older. Rather than making every expense a decision that parents have to request or justify, families can discuss a regular support arrangement that respects their needs and choices.
