Outside of Social Security, my parents have absolutely nothing for retirement and I’ll be stuck financing their retirement – is this normal?

His parents have no savings outside of Social Security, carry debt, and are struggling to find affordable housing. Living on Social Security alone is unsustainable even under favorable conditions, and the Redditor's parents are not in favorable conditions. The most important step he can take is to set firm, specific limits on how much financial support he provides. A cost-of-living projection can show concretely how purchasing power erodes over a decade when income is fixed to Social Security alone. Most guess, or hope Social Security and a 401(k) will work out.