‘She lives alone’: My mother-in-law, 86, gets $1,300 in Social Security. Is that enough to live on?

The Moneyist

‘We provide housing for her and send her a couple of hundred dollars a month’

Last Updated: Aug. 4, 2025 at 6:32 p.m. ET
First Published: Aug. 4, 2025 at 9:51 a.m. ET

Dear Quentin,

My mother-in-law is 86 years old and receives about $1,300 a month in Social Security and some investment income. We provide housing for her and send her a couple of hundred dollars a month. The other kids also chip in money monthly. She lives alone and several hundred miles from any family members.

However, she continues to make poor spending choices, such as spending $300 monthly on supplements. She signs up for one cable provider, gets mad and changes, thereby incurring huge cancellation fees. She will ask us for more money for “necessities” — car insurance, etc. — but continues to throw money down the drain.