I agree with this past reply. Also, by giving them money - you've trained them to keep asking for money. So, either you will have to cut them off or keep giving it to them - there are only two alternatives. If you want to stay afloat in your retirement, you really should let them fend for themselves. It could help them build character. I've got a couple young kids and need to start them on the road to higher responsibilities.

For them to be self-sufficient, they'll need job(s) that can pay their bills. Sounds rough if they have gotten to the point of any services being turned off. But we have an economy now where people who are paid minimum wage or even higher cannot really live any kind of life without scrimping by - yet our culture says "buy buy buy" and charge stuff on credit cards. Maybe the kids need some money classes on how to make family budgets along with knowing what they shouldn't be spending money on (restaurants may be one of them, alcohol another, and so on).