Parents in a savings dilemma: How do you secure your children's future?

Parents in a savings dilemma: How do you secure your children's future?

A current survey by the opinion research institute YouGov, carried out on behalf of the German Press Agency, shows that the savings behavior of parents varies greatly in Germany. Over 2,000 people were surveyed in June 2025. The results revealed that 30 percent of respondents are actively saving for their children, while 41 percent are not doing so.

There are different reasons for parents who don't save. 35 percent of those surveyed cited financial constraints, while 21 percent believed that their children should earn money themselves from the age of 18. In addition, 35 percent do not give any specific reasons for the decision not to save.

Savings amounts and investment strategies

The amounts available for savings vary greatly. Of those who save, 35 percent save up to 50 euros a month, 25 percent save between 50 and 100 euros, and 16 percent even save more than 100 euros a month. Almost 20 percent of parents save irregularly. This survey also made it clear that 39 percent of parents receive financial support from relatives, which can also take the pressure off their own budget.

Parents' investment strategies are diverse. 39 percent rely on cash or use money boxes. 28 percent invest in call money or current accounts, whereas 16 percent opt ​​for fixed-term deposits. Funds or index funds (ETFs) are popular with 28 percent of parents, while 13 percent invest in building savings contracts and 13 percent also invest in individual stocks. Financial advisors usually recommend investing in stocks through index funds as higher returns can be achieved in the long term.

The challenges of inflation

A central problem is inflation, which leads to a loss in the value of money. According to the experts at parentalmoney.de Traditional savings accounts are no longer recommended due to low interest rates. To counteract inflation, parents should consider alternatives such as daily savings accounts or fund and ETF savings plans. It is recommended that larger gifts of money be invested in funds to avoid loss of value and to benefit from the potentially higher returns of long-term investments.

The interest rates for current account accounts are higher than those for savings accounts, while current fixed deposit interest rates are 1-1.5%. Parents should also pay attention to child allowances in order to take advantage of tax advantages. The inflation rate in Germany requires investments with a return of over 2% in order to avoid a significant loss of value.

Additionally emphasized t-online.de that starting savings early is crucial in order to benefit from the compound interest effect. There is no one-size-fits-all amount that parents should save for their children; The amount depends heavily on your individual savings goal. Ultimately, debts should be reduced before saving in order to create a solid financial basis for the children.