Parents can expect to spend almost £8,000 to help their grown-up child reach the first rung of the career ladder, a report suggests.
On average, parents who had helped to kick-start their adult child's career said they had spent £7,900 per child.
This could include money they had given their child to pay for a course or training fees, equipment or accommodation while studying and smart clothing for job interviews.
The findings were made by the Centre for the Modern Family, a think-tank set up by Scottish Widows.