I'm raising my grandson alone in my 70s and can't afford to retire. With gas prices rising, I worry about finances every day.

"I knew that if she had a child, he would be my responsibility, no questions asked. When he came home from the hospital, he came to my house, and he's been with me ever since. My youngest child had just graduated from university, and I was expecting my late husband and me to have an empty nest, but I knew this might happen."

"Abbott works full-time for her daughter's company and isn't financially able to retire. Her Social Security goes toward her house, and gas prices have chipped away at her savings."

"My son has three kids and lives in Birmingham. My other daughter has four kids, and she and her husband have been a tremendous help, including my grandson on family trips and just being a great support."

Rhonda Abbott, 73, from Daphne, Alabama, became the sole parent and legal guardian of her grandson in 2011 when he was born. Her oldest daughter, his mother, was unable to care for him due to a brain trauma sustained in infancy. Abbott retired in 2016 but returned to full-time work for her daughter's company due to financial necessity. Her Social Security income goes toward her house payment, while gas prices and living expenses have significantly reduced her savings. Despite being a parent to a minor, her employer did not provide the same support as traditional parents receive. Her other children have offered family support, but Abbott remains the primary caregiver and financial provider for her grandson.

Read at Business Insider