[Erik Latranyi]

The only problem I see is spending the money on a kitchen remodel if the parents are behind on retirement goals.

I agree except if the intention is to sell the house and bank the equity for their retirement. Then upgrading the kitchen pays off in a higher home value.

[Tax-chick]

Kitchen remodeling often doesn’t pay for itself in a higher sale price. The amount the people in the article paid is between “minor” and “midrange,” so maybe they’d expect 70% ROI, unless they were bringing a 1990s kitchen into the current century:

National minor kitchen remodel ROI
ROI: 81.1 percent
Average cost: $21,198
Return: $17,193

National midrange major kitchen remodel ROI
ROI: 59 percent
Average cost: $63,829
Return: $37,637