I use AI tools every day for work and I think I’ve rubbed off on my parents a bit. They are always asking me for advice and how to prompt “ChatGAP’ (yes, that’s what my mom calls it). Just the other day she asked me to do something simple with AI for her. The regular texts asking for help made me realize that there might be other parents like mine who could use extra advice.
Most of the time they don’t just need helping writing emails or brainstorming ideas, but real use cases to make their every day life easy. Things like saving money, avoiding scams and understanding confusing information seem to be what they need help with the most.
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1. Identifying scams
Prompt: “Is this a scam? Explain why or why not in simple terms and tell me what to do next.”
It’s no secret that scammers and bad actors tend to target the most vulnerable. So instead of guessing whether a suspicious email or text was real, I told them to paste the message into Claude and ask:
What happened: This prompt helped them stop second-guessing themselves. Instead of panic or confusion, they got a clear explanation and next steps. This prompt works because it helps remove fear and replaces uncertainty with clear next steps.
2. Breaking down information
Prompt: “Explain this in plain English like I have no background in this topic. Highlight anything important I should pay attention to.”
Whether it’s a medical result, insurance form or confusing bill, this one came up more than I expected. This prompt works because it turns dense, often stressful information into something understandable and more manageable. The prompt also allows for follow up questions that could be useful at the next doctor appointment or meeting.
What happened: Instead of just skimming a document, not understanding important information or simply feeling overwhelmed, they actually understood what they were reading.
3. Check for overpayments
Prompt: “Here are my monthly expenses. Tell me where I might be overpaying and suggest simple ways to reduce costs.”
The other day my mom thought she was overcharged at the gas station because her credit card showed $100 charge pending rather than a $25 fillup. She texted me about it. I ended up asking AI what that could be about and it suggested this happens with certain banks or credit cards, but the actual charge would remain the price at the pump. Just to be sure, I called the gas station and the manager explained the same thing.
What happened: Rather than taking on time-consuming tasks for me, my parents ask AI for help to ensure everything is right on their receipts and with their subscriptions. I’ve made it clear that private and personal financial information should never be told to AI. This prompt feels like having a second set of eyes on their finances.
4. Help with plans
Prompt: “Help me plan this step by step. Keep it simple and realistic.”
From travel to appointments to hosting family, this became a go-to. This one works because it helps reduce mental load, which is often the hardest part. It helps highlight important things that could be missed and offers a checklist with important steps.
What happened: Instead of feeling overwhelmed by everything at once, they had a clear plan they could follow.
5. Handling tricky situations
Prompt: “Here’s my situation: [insert problem]. What’s the best way to handle this?”
This one turned into an unexpected favorite mostly because I don’t always know the entire situation enough to give the best advice. With prompts like this, my parents can tell AI what’s going on, from neighbor issues to scheduling conflicts.
What happened: This has been truly helpful because rather than wondering what to do and spiraling, they ask Claude for the best possible solution. It provides calm, structured guidance when emotions are high.
6. Making decisions
Prompt: “Give me 3 simple options for this and explain the pros and cons of each.”
Decision fatigue is real at any age. A prompt like this can be a quick way to avoid overthinking and make quicker, confident decisions.
What happened: My parents now use this when choices feel overwhelming. The AI breaks down options without oversimplifying them.
7. Deciding what to do first
Prompt: “I feel overwhelmed with [insert situation]. What should I do first?”
This one might be the most underrated. Whether it’s planning out a social outing with friends, choosing a show to watch or picking a class at the gym, this prompt helps end procrastination, gives them the power to take action and avoid freezing with uncertainty.
What happened: Creating momentum and cutting through that overwhelming feeling is the key to this prompt. It helps make every day problems less tricky.
Bottom line
Within a few days of using these prompts with Claude, everything seemed to shift. They stopped asking me how to use AI — and just started using it. Not all the prompts clicked right away and some are still taking some time to get used to, but I’m already seeing a difference in their confidence using AI.
For those just getting started, if AI feels confusing or unnecessary, it’s usually because the examples don’t match real life. Once the prompts connect to everyday problems, it stops feeling like technology and just starts feeling useful.
Give these a try (or give them to your parents to try) and let me know what you think in the comments.
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