Living At Home After A Certain Age

[TigerLilly]

I'm a junior now, and I think my parents are still having a bit of a hard time "letting go". (I'm an only child.) I don't think they'd have any kind of problem with me moving back home after college for a while, in fact they would probably welcome it -- but that doesn't mean I'm going to do it!!!

I stayed home last summer, and it was alright, but also a bit strange. I have a wonderful excuse to go home again this summer, and the next (my parents live in Germany -- how could I pass up Europe??? ) But past that? I don't think so.

I couldn't imagine living with my parents when I'm in my late 20's and on...it just work for me. Maybe it fits other people's styles, but not mine!

To echo what others have said, there's nothing wrong with it for some people, as long as you do basic things for yourself like clean your own bathroom, wash your own clothes, help around the house etc. Don't be a lump who sits in your parents' basement and plays video games all day!

[Munchkin03]

Man, what a 1-bedroom can get you in Hawaii is what I pay for my place...and I have 2 other roommates who pay the same thing. Maybe I should move there...or Boston. That would almost be a bargain.

Most one-bedrooms in my neighborhood go for between 1200 and 1500. In other neighborhoods, it can be a little more. DeltAlum, where exactly are you looking? One of my friends moved home for grad school for that exact reason...it was just cheaper to live at home than trying to find a place on her own in Manhattan.

[AznSAE]

I think its okay for you to live at home when you are helping with bills and stuff (paying small part of the rent, food, electric, phone, etc). But, if you are living off their paycheck, then you better get out and start growing up. I have been on my own for 4 years now. My parents only pay for my car insurance and part of my tuition. Every now and then they will give me some spending money just in case I starve to death . In the end, they will be living with me forever and it will be free for them.

[mu_agd]

Originally posted by Munchkin03
Man, what a 1-bedroom can get you in Hawaii is what I pay for my place...and I have 2 other roommates who pay the same thing. Maybe I should move there...or Boston. That would almost be a bargain.

Most one-bedrooms in my neighborhood go for between 1200 and 1500.

i pay 1200 in the area of boston that i live in for a one-bedroom. i want to move to a different area of boston and i'm hoping that i can get a one bedroom for a bit less. but i'm spoiled by the size of my apartment right now. i just don't like the location.

[OleMissGlitter]

If I lived in a big city, like my hometown of New Orleans or even Memphis, TN, I would be paying so much to live! Here in Oxford,MS the cost of living is high for the state but so cheap compared to other places! I live in a 3 bedroom, 3 bath 2 story condo with hardwood floors, fireplace, etc (and it was built in 2002), and I only pay 300 a month. I have one roommate and of course here's the catcher, her mother owns the place! I get a great deal and our utilities are super cheap and its a great little street with two-story condos. Even if I didn't have this great deal, I know a one-bedroom, one bath goes for about 450 in Oxford, MS and that would include all major appliances and W/D. Well, if I ever don't have a job I am sure I would live at home and I already know my Dad would make me pay some sort of rent!

[honeychile]

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
My parents still ask where I am going, and who I am going with and what time I expect to be home if I go out. I don't mind at all. Sometimes it's a little annoying, but I don know they do it because they still worry about me.
But I also call my parents and let them know if I'm not coming home or whathave you because I don't want them to worry too much about me.
It's a small sacrifice to make.

Maybe it's because I work in geriatrics, but that's how I feel, too. I would rather call my mom & let her know I arrived safely than have her stress out unnecessarily so I can maintain an air of independence.

[AlphaSigOU]

I have lived out on my own several times, but when the job market's rough, there's nothing wrong with living at home with your parents. I contribute to the upkeep of the house, do my own laundry and whatever's necessary, but at least it keeps me off the streets!

[Peaches-n-Cream]

When I went away to college, I came home for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and the Summer. I moved off campus at 20 which was great, but still returned home during those breaks. I came home after college for a few weeks, and then I moved out for good. I was 22.

I want to move to Hawaii and pay $850 for a one bedroom apartment. Aloha!

[PM_Mama00]

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
My parents still ask where I am going, and who I am going with and what time I expect to be home if I go out. I don't mind at all. Sometimes it's a little annoying, but I don know they do it because they still worry about me.
But I also call my parents and let them know if I'm not coming home or whathave you because I don't want them to worry too much about me.
It's a small sacrifice to make.

I totally agree with you. I'm 23, I was never allowed to go away to college the first year, then I joined Phi Mu and didn't wana leave. Now my parents wish they would have let me go away so I could learn some responsibility. But now, even tho we own an apartment complex, they won't let me move out. Doesn't bother me tho cuz I work for my dad, make enough money to pay sorority dues and my cell phone bill. Once I graduate and get a real job and save money, maybe. But I live in the old school Italian household of "you don't leave till you get married".

And my parents ask where I'm goin and all that stuff. The only thing that bothers me about living at home is that I can't have guys over and I can't leave past a certain time. Oh well.

[AGDee]

My ex husband lived at home once he had graduated and was working as an accountant. He made as much money as I did and I made it fine financially, so he could have also. He paid nothing to his parents and was waited on hand and foot. He would call his mother on the phone (from his own line upstairs) and order breakfast and it would be ready when he was out of the shower and dressed. When we got married, he had never lived on a budget (which was absolutely necessary when we bought our house), he had never cooked anything except fried eggs and toast, he had never worked a washer or dryer. We split up housekeeping duties and he volunteered to clean one of the bathrooms that he used (I wouldn't go in there!). After about 2 years, he told me we needed a new toilet. I asked what was wrong with it (planning on fixing it) and he told me it was all brown inside. I suggested he clean it.... with bleach. I had to teach him how to cook so I could divorce him and not worry about the kids eating when they were with him.

His parents did him no favors in allowing him to sponge off of them for so long.

Dee

[polarpi]

Originally posted by AznSAE
I think its okay for you to live at home when you are helping with bills and stuff (paying small part of the rent, food, electric, phone, etc). But, if you are living off their paycheck, then you better get out and start growing up.

My parents are like honeychile's....even if I could pay them money for living here, they wouldn't accept it. I'm an only child biologically, and my step-father has four grown children (all of them have children, so I'm the youngest of his kids) so my step-dad is one of the biggest deterrents for me to give him any money. He told me tonight that all he wants to do is make sure that my schooling is paid for, so he's not concerned with how much money it costs for me to live at home...food wise, I eat a lot less than he does (my mom and I together probably equal what he eats, so it's not too much difference if it's just my parents or I'm living here as well) I also get some good rates for my car insurance (which my parents pay) as well as the other bills. I do pay my own medical insurance (which is over $200 per month) and I'm working on paying off some of my student loans with my biological father's help (through the divorce settlement my parents arranged many years ago). I'm also doing lots of things around the house that help my parents out, so even if I'm not directly contributing monetarily to the household, I'm still pulling my fair share of everything.

My parents are also concerned about where I go, so I make sure they know where I'm going and if I'm running late or something, I give them a quick call to let them know what's going on. I really don't mind doing it....after 23 and a half years of living, I'm used to keeping them updated with what's going on and I don't want to worry them unnecessarily!

[pheenix]

Having grown up in a very traditional parental background and being the daughter in the family, my parents would never condone me moving out until the day I get married.

[alikat2]

Let's see....three of the guys I have dated in the past year have lived at home. (Two were 21, one was almost 26). Which means when we wanted to be alone somewhere, it was almost always my apartment....I didn't really mind, but it is kind of a weird situation. I did hang out once with the one guy at his parents' house, because he kind of has his own wing or whatever, but it just felt awkward making out with him when his parents were right downstairs.

[The_Nash]

i could never live at home again (even for summers or breaks anymore) because of my parents current house. its hard to explain coming home drunk as shit at 4 am to your parents when there bedroom is across the hall from you and there is no way to sneak in.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by Munchkin03
Most one-bedrooms in my neighborhood go for between 1200 and 1500. In other neighborhoods, it can be a little more. DeltAlum, where exactly are you looking? One of my friends moved home for grad school for that exact reason...it was just cheaper to live at home than trying to find a place on her own in Manhattan.

This particular studio was at about 81st and Madison -- Upper East Side. It was OK physically -- just small. Remember, this is not even a one bedroom. Just one room with separate bath and small kitchenette.

At least it wouldn't cost much to furnish.

ETA I looked at housing in Santa Monica a couple of years ago, and you could find a one bedroom or even a one bedroom and den for a fair amount less.