Just don't be a mooch. My parents and I always agreed on an amount that would cover any food or utilities I would use. After they told me an amount I'd usually give them a $100 extra a month just to make sure everything was covered.

That's what I do.

This. I think the stigma is largely due to the "lazy" stereotype of able-bodied advlts who choose to live with their parents in order to shirk life's responsibilities as long as they can. But I think this largely depends on age...if you're 19 living with parents, you're not as likely to be looked down on than if you're 30 and still living with parents.

For me, I think it's also a maturity issue...as long as someone continues to live with their parents beyond high school, there are certain things/responsibilities that they're not having to deal with (at least not on their own), which could also add fuel to the stereotype. I was barely 17 when I moved away from my parents to start college, and I got through college completely on my own...no financial assistance, not even roommates to split the bills or responsibilities. So when I was an undergrad, I sometimes had a hard time relating to my fellow college students who still lived at home, because while their biggest stresses were getting an A on an exam or girlfriend/boyfriend issues, I was dealing with juggling two jobs on top of school and worrying about paying the bills on time. So to the OP -- the issues you run into with your peers may be more of a reflection that they're just in a different place, and not able to relate as well to students who live at home.

Almost everybody I've met who isn't going to college and lives with their parents has been a chump. If you have a full time job which pays enough to keep you alive and live at home, you should move out. It's understandable when people can't find work, or they lost their job unexpectedly, or they're physically/mentally disabled, but otherwise get out of the house. I don't understand people who don't have this as a priority, it leads me to speculate there are dependency issues at hand - but that's, as stated, speculation.

I graduated highschool when I was 17, lived with my parents until I was 20. I worked during that time and saved my money for school. Tried to work rather, I graduated right when all the mills around here were having trouble, which meant not only was it impossible to get a job there, people that got laid off had scooped up most of the other jobs.

That said, theres a difference between living with your parents and depending on your parents. I've been doing my own laundry, cleaning, meals etc. since I was old enough to use all the machines without making a mess. So it was a lot more of an "equal" relationship living with my parents. They'd each get home from a day at work and so would I. But I've met some kids that are 18-20 living at home who rely on their parents to do all that, which is pretty pathetic.

I do think it's interesting how there's such a stigma to living at home, but in other countries whole families will live together.

Most of the flak I get about it is usually from my grandparents, who kicked my Dad and all of his brothers and sisters out when they turned 18. Perhaps the older (70+ perhaps) generations don't realize that you can't just go into town and come out with a job in a day anymore without having any experience/education. I also hear it from some others around my age because living with parents "isn't cool". But most of the people I hear it from are paying ~$8k a year for a shared dorm or are all living cramped up together in local housing where rent is over $1k a month so personally, I think I got the better end.

Like with many things, the world often changes faster than the culture and surrounding expectations. These days, everyone is expected to go to college after high school, and then expected to immediately have a job because of that college time, but this is a fairly recent phenomenon. In 1950, less than 10% of advlts had gone to college, only half had even graduated from high school. You were generally "done" with preparing for advlthood by 18. Going to college was for the rich elite, and so these people grew up with the impression that it was a guaranteed fast track to success. They instilled that value into their kids, but people who are going to college usually aren't supporting themselves at the same time, and you add several years to staying at home from that alone.

These days, though, a degree isn't a guaranteed job so much as a minimal requirement, because everyone has one. That's when the economy isn't terrible. So now you have 20-somethings still at home, and now thousands of dollars in debt from student loans and unemployed. Those who find a job are unlikely to even do so within the field they studied. On top of this crowd, you still have the perception that they're "supposed" to be out of the house at 18, even though the environment doesn't support that very much anymore.

As most of us know its alot harder to get a well paying full time job these days. Its got to the point were we need a college education just to work at a fast food chain. Our parents are finding it harder to retire so they stay working longer and won't make room for the younger generation.

I am in my mind 20s and I only just now finally moved out. I am going to College and not working, so my savings are taking a real beating. I have worked lined up for next sping/summer when I finish college. My older sister is only now finally moving out and my older brother moved out last year.

There is nothing wrong with living at home with your parents, so long as you are in School or Working. I have alot of friends my age that moved out, only to move back in with their parents. I hoping it will not happen to me. When I was living at home I was paying for everything out of my own pocket.

Now the Stigma comes from those that still live with their parents, that aren't working that aren't going to school and just leech off their parents till well into their 20s and beyond. Those people give everyone else a bad name. (keep in mind I am not talking about people with disabilities)

My friends mom had him when she was 35, so he's 25, and she's 60, and her husband died, so it's perfectly fine for him to live with his mother, as he's kind of a caretaker.

If your not in a situation similar, you better be trying to get a job, just laid off from your job, or in a school.

I'm 20, with one more year of education left.

I still live with my parents, would like to move out as soon as I can really, starting to feel that itch for a bit more freedom.

Well like, I'm not jumping into the real estate market without a decent job, and college to pay for, and renting can be incredibly expensive, so unless I get a particularly sweet summer internship I will be here for a while yet.

29..still live with my mom, though I can move out anytime now. Life is easier for both of us financially..

I tell her though, be prepared for the day I move out(the condition being I move out to move in with a lover or something..)

I'm a few years older and still live with mine. Here, there's nothing wrong with that, unlike other countries, it seems.
My auntie didn't properly move out until she was in her 40's, even though she had good jobs. It was mostly because my grandmother and her were living in a rural area and it was just easier (and cheaper) for all.


On my mother's side they're Croatian and they're like that (and my Mum) but her sisters all moved out first chance they got.
I'd love to move out, but as many have said it's hard if you don't have a full time job or a decent regular income. My Mum would never toss us out just because we're a certain age. My younger sister has had her own house, lived overseas, was a house sitter, and is currently looking to rent in another State, but I've never moved out as I just can't afford to.
I do pay towards everything and a percentage to the power bill as it's always the highest.
My parents have always been easy-going and unstrict (if that's a word). As long as we help out, both money-wise and around the house, it's fine. No problem living at home until we are able to leave.

Why can't you get a job a regular-pay job?

i live with my grandparents, before that i still lived with my mother, i moved in with my grand parents because there were no jobs where my mom lives.

i don't really care if people think i am lazy or not, i work full time and save virtually all my money so that i have a financially secure path when i do move out on my own.

Even though I can support myself just fine, I live with my only living parent (my father) mostly because I don't want to be alone 24/7. Besides in 10 years I'll have a house fully paid off and then I don't have to worry about paying rent, just electric and cable.

Only till I gain fulltime employment, and not these 4-6month long contract positions. Plus, I really want to move the [censored] out, but no money means no place of my own. Saving as much as I could, but I'm constantly gutted by the government and gasoline.

Where I live, they simply don't want to take on new people.

Some of us are living with our parents because the parents require the combined income to survive as much as we do.

This also.
I pay my way in the house which benefits towards bills and food, if I didn't then the luxaries of the house would wither away.

There's long been a stigma in western culture, especially the U.S., correlating the legal age of advlthood with needing to gtfo the parents house, but it ignores a few things (besides culture which is an obvious one):

Financial ability to do so-- for instance in the U.S. most middle class jobs are offshored and replaced with lower income jobs often requiring more than one job, which has helped create a situation where two incomes are necessary and in the case of one of my half-sisters her income is vital in a four income house.

Maturity-- which in most cases has to do with how a parent passed on to their child the importance of self-motivation (being opportunistic and goal-oriented), or consequently the possible lack thereof.

Also, part of ageing means that, for most children and their parents, they will fight increasingly often, that's part of growing up as a person naturally wants to assert their own dominance and self-determination, while, if you happen to have a provider who pays your way, they live by the parent golden rule -- he/she who has the gold makes the rules. When one notices fights occur at a pretty regular interval and about the same crap and/or petty things, it's time for junior to leave. After that, it's pretty surprising how consistently the parent's attitude (well, parent[s] who care) generally changes.

I still live with my mum and I'm 24, my girlfriend also lives with her parents she is also 24. We have been together for over 5 years now.

We could easily move out and live together, however that would be stupid...... Now is the best time and the biggest opportunity you have to actually make a future for yourself

We are currently staying with our parents because it makes it easier for us to save money towards a mortgage so we can eventually own our own house, rather than renting for our whole lives which brings no benefits as far as I can see.

It was always percieved as a slacker thing to do, up until the recession. Now it's almost normal for college age advlt children to live with parents while pursuing postsecondary education and or/job opportunities. advlt children not attempting to improve their economic condition and sponging off parents is still frowned upon.

I can understand living with parents to save money towards future goals such as homeownership, or starting your own business. I can understand lving with parents who are disabled and need additional support in terms of income, healthcare, and companionship.

I always rather enjoyed being on my own, ass to the wind, completely and soley responsible for the roof over my head and having bills paid. It's incredibly freeing.







What about homeowners insurance, garbage/water/sewer fees, and property taxes?

College is expensive, so there's a nice community college not 15 minutes away from where my parents live. What am I supposed to do, get an expensive apartment in town 15 minutes away just so I'm not "stigmatized" by people I don't know?

Anyways that's the plan for me. Couple of years here with the parents, then I'll move to the big city to go to a 4 year university. Until then I need to hoard what little money I have from an ill fated Navy stint to pay for said college. I'll deal with another job after I get a degree. :shrug:

Agree with my northern friend here. It's coming down no experience no job. Meaning no money and I can't escape from my parents house. They should re open the mines

It will be probably a good few years before I move out. So I can comfortably afford bills and a broadband speed that isn't terrible...oh and good quality hot chocolate.