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How old is too old to be living at home?

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Kryzz

shaun
Joined
12 May 2008
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Will be turning 25 early next year, been working full time for almost 3 years...still living with mum and dad.

No rent/board/bills coming out of my pocket...everyone says I'm mooching off the folks, I don't see it that way though.

I thought this was pretty stock standard in this day and age? Am I off the mark? Thoughts/opinions??
 

Ask yourself if you will give them free board etc for the last 20 odd years of their life as they have done for the first 20 odd years of yours. If the answer is NO then you ARE mooching off your folks.:frown:
 
Mate great situation you are in and nothing wrong with it.

Unless you are craving 'life experience' and want your own personal space/privacy then I can't see the problem in living at home. Do you help out around the house? Chip in occassionally for things? Have your own health insurance? If you pretty much look after yourself and help out where needed then more kudos for you. Just save the dosh, move out when you want and live large in a house you could afford the deposit on
 
This might make you feel a bit better:


http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/ho...th-their-parents/story-fneuz5ql-1226660524747

Personally, I am 30 and living at home. My sister also lives at home, and we are both contributing to the mortgage (my contributions started after I paid off the family car). I also give my mum spending money. But having said that, it is not as 'defined' as it seems - ie. no one is really keeping count of how much each is paying. It's just our culture that if something needs help with, then we'll do it if we are able to, without feeling that anything is 'owed'.

I cannot really see the point of moving out if I am only going to rent, just to 'prove' my independence. The way I see it is, if I am going to be paying off a mortgage, it might as well be my parents' than some stranger's investment property. I get to spend more time to focus on my career, fitness and friends as my mum does the cooking and cleaning. Oh, and I also get to save a lot more money!
 
nah you're fine, in my opinion anyway. i was almost 30 before i moved out (out of home and out of the country both at once... as you can see by my location). i'm 33 now and a few of my former schoolmates are still living with their parents. so it's not that uncommon these days.

you're probably copping a ribbing from your mates right? i did, but if both you and your parents are happy with the situation, who cares what everyone thinks. consider it as an exercise in setting yourself up for a solid financial future (provided you do save some of your income and invest it - i'm assuming you *are* doing both those things since you're on this forum?)
 
Hands up who is single? Haha, still at home, 23, moved out, but moved back in to do uni and now try and learn how to trade.
 

Well I'm not sure what's standard these days. I left home at 30. In my opinion though, if you are working full time then you should be paying board and/or contributing money towards bills or groceries, etc.
 
If the parents are ok with it, who's to say it's not OK?

However, if I was living at home whilst earning an income, I would certainly pay my fair share, or at least keep a mental ledger of debt owed to my parents, and help them out after their retirement / special needs or something like that.

Also, if my kids are living at home as adults, I will most definitely ask them to do at least equal share of house work, and pay for things like utilities and groceries. I don't necessarily want/need their money, but I want to make sure they have some understanding on the costs of living these days.
 
I'm 23, lived out of home for 2 years and now back at home to complete a university degree. Everyone's circumstance is different obviously but my view is that you should be paying rent or board or something. Remember money you don't pay your parents is money preventing them from their financial goals/retirement/paying off the mortgage. When I moved back home I asked my parents to figure out how much they think I would increase their expenses, so that is what I pay... Anyway my
 
I'm a big proponent of leaving young. I mean, there's a lot to be said for family and if I had kids I would be more than happy for them to stay for as long as they wanted; but I feel that part of growing up, being an adult and learning about the world is setting out on your own and having to get by.

I'm 30, and moved out when I was 24 or 25, and I felt that I had stayed there too long. I have friends that are 30 or more still living at home; and I just think that life has got so much more to offer and experience. And I don't think living at home to save money is a good reason either... we've gotta go out there and make it on our own, and learn to budget, and to save and to go without so we can have the things that truly matter.

I have had stints at home, lived at home for half a year recently after a breakup; and parents are helping a little with money now that I have gone back to Uni and am living on campus; but even at 30 there is a lot I wouldn't be experiencing if not living on campus and living with the parents.
 
From a parents perspective, I haven't seen many children who have lived at home, gain much financially.
Mostly they seem to miss out on assett appreciation and spend more on self indulgence. Only my observations.
 
Rent + Bills free? 18 y.o.

I think it's great to see families who are close, and staying at home for the social/companionship aspect is great, especially in today's society of the individual but living at home once you've finished high school, in the same manner that most kids do during high school, (ie. parents pay all rent & bills, and do all cooking, cleaning, washing etc) is unfair on the parents, and kind of pathetic of the kids.

I hate hearing adults saying they're going to move back home to save money. Who's money?

Just re-read your post: How long are you planning on working for? When are you thinking of retiring? Me - ASAP! There's no way in hell I'll be letting my kids work and spend money on a social life or materialistic wants, when they aren't even paying their own way.

I try hard not to judge without knowing people's exact situation but if you're in full-time employment and have been for a while, I'd ask what are you spending your money on, or saving money for, that you think your parents also wouldn't want? Why should their money subsides your lifestyle?
 
When junior was 23, I ordered him out. Now he's been out there for a couple of years, he's welcome to come back if he wants to. Wanting only the best for junior, I thought I'd give him something essential.

Some people look askance when I tell them that. "Wot u lookn at?!" tends to be my reply.

As far as I'm concerned, my life as an independent human animal began when I left home (at 19). An unforgettable event was eating my first meal on plastic crockery I'd bought from an op-shop, groceries I'd bought myself, and sitting in a rented room that I'd lined up for myself.

Over the next few months, years and indeed decades, I moved back in to the parents' house for brief periods now and then. But once I'd moved out, the family home was always their place. I was an occasional guest but never again a resident.

My brother meanwhile to my amazement stayed at 'home'. Never left, until life left him. He'd saved lots of money but.

Lots of different paths out there.
 
I left home for good when I moved to Australia in 92 or 94...i was 26, it was kind of strange moving out of the house and the country at the same time....no regrets though.

I always paid board at home after I turned 19, as long as I was working.

CanOz
 
If you are earning a living then you need to pay your share. To do otherwise is taking advantage of parental love & generosity. THEY worked for their money & paid their bills. My kids wanted to move out - they wanted fully independent lives. I moved out for the same reason at 17 in Uni year 1. Our kids have moved in and out as circumstances dictated & know they can still come back. The last one is home but wants to study in Melbourne & eventually work overseas. I expect he will come home during uni holidays to keep costs down - we'll probably have to support him a bit.

When I was a uni student I paid board at home when I was there. I was an adult & expected to accept the responsibilities & costs that being an adult entailed. And I didn't get money from the parents for living & studying. I say, if you work full-time then move out or pay "commercial rates" for boarding.
 
+1

Its up to you and your parents, dont worry about what others say.
People take different paths with different outcomes as mentioned.
As long as you are saving with goals, good for you.
 
Sorry mate, can't sugar coat it for you. You're working full time, but not paying rent, board or bills? Stock standard?

Perhaps it's time you entered into a negotiation with your folks.

Growing up in a rural town, if you want job or education opportunities, you have to leave town, mostly as an 18 yro, and fend for yourself. Different times admittedly, but nearly all of my peers left home at 18. Big wide world, sink or swim.
 

+10. Nothing wrong with living at home. But pull your weight mate.

Cheers
 
Logique said:
Growing up in a rural town, if you want job or education opportunities, you have to leave town, mostly as an 18 yro, and fend for yourself. Different times admittedly, but nearly all of my peers left home at 18. Big wide world, sink or swim.
Click to expand...

Yep totally agree. I am mid 20's now and moved out of home in a rural town when I was 17. See so many city kids still living with their parents when I have been out of home for nearly a decade. Especially at uni, so many in the city had no idea what it is like to have to pay your own bills etc etc, living at home leaves you very sheltered imo, and is a huge advantage financially for students.

IMO the majority of ones who complain about never having any money are those that live with their folks but then buy expensive clothes and toys, and then complain they don't have money to buy a house or whatever. Living by yourself helps dramatically with budgeting etc.

Obviously the members on this forum probably are not representative as most here take an interest in their financial future
 
Kids staying a long time at home would be a strong indicator of an enmeshed family structure, where personal boundaries are blurred and the child gets subtly manipulated into providing emotional (and sometimes financial) support for parents. It's not a healthy situation for the child who will suffer lack of differentiation and individuation, guilt upon leaving the parent and difficulty in forming relationships outside the family structure.

Read more here: http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Enmeshment
http://www.drcachildress.org/asp/admin/getFile.asp?RID=55&TID=6&FN=pdf
 
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