There are numerous benefits to living at home as an adult. Most importantly, such an arrangement enables you to put away money and save a substantial amount of your income. This can prove particularly helpful to people who are saving up for a big move or looking to pay down debt. However, while living under your parents’ roof may be beneficial to you, it’s important to take your folks’ needs into account, as well. So, if your parents are being kind enough to welcome you back into their home as an adult, make sure to pull your weight and show your appreciation at every opportunity.
Take an Active Role in the Upkeep of the Home
Even if you don’t realize it, your presence at home has likely created a little more work for your parents. For example, if you have a tendency to leave messes in the kitchen, your bedroom or any other part of the home, cleaning up after you may have become a new chore that your parents were forced to take on. Furthermore, if they’re paying for your food, there’s likely been a noticeable increase in their grocery bills. It’s entirely possible that your folks will claim such things are no big deal, but even if this is indeed the case, it does not preclude you from assuming an active role in the upkeep for the residence.
For starters, make a point of cleaning up after yourself. Among other things, this entails washing your own dishes, doing your own laundry and tending to your own clutter. When you were a child, you may have had no qualms about letting other people handle your own messes, but as an adult, it behooves you to take your parents’ needs into consideration. Additionally, take care to help out with chores whenever possible – and not just the ones facilitated by your presence.
Pay a Little Bit of Rent
In all likelihood, your primary aim in moving back home is saving money. Since living under your parents’ roof enables you to keep the bulk of your monthly income, you stand to save quite a bit by taking up residence in your childhood home. However, this doesn’t mean that you should never make any financial contributions to the household – assuming, of course, you’re comfortably able to do so.
With this in mind, offer to pay your folks a little bit of rent every month. If your income tends to fluctuate, the amount you pay each month doesn’t necessarily have to be consistent. Still, if your presence has created additional expenses for your parents, giving them a small amount of money at the beginning of the month can help lessen the financial impact.
Of course, even if you offer, there’s a strong possibility that your parents will refuse to accept money from you. Should this prove to be the case, there are still ways for you to contribute financially. For example, occasionally buying groceries for them or taking them out for nice meals are great ways to illustrate your gratitude. This will also enable you to buy them things before they have an opportunity to object.
Grow Your Savings
Since you’re living at home for the purpose of saving money, it stands to reason that you’d want to grow your savings as quickly as possible. So, if you’re currently employed on a full-time, part-time or contract basis, make a point of putting away as much of your income as possible. You can help free up funds by limiting outside-the-house excursions, like concerts, meals at restaurants and wild nights out with friends.
You can also build your savings through smart investments, like reliable stocks and precious metals. For example, it never hurts to have a 5 oz silver bar or two on hand.
Moving back home is becoming an increasingly popular option for young adults. With economic anxiety at all-time highs, it’s easy to see why so many of us simply can’t afford to be independent. However, this isn’t to say that you should regard your time at your parents’ house as a vacation. While having a guaranteed roof over your head is certainly a huge weight off your shoulders, this doesn’t mean your folks’ kindness should be taken for granted.
