living with your parents advantages Essay

Still living with your parents? Thinking about moving in with your folks because you are unable to pay your own rent, lost your job, just divorced, studying again, can’t afford a house of your own or any other reason? Your move is likely to be driven by a circumstance and a situation you have found yourself in. And as an adult in his/her 20s or 30s, there are advantages and disadvantages of living with your mom, dad or both. Know them before you move back in. Advantages of living with your parents 1) Living on a tight budget: You will save money One of the biggest advantages of living with your parents is that you can save a lot of money. From rent, utility bills, renovations, shared grocery bills and a lot more. If you have just graduated and can’t find a job, if you are out of a job and struggling to pay your debts, if you are facing financial problems – living with your parents could be you answer to saving money on everyday expenses. Think of it as a stop gap arrangement until you get back on your feet. 2) You don’t have to do all the housework Doing the laundry, putting the dishes in the washer, putting them back when they are done, vacuuming, cleaning the living areas from time to time and taking out the trash are just some of the daily chores that need to be done around the house. If you are still living with your parents, you may find yourself exempt from some of these mundane tasks as your mom or dad may be doing them to keep themselves busy. If you are lucky, your mom may even do your laundry while she is at it. 3) You have someone to cook you a nice meal when you can’t As a working professional or a busy student, you may not always have the time to come home and fix yourself a homemade meal. If you were living on your own, you would probably have grabbed a takeaway or a quick bite the local joint. Along with living with your parents comes the added benefit of enjoying warm home cooked meals even if you don’t get the time to cook. Your mom may have something ready on the table by the time you come home from work. 4) Your parents can help with little kids: Big plus for single moms and single dads Single moms and single dads going through a rough patch in life may find it financially, mentally and physically more comfortable to live with their parents until their troubles are sorted out. Only a single mom will know what it takes to work and manage a child. Only a single dad will how it feels to play the dotting dad and the caring mommy at the same time. If you find yourself in a similar situation and are burdened with financial troubles, you could think about the option of living with your parents, at least for a while. From picking up your little kids from school to giving them food when they want, your parents could be the guardian angels that swoop in to help you scrape through when your life hits rock bottom. 5) Familiarity: The feeling of being at home and not with random strangers Besides being cheaper and more convenient, another advantage of living with your parents is that there is a big sense of familiarity. The house is probably the one you grew up in, and you may find sharing your living space with familiar faces more comforting than with random strangers. Dealing with an annoying roommate or housemate is a pain and if you feel like taking time off from renting and sharing, living with your parents could be your stop gap arrangement and peace of mind. 6) The bond of family: You can feel the satisfaction of helping your parents As you live with your parents, you will possibly get many chances to help them and make them feel better. From taking your mom to the doctors to helping your dad do his silly antics in sprucing up the garden, spending time with your parents as they age gracefully can possibly the memories you cherish forever. If your life is going through a rough patch and you are forced to move out of your own home and live with your parents, look at it as an opportunity to share a few extra memories rather than complain. Disadvantages of living with your parents 1) You don’t have privacy or your space Living with your parents will strip you of your space and privacy and that can be a psychological burden if you have been used to living alone for a long time. No longer will you have the freedom to walk straight out of bed and head to the kitchen in your underwear nor will you be able to go naked from one room to another. While these were just two quirky and humorous examples, you should remember that you can say goodbye to your privacy and the concept of having your own space. 2) You can’t call friends over or have house parties Have you always been the guy/girl at whose place friends crash every now and then? That could change when you move in with your parents. A big disadvantage of living with your parents especially from the perspective of someone in their 20s or 30s, is that you can’t call your friends over. You can also forget about hosting parties, whether it is a cozy get-together of your college buddies or some of your office colleagues coming over for a round of after work drinks. 3) You will be given unnecessary advice on your life Whether you move in with your mum, dad or both, you are likely to receive advice on your life even if you don’t ask for it. From the stuff that you eat, the time that you sleep or the number of hours you play video games for, be prepared to get unsolicited advice for just about everything. 4) There will be clash of opinions: You could fallout with your folks Always remember that there is a big generational gap between you and your parents. Don’t expect them to think like you and most importantly, don’t expect them to behave in a certain manner. They will talk and walk in the same way as they have been doing since decades. The difference in outlook towards life will be amplified if there are arguments and petty nit pickings over trivial household issues. One small problem can lead to another, possibly leading to a fallout with your parents. Be prepared for a clash of opinions, keeping in mind that it is you who will have to compromise and let go of many things. 5) Your friends and colleagues will make fun of you The inevitable disadvantage of living with your parents is that your friends and colleagues are likely to make fun of you. You will be known as the 29 year old guy who still lives with his mom or the 31 year old single woman who lives with her folks. There is a certain social baggage that comes along with moving in with your parents once you are an adult, but you will have to take it head on. There is no escaping this and you should prepare yourself for a taunt or two every now and then from the people you are around every day. 6) Your love life is likely to take a tumble Your parents are not likely to be fond of you calling your dates over at their place, especially if the both of you lock yourself in the bedroom for hours. No longer will you be able to think of quirky date ideas within the confines of your own home. Women may not be most impressed if they see you as the guy in his late twenties still living with his parents. Even men may be put off if they form a certain image of a 30 plus year old woman doing the same. 7) You won’t learn the hard lessons of life This applies especially to guys and girl in their twenties who have never moved out of the house. There are a lot of tough lessons and curve balls that life throws every now and then. And by living with your parents, you could be shielding yourself from some of the hardships life has to offer. When you eventually move out, living alone could turn out to be an unpleasant experience as you may have not been used paying rent, struggling to pay bills or not having to do the dishes by yourself every single day of the year. 8) You will not make your way into the property market A financial disadvantage that most discussions overlook is that the longer you live with your parents, the longer it is going to take you to enter the property market yourself. Regardless of the economic situation or the state of the property market, the sooner you buy a house for yourself, the quicker you are going to be done with mortgage repayments. If don’t think of this as a big deal, ask a single dad in his 40s about the burden of a ballooning mortgage and you are likely to get an eye opening reply. 9) Your parents will always treat you as their child You may be 29 years old now but you must remember that your parents will always look at you as their child. You will always be the little guy or girl who held their hands with his/her tiny fingers while taking a walk in the park. No matter how old you get, you will likely be treated as a child. Your mom may continue behaving like the dotting mom while your dad can continue acting like a father figure. Your ego may take a hit when this happens, but it is just another thing that you will have to deal with until you find a place for yourself.