Should You Live with Parents to Save Money?

Feb 03, 2024 By Susan Kelly

Now that you've completed university, you're prepared to enter the workforce and begin your adult life. The costs of living independently can be high, and they can add up quickly. It may be challenging to make ends meet on an entry-level income without savings if you immediately land a job.

Returning to live with your parents is one option. Though it may seem counterintuitive to a young adult eager to strike out on their own, moving back in with Mom and Dad can be among the best financial choices you make.

Adults living with family to save money should take the following moves:

Millennials who return or stay in their childhood residences, either because they have to or because it's easier, should get into good habits now so that when they get their own money, they're ready to stay there.

Get to find employment:

It would help if you tried to generate income even when you're at home. Doing this is crucial.

Escape from debt:

Many new college grads return home because they are saddled with substantial personal debt.27 percent of millennials said they couldn't move out of their parent's homes as adults because they had too much student loan debt.

People who graduate from college with substantial amounts of outstanding student loan debt are far from an anomaly. Currently, there are about 45 million people in the United States who owe money on student loans totaling over $1.71 trillion. Student loan repayments average around $300 per month, which may add up quickly.

Even if you can't afford the minimum payments, moving back in with your parents could free up some cash that you can spend toward paying off your debt. If you can afford to pay more each month, it will help you save money on interest plus put more money toward paying down the principal.

Build up your emergency savings:

When you live with your parents, you may have fewer expenses, which gives you a chance to establish or even start an emergency fund.

Begin saving right away:

The United States has a severe saving problem, with most Americans unable to cover a $400 emergency expense. If you're starting, living at home to save money is a great way to put away money for emergency savings and establish a solid financial footing to build a secure future, mainly in a region with a high maintenance cost.

It is possible to avoid spending money by not:

  • Rent/mortgage
  • Amenities (gas, electricity, internet) (gas, electricity, internet)
  • Insurance for tenants or homeowners

Even if you don't make as much money as you'd like or if most of it goes to paying off debts, it's still necessary to invest when possible.

Spending less on food is possible:

It's easy to go overboard on the food you buy and prepare if you don't have any background in budgeting or meal planning. You'll probably eat some meals at your parent's house, where you may enjoy home-cooked food instead of ordering in. As a bonus, you can use this time to learn how to cook on the cheap before you move out.

Get good credit:

If you just graduated from college and haven't had a chance to establish credit yet, or if you've maxed out your credit cards and need to operate on your score, residing at home is a great way to do both.

Start Investing early:

Stock market investing requires patience. Recent graduates with school loan debt often lack the funds to invest. Living with your parents saves you money on rent, which is typically your most significant expense. The average household spends 27% of its budget on housing. This extra revenue can be saved each month until the remaining parents' tenure ends.

Stocks, IRAs, and 401(k)s are good locations to invest money. If you start saving and investing at 25 instead of 35, you may be able to retire early.

Having the luxury of being selective and taking risks:

There is no denying the financial benefits of staying home with mom and dad. There is a benefit of living at home with your parents that you may not have considered: it provides a safe environment in which to attempt new activities. You can take more calculated risks with your money and confidently launch your business.

The benefits and drawbacks of living with parents to save money are:

Benefits:

The typical renter takes three years to build up enough money for a 20% down payment on a median-priced home because of rent and insurance.

You can save for a similar down payment in roughly five years if you move back in with your parents and don't have to pay rent.

Drawbacks:

But there's more to home life than eating mom's cooking and having her do your clothes. In some ways, living with your parents isn't as good as living alone. Young adults ages 25 to 34 who lived at a parental home were less likely to own a home after 10 years than young adults who didn't live at home with their parents.

A recent research by the Urban Institute found that adults who lived with their parents for a long time were not more financially ready to buy a home than those who moved out sooner.

There are both good and bad things about living with your parents. The answer to the question of whether or not there will be emotional effects depends on the family.

FAQs:

What are the benefits of staying at home with your parents?

Living with parents to save money allows you to save a significant amount. There are a plethora of costs that can be reduced by living with others, including rent, utilities, home improvements, grocery costs, and more.

What's the minimum age to move out on my own?

Although everyone and every circumstance are unique, many people believe you should leave your parents' home sometime around 25 or 26. Don't worry yourself silly over these figures, though. These rules are offered solely as suggestions. You may be ready to leave home at a later age.

What fraction of recent grads return to their childhood homes?

A 2019 study by TD Ameritrade indicated that 58% of college-aged millennials returned home after graduation. Three-quarters stayed longer than two years.

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