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[Crash Station]

Even if your budget is tight, move out. There is nothing better than living alone.

As someone that's experienced both, I can't disagree more. Everyone's circumstances are different.

 

[undercoverb0ss]

I support the "Even if your budget is tight, move out" approach. Especially since you are 30.

You will grow in ways you don't really consider once you are out on your own, and if you truly can't make it on your own financially, I'm sure you could always go back home.

But I think once you experience the freedom of living on your own, you will prefer to struggle a little by yourself than have more money at home.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Just as poor as the op? He's 30 and still doesn't make enough to afford an apartment lol. 30 is 5-8 years of career development. Live with your parents all you want, but I'm not sure what you all are 'saving' when you guys are making salaries less than a 24 year old accountant. If you're a doctor living with your parents, bottoms up.

Well no. He's currently more financial stable than he was and he's getting ready to build his own home. Had the option been available to stay at home during those initial five years, it's very possible that he would have already built the home or been partway through its construction.

His education would have likely progressed better too.

Feels weird talking about Lucian like he isn't here in the conversation...we see you Lucian, don't worry.

 

[Aztechnology]

It's amazing when you and the GF have a day off together and do nothing but stay home and smash all day.

Melee or 4?

 

[Crash Station]

My questions for people who live at home are always:

1. Do you pay rent/utilities?
2. Do your parents make you meals everyday? Or do you cook sometimes for yourself/them?
3. Do you always do your own laundry?

1. Yes
2. I cook for myself most of the time, but they will once or twice a week. I'd rather do my own thing since I like cooking.
3. Yes

 

[The real Butters]

Holy shit, I kinda moved out when I was 17ish for conscription, then school far away and then work in another country . I can't even grasp the idea of living with my parents at this point in my life. Granted i'm 31 and expecting kids soon!

 

[Crash Station]

living at home with 30 is definitely not doing fine, other people have been independent for 10 to 15 years at 30. You're totally limiting yourself, I would be downright embarrassed telling people I live with my Mommy at 30.

I couldn't take it anymore at 20, I also had to live with my sister in the same room though.

And that's a pretty damn insulting mindset to have in a good majority of the world including first world countries. It's such an odd stigma to me.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

So to everyone who moved out at 18 or thereabouts. If you have kids, will you expect them to move out at 18 too? regardless of the reality of the situation they'll face with increasing rents, fewer jobs that pay less and generally less opportunities than we have right now?

 

[Goodlife]

So to everyone who moved out at 18 or thereabouts. If you have kids, will you expect them to move out at 18 too? regardless of the reality of the situation they'll face with increasing rents, fewer jobs that pay less and generally less opportunities than we have right now?

Yes.

Obviously not going to kick them out on the streets, but would expect them to be gone (due to Uni, or work) by the time they are 18/19/20

 

[MemoryHumanity]

Just moved out for the first time at 22. And by move out, I mean move country. Always wanted to move out earlier but was lacking the financial stability. Living with my gf now and it's pretty awesome. As others have said, I couldn't imagine living with my parents at 30. That shit would be dreadful.

 

[Mendrox]

Moved out at 23 as I finished my apprenticeship and my company wanted me. I did everything in 2-3 months? Was one of the best decisions in my life. I love my parents and they love me, but moving out also gave them more freedom, they act like 20 year olds again sometimes because they didn't really have their 20s because of me and I love that. Glad to see them so happy.

I also love not getting told what I have to do and when and guess what? My home is always clean as fuck, my freezer full of healthy things and I never miss important things or anything else. It is literally perfect. Only annoying thing (which I did back then too, but just less because of less rooms) is cleaning. I am cleaning freak and sometimes I go a bit overboard, but there are worse things.

But I don't think it made changes to my thinking at all and just made everything social better I also think that it is very important to move out and to be alone for yourself for a time in life to get to know the you better.

 

[Crash Station]

yeah I love working some shitty dead end job with people I hate
then coming home to an empty apartment with no loved ones
then making my own dinner in silence, maybe with the tv on to fake human interaction
going to bed early so I can do it all over again the next day, day after day
id just put a bullet in my brain and save some time

Honestly, this is what it was like for me after my roommates moved out and before I moved back in with my parents. It was really bad and there's still lingering feelings from that time when I was a totally broken mess.

To those that don't move out... how do you date?

I don't. Didn't when I lived alone and don't while I live with people.

If you and your parents can get along and they're fine with it, I guess I don't necessarily hold it against someone who's thirty and still lives at home.

It doesn't seem like a very pleasant life to me personally, but you're not hurting me, so do whatever you want.

I do think that some people who choose to stay with their parents are hurting themselves in the long run. I see a bunch of people talking about not moving out because then they'd be broke, and they prefer to live a nice lifestyle at home until such a time as they get a degree-oriented job and can transition to a nice lifestyle on their own.

I think it's good for you to be broke as shit in your twenties, living on your own. I think it teaches you a lot of valuable lessons you're not likely to get anywhere else. I think you do yourself a disservice relying on someone else until you can step gently off their boat onto your own. You're willingly passing up important life skills and emotional tools you'll likely need later down the line.

But, again, it's not really my business to direct someone else's life.

Everyone is different, and the days of thinking "being broke builds character" isn't really a thing anymore. It's the same "bootstraps" logic that's left a lot of people I know depressed and, in one instance, nearly dead. That last one is currently in a psych ward.

 

[striferser]

Moved out when i was 18, and live for about 9 years alone. Now i go back to my parent. due to certain circumstance. Was alright, i enjoy my time alone, that's for sure. Yes, i paid food, utilities and also help paying for my sister education.

 

[Sumio Mondo]

So to everyone who moved out at 18 or thereabouts. If you have kids, will you expect them to move out at 18 too? regardless of the reality of the situation they'll face with increasing rents, fewer jobs that pay less and generally less opportunities than we have right now?

The rise of the cost of housing is the biggest issue (that is unless you're a city person and just live in an apartment and pay rent, if you want to own your own house, that's another matter that people here are ignoring entirely). It's going up and up and up. Thankfully I'm now in a job sector that's better paid than what I was doing a few years ago, if I stayed doing that, yeesh, I'd have no chance of ever moving out. People ain't got time to be a parent nowadays, it seems.

Also, some girls aren't judgmental about dating with someone who still lives with their parents, it's just a reality of the times we live, some girls also do the same. That is, as long as you don't date any stuck up uni folks.

 

[Crash Station]

Because parents are people, and a good amount of people like to have their privacy. Your mom and dad want to walk around naked and fuck in the kitchen but they can't because your 30 year old ass is sitting on the couch in your tighty whitey's drinking Dew and playing Xbone.

Ever hear of Empty Nest Syndrome?

I wonder how many parents of the Gaffers still living at home are secretly sick of them and want them to fuck off already. Yet they think everything is great and wonderful at home. Your parents might be too nice and not want to hurt your feelings.

If so, they deserve an academy award. When I was living on my own, my mom begged me to come back several times a week.

 

[Wvrs]

I moved out a couple months after my 18th birthday, actually the entire reason I applied for University was to get away from home (luckily I fell in love with what I study later).

Been home to visit maybe 20 days in total the last 2.5 years... it's been the best time of my life, but also difficult at times. The summer just gone, I was working 50 hours a week on an under 21's minimum wage at a bar, half my wage went on rent and bills.

Not a decision to take lightly. I couldn't envision any other life now, but I had a very atypical (tough) childhood. If I could live with either of my parents, I would in a shot; the money I'd save...

 

[Sumio Mondo]

Not a decision to take lightly. I couldn't envision any other life now, but I had a very atypical (tough) childhood. If I could live with either of my parents, I would in a shot; the money I'd save...

That's the main advantage, after I move out in a couple of years, I will have saved up enough money to go travelling and hopefully move in with somebody I love if i meet the right person to do it with and share those costs out. It's a better approach to my future than forcing my way out now with just a decent amount of money and no way of being able to do what I want and struggle to make ends meet just to not feel pressured or "stigmatised" into doing it.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Because parents are people, and a good amount of people like to have their privacy. Your mom and dad want to walk around naked and fuck in the kitchen but they can't because your 30 year old ass is sitting on the couch in your tighty whitey's drinking Dew and playing Xbone.

Maybe they shouldn't have kids so they can keep that privacy until their dying day?

Kids are a choice but by having one you take on the responsibility of ensuring it has the best possible life it can. You don't just have one, raise it until it hits 18 and tell it get the fuck out. Why bother even having kids if that's how you view parenting?

Just save society the trouble of one more person who is left struggling trying to make ends meet and don't procreate, your genes don't need to advance any more at that stage. Let them die off with you. You've done enough, Humanity doesn't need you in the gene pool any more.

 

[Goodlife]

Maybe they shouldn't have kids so they can keep that privacy until their dying day?

Kids are a choice but by having one you take on the responsibility of ensuring it has the best possible life it can. You don't just have one, raise it until it hits 18 and tell it get the fuck out. Why bother even having kids if that's how you view parenting?

Just save society the trouble of one more person who is left struggling trying to make ends meet and don't procreate, your genes don't need to advance any more at that stage. Let them die off with you. You've done enough, Humanity doesn't need you in the gene pool any more.

That's quite an escalation....

 

[Sumio Mondo]

That's quite an escalation....

It was hyperbolic but he is kinda right, kids aren't a burden, they're important and should be thought of that way. If you don't want kids, don't have them. To be honest, the guy he was quoting was worse...

 

[Lucian Cat]

Well no. He's currently more financial stable than he was and he's getting ready to build his own home. Had the option been available to stay at home during those initial five years, it's very possible that he would have already built the home or been partway through its construction.

His education would have likely progressed better too.

Feels weird talking about Lucian like he isn't here in the conversation...we see you Lucian, don't worry.

I'm a she. This whole post makes me feel weird.

 

[Goodlife]

It was hyperbolic but he is kinda right, kids aren't a burden, they're important and should be thought of that way. If you don't want kids, don't have them. To be honest, the guy he was quoting was worse...

And, at some point they stop being kids.

I'm not saying that once they turn 18 or so, that's it, you stop caring for them and helping them out, but they should give parents a bit of space to live again.

 

[The real Butters]

Ever hear of Empty Nest Syndrome?



If so, they deserve an academy award. When I was living on my own, my mom begged me to come back several times a week.

Sounds like you just really want to live with your parents more than anything else tbh but hey, no judge. Everyone is different.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

That's quite an escalation....

Not really...

It was hyperbolic but he is kinda right, kids aren't a burden, they're important and should be thought of that way. If you don't want kids, don't have them. To be honest, the guy he was quoting was worse...

Pretty much. If you value your own privacy and freedom to bang in the kitchen that much, don't have kids.

I'm a she. This whole post makes me feel weird.

Whoops. Sorry.

 

[Sumio Mondo]

And, at sometime the stop being kids.

I'm not saying that once they turn 18 or so, that's it, you stop caring for them and helping them out, but they should give parents a bit of space to live again.

And I don't think throwing your children out of the house is good parenting either, especially in some circumstances, I mean, if they have the opportunities and have a place to stay/going to uni and stuff fine, but not getting kicked out. It's all relative at the end of the day and some parents want their children to stick around, some would prefer they move out and some just kick them out. I tend to think less of the latter but that's just me. Plus, some people are just close with their parents and some just aren't. If your children are paying their way into the household and want to save up before moving out, that's perfectly reasonable.

And to be honest, your independance goes when you have kids, especially multiple kids. Your whole life revolves around them and that's just the way things are. If some people only like the fun part of parenting but don't like the hard parts of parenting, frankly, they should just aunts/uncles and not be parents in the first place.

 

[Koriandrr]

And that's a pretty damn insulting mindset to have in a good majority of the world including first world countries. It's such an odd stigma to me.

It is a pretty limited mindset and insulting, but it's not 100% inaccurate.
I have colleagues in their mid 20s who still live with their parents, in order to save money, which makes sense in a place like London, where I live, as rent here is usually about 80-90% of your salary, which leaves you with no savings, ever.

I've been living with my partner since I was 18 and couldn't imagine anything better than that. I do hate flat sharing. Currently I'm paying most of my salary to afford living just with him and our cats, which is perfectly fine with me. It's the choice I've made and see it as worth it.

However, if I was dating and a guy I really like told me he's 30 and living with his parents, I'll be honest, as much as I don't judge people and am open minded, I would think twice before dating that person. Most people look for a dependable, independent person for a relationship. You'd have to work twice as hard to prove you have those qualities.

 

[ClosingADoor]

Maybe they shouldn't have kids so they can keep that privacy until their dying day?

Kids are a choice but by having one you take on the responsibility of ensuring it has the best possible life it can. You don't just have one, raise it until it hits 18 and tell it get the fuck out. Why bother even having kids if that's how you view parenting?

Just save society the trouble of one more person who is left struggling trying to make ends meet and don't procreate, your genes don't need to advance any more at that stage. Let them die off with you. You've done enough, Humanity doesn't need you in the gene pool any more.

What kind of bullshit is this? Having kids does not mean you can't expect them to take care of themselves at some point in their lives.

If I ever have kids and they have the ability to move out, but refuse to do so, I'd probably force them to do it for their own good. I see no reason why a healthy person, who doesn't have to take care of their parents themselves due to illness or something else, older then 20 with funds to do so - even if they are limited - will not move out to their own place.

 

[Goodlife]

And I don't think throwing your children out of the house is good parenting either, especially in some circumstances, I mean, if they have the opportunities and have a place to stay/going to uni and stuff fine, but not getting kicked out. It's all relative at the end of the day and some parents want their children to stick around, some would prefer they move out and some just kick them out. I tend to think less of the latter but that's just me. Plus, some people are just close with their parents and some just aren't. If your children are paying their way into the household and want to save up before moving out, that's perfectly reasonable.

And to be honest, your independance goes when you have kids, especially multiple kids. Your whole life revolves around them and that's just the way things are. If some people only like the fun part of parenting but don't like the hard parts of parenting, frankly, they should just aunts/uncles and not be parents in the first place.

Obviously not going to kick them out on the streets, but would expect them to be gone (due to Uni, or work) by the time they are 18/19/20

You think the fun part of parenting is the first 18 years? Awesome.

 

[Crash Station]

Sounds like you just really want to live with your parents more than anything else tbh.

I'm definitely happier there than alone in my own house where I was a step away from being clinically depressed.

But sure, even throughout college when I was rooming with some really cool people, I still felt the need to go home on the weekends and isolate myself. That's just how I am I guess.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

And, at some point they stop being kids.

I'm not saying that once they turn 18 or so, that's it, you stop caring for them and helping them out, but they should give parents a bit of space to live again.

They do, but your responsibility to them doesn't end when they reach a certain age. That's not how parenting works.

Live again is an odd way to frame it too. The parents made a choice to have the child, they knew it would be a lifelong commitment. So to then turn around and say it's time for us to live again? Nope, doesn't fly.

If you have those feelings, don't have kids. All you're doing is shifting your responsibility as a parent onto others when your kid reaches a certain age.

 

[Sumio Mondo]

You think the fun part of parenting is the first 18 years? Awesome.

No. But other people are making it sound like the hard part is after the 18 years are up since they want to throw them out asap. I don't understand the concept of "I need to have my independence to enjoy my life" either, honestly. But hey, whatever floats these people's boats, I guess.

 

[Goodlife]

They do, but your responsibility to them doesn't end when they reach a certain age. That's not how parenting works.

Live again is an odd way to frame it too. The parents made a choice to have the child, they knew it would be a lifelong commitment. So to then turn around and say it's time for us to live again? Nope, doesn't fly.

If you have those feelings, don't have kids. All you're doing is shifting your responsibility as a parent onto others when your kid reaches a certain age.

Too late.

Counting down the second till I can toss my three girls out of the house.
Long way to go through, sadly.

Spoiler

 

[ClosingADoor]

They do, but your responsibility to them doesn't end when they reach a certain age. That's not how parenting works.

Live again is an odd way to frame it too. The parents made a choice to have the child, they knew it would be a lifelong commitment. So to then turn around and say it's time for us to live again? Nope, doesn't fly.

If you have those feelings, don't have kids. All you're doing is shifting your responsibility as a parent onto others when your kid reaches a certain age.

Unless the child can not take care of its own due to health issues or something, I don't see how a parent has a lifelong commitment to have them living in their house.

Be reasonable about it and don't kick someone out the moment they turn 18 or if they have no way of paying for their own place, but I would expect them to take care of themselves as some point.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

What kind of bullshit is this? Having kids does not mean you can't expect them to take care of themselves at some point in their lives.

If I ever have kids and they have the ability to move out, but refuse to do so, I'd probably force them to do it for their own good. I see no reason why a healthy person, who doesn't have to take care of their parents themselves due to illness or something else, older then 20 with funds to do so - even if they are limited - will not move out to their own place.

Taking care of them isn't kicking them out. Taking care of them isn't forcing them out so they can learn how to adult through hardship and struggle.

That's now how parenting works.

Now if they are just bone lazy, spend all their money on videogames and going out and buying £500 trainers, then you'd have a case for sitting them down and giving them an ultimatum. Either change your ways, don't waste so much money on frivolous things and save or move out.

But there's no cut off age where you can just say okay my job is done, jog on now mate. Good luck out there.

 

[Sumio Mondo]

Unless the child can not take care of its own due to health issues or something, I don't see how a parent has a lifelong commitment to have them living in their house.

Be reasonable about it and don't kick someone out the moment they turn 18 or if they have no way of paying for their own place, but I would expect them to take care of themselves as some point.

So you're 'closing a door'?

Spoiler

lol

 

[Crash Station]

However, if I was dating and a guy I really like told me he's 30 and living with his parents, I'll be honest, as much as I don't judge people and am open minded, I would think twice before dating that person. Most people look for a dependable, independent person for a relationship. You'd have to work twice as hard to prove you have those qualities.

That's very much buying into a social stigma, so your'e not as open-minded as you think. People throughout the world in cultures where living with your parents well into your 30s is normal seem to have little problem getting SOs. Hell, many in cultures where it IS a social stigma have no problems doing it.

But really, I'm not sure why this is the first thing people bring up, as if you need to be dating to validate your existence.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Too late.

Counting down the second till I can toss my three girls out of the house.
Long way to go through, sadly.

Spoiler

Man, if my taxes go to paying for your daughters food stamps, I'm going to hunt you down...

Unless the child can not take care of its own due to health issues or something, I don't see how a parent has a lifelong commitment to have them living in their house.

Be reasonable about it and don't kick someone out the moment they turn 18 or if they have no way of paying for their own place, but I would expect them to take care of themselves as some point.

I see having kids in the same way I view getting a pet. You make a lifelong commitment. With pets, it's based around their expiration, with kids, its based around your own.

Taking care of themselves is something they can do within the family home though. Get a job, save, etc. These things don't require someone moving out of the house. If you instil the idea of take responsibility from a young age, the kid, regardless of whether they move out or not, will be able to take care of themselves.

 

[Goodlife]

Man, if my taxes go to paying for your daughters food stamps, I'm going to hunt you down...



I see having kids in the same way I view getting a pet. You make a lifelong commitment. With pets, it's based around their expiration, with kids, its based around your own.

Taking care of themselves is something they can do within the family home though. Get a job, save, etc. These things don't require someone moving out of the house. If you instil the idea of take responsibility from a young age, the kid, regardless of whether they move out or not, will be able to take care of themselves.

Ha, good luck to you, mun.

Course it's a lifelong commitment.
But that's not the same as them living in your house til they are in their 30s/40s (in most circumstances.... obvious mental / physical health issues not withstanding)

 

[Koriandrr]

That's very much buying into a social stigma, so your'e not as open-minded as you think. People throughout the world in cultures where living with your parents well into your 30s is normal seem to have little problem getting SOs. Hell, many in cultures where it IS a social stigma have no problems doing it.

But really, I'm not sure why this is the first thing people bring up, as if you need to be dating to validate your existence.

Perhaps you're right. Fact is I've never met anyone with your values.
I have one question for you OP - have you ever been in a long term relationship?

 

[clay_ghost]

It's mostly only a US thing since its common for most people around the world to stay together until they got married.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Ha, good luck to you, mun.

Course it's a lifelong commitment.
But that's not the same as them living in your house til they are in their 30s/40s (in most circumstances.... obvious mental / physical health issues not withstanding)

There was a time when this was true. That people would leave, forge their own path, etc but I don't believe that's really possible any more in a number of major cities and that's usually where the good jobs are these days.

Kids have no choice but to stay at home as they simply can't get their foot on the property ladder, they can't ever hope to buy a home so their only hope of having a secure place of residence is often the family home.

I should add I'm a firm believer in not renting. That's just throwing money way.

Even though property ownership isn't going to be possible for a large percentage, there's nothing wrong with extending the family home. Maybe redo the loft, build a whole new area at the back of the house with the money the kid is bringing into the home.

 

[Goodlife]

I should add I'm a firm believer in not renting. That's just throwing money way. .

Ai, ok, that explains a fair bit then.

It's living, it's not throwing away money.

 

[Sumio Mondo]

It's mostly only a US thing since its common for most people around the world to stay together until they got married.

How is the cost of housing over there nowadays? It's just on the up over here in the UK (it's bleeding expensive if you want a good place in a suburban town). From an outside perspective it seems to be better in the US but that may be false on my part.

 

[Hoo-doo]

Some people in this thread are really laying on the struggles thick, at least compared to my experience. I personally didn't have to deal with legit financial struggles as in being flat broke. Moving out was probably the day my life really got going. I'll consider myself very lucky in that regard. Maybe it just isn't as financially feasible in some countries. Oh, and you know, you do have to actually get a job like in the real world.

Hooray for low tuition rates and socialised education, is all i'll say.

To me, being babied and sheltered by your parents until deep in your twenties sounds like a rather dysfunctional maturation process in nearly every way.

And as for the people just stacking cash until they can buy a place straight out of the warm clutches of the parental environment, why would you really desire such a thing in this phase of your life?
Me personally, I really don't need or want to buy a house the second I move out of my parents' home. I've lived in many cities around the country and abroad, and I intend to keep doing that for a good while while i'm doing clinicals all around the country for my education. I don't even know where I want to settle down or whether I even want to stay in the country. I'm not putting my life's primary focus on settling down while i'm in the prime years of my life right now, progressively moving up into better and better living arrangements and exactly nothing that anchors me to a fixed location.

Because this is probably my one and only chance I get to truly taste and experience the bigger world around me. I get to know what it's like living in student housing, or living in a high-rise condo. I know what it's like living abroad in a dense, metropolitan city where you are completely left to your own devices. I know how to manage money, make new friends and acquaintances, basically know all the skills a human should before making the shift to settling down for good.

And I know this entire experience won't apply to everyone out there. But for me these are the defining, formative years of my life and I couldn't have remotely turned into the same person I am now if I was still living in that bedroom in my parent's house. The safe route is not always the best route.

 

[Dynedom]

Even if your budget is tight, move out. There is nothing better than living alone.

Factually incorrect. If he can't afford it, him being alone is not going to make him happy. He'll be spending nothing or in debt and that's a stress that can be avoided.

OP:
30 years old here. I had this discussion with people I know recently and it all boils down to this (I'm going to say largely North American) notion that you have to be out on your own by age XX, even if it means going into debt, not being able to save money, etc.

I've lived on my own and with my parents/grandparents since graduating university. My circumstances are different because I was largely unemployed and had no choice.

Now I work in Dubai and if I were to live on my own, I'd literally be throwing away half of my paycheck on rent. I could live in a shithole and not pay as much but I'm not going to do that to prove some arbitrary point about "being a man" or "growing up". I'm here to save money (considering there's no income tax here) and I'll continue to live at my house here with the folks until I've got a paycheck big enough that I can move out and meet a decent savings goal (or if they leave back to Canada first).

Don't put yourself into an emotionally or financially dire situation just to prove some BS maturity/macho point. You're playing into a system that doesn't benefit you.

 

[Sumio Mondo]

And as for the people just stacking cash until they can buy a place straight out of the warm clutches of the parental environment, why would you really desire such a thing in this phase of your life?

Why wouldn't I? Better than being in debt living in a sad shack of an apartment on my own in the city. That's depressing. Hate apartments, hate the city.

 

[brianjones]

I wonder if there are studies done about the impact moving out at a young age has on the entire rest of your life, because I think it's bigger than many people think.

Being 30 fucking years old and still have zero actual adult life skills sounds like the absolute worst way to start off life. That's no way to develop as a person.

could you list some Adult Life Skills for us plz

living at home can mean entirely different things from one person to the next.. everyone's family situation is different

 

[Alienfan]

I'm 17 and have just moved out - and honestly you don't realise how great home is until you leave it. But at the same time, having 100% independence is so freeing and I wouldn't trade it.

 

[oneils]

Why would I pay rent if they don't pay rent? Both parents have houses and both want me to live with them.

I pay my share of the bills/food.

If the mortgage is paid off, They still pay property taxes and maintenance. There are also opportunity costs.

 

[the_milkybar_kid]

I was 24 when I moved out, but no fucking way I could afford to live alone- probably could have afforded a nasty flat and live on the absolute bare minimum. Luckily I met my partner / now wife before I got the urge to move out and a few years down the line we decided it was time and we could manage a mortgage together.

Now we're 5 years down the line and happy I didn't plug money into a landlord. It's still a daunting prospect of another 24 years of paying a mortgage but never even think about the monthly debit going out, I've always been pretty good with money so managing my budget was never a problem.