When you live on your own, your friends are real friends, they are there for you, and you are there for them. If you got your parents still holding you up, you aren't really afloat, therefore you don't really *need* anyone.
For want of a better (less geeky) example, in WoW, there are two types of servers, PVE (player versus environment) and PVP (Player versus Player). If you are on the PVE server, you never have to compete against other people, therefore you never really *need* other people because you are always in a safe environment. On the other hand, in PVP environment you could be killed by some other random player at any time, so being able to call out to your community for help is important, and vice versa, it builds community. By living at home, if you don't get along with your friends or have no friends, you always have your parents to be "buddies" with - but if you live alone, you are alone, so you actually make an effort to go out and meet people (supposedly, though I manage to be a geek and still live alone).
Its a step into a much, much bigger world. If you want to go all the way, go to a foreign country on your own and survive, believe me, nothing will toughen you up more than that. Even the armed forces always has a "brotherly" component... in the big wide world, you are on your own, so you might as well get used to it.
I've never paid my parents rent or contributed towards household bills, nor would they let me.
I moved out when I was 21 (to go to Uni) but it's been made clear my room is always mine if I need it and I'll never have to pay to use it.
I'd like to thnk it's a case of swings and roundabouts. My parents take care of my grandparents (one of them lives with us) and if my parents ever needed it and I was in a position to offer, I'd do the same for them.
You help your family out and support them, you shouldn't be in the business of charging them for your support.
Depends how long your parents are willing to keep you. My parents are allowing me to live with them rent free while i'm in full time education, when i leave uni i have to start paying them rent or move out. I think that is very gracious of them and i appreciate it.
However if you are just using it as a place to live and have a job you should be paying them rent.
What's it got to do with being tight? It's just respectful and decent to pay them something - afterall they've put you through eductation, looked after you for at least 16 or so years, where's the harm in showing some commitment and adulthood? It's the more of the symbol/act of doing it that counts rather than being a scrubber living off you parents. If you pay for your own food, do your own washing, pay your share of the bills then that's fine - at least it's something. If you don't then frankly you're a spoilt brat. Some people really need to live in the real world and grow up.
My parents dont charge me
but i have no cash.
My family aren't tight so they don't ask for rent
I have to agree. I had too much respect for my parents to expect them to continue supporting me when I was earning a man's wage. When I left school, I was earning nearly as much as my Dad, there's no way I would expect him to pay for my food and electricity.
For those of you who are shocked that people would pay their parents money towards their upkeep when they're earning a full wage, I'm disgusted that you have so little respect for your parents that you would hoard your money or **** it away whilst sponging off your parents after they've fed and clothed and nurtured you for the past 16 or more years.
For those of you who are shocked that people would pay their parents money towards their upkeep when they're earning a full wage, I'm disgusted that you have so little respect for your parents that you would hoard your money or **** it away whilst sponging off your parents after they've fed and clothed and nurtured you for the past 16 or more years.