Living at home with parents: how is it viewed?

[Antar Bolaeisk]

Bought my apartment when I was 24 and only for the plumber screwed up big time I would have been in it before I was 25.

My mortgage is such that it's not costing me much more than living at home (paid rent to the parents every week when I was at home during Summer and when finished Uni) though obviously I've got bills and food to pay for (and washing and ironing and cleaning, why'd I move out ). It's great to have a place of my own though and I wouldn't give it up for anything.

I don't think people living at home up to 30 is really that big a deal any more with the cost of buying property (though it has dropped substantially lately). All my friends still live at home though I know one or two earn substantially more than me.

It's the ones who live at home, don't contribute to the house and are mammied that are the ones to watch out for.

 

[Richie]

32 here, live at home with parents.

Couldn't care less what people think. If they saw what was in my bank account they would soon shut up..

Or, like me, they would think it even weirder unless of course you are a carer for you parent(s)....

 

[WingZero30]

I live with my parents and my little brother and sister. Its normal in my culture as I come from asian background and we tend to be more family orientated. Plus there are other factors involved aswell which is keeping me and my family together.
Ofcourse when wife comes, then things will change

I also have responsibility of looking after my immediate family as my parents are elderly and they are relying on me financially and emotionally.

I have always maintained my own independance aswell and have experience of living on my own. But living on my own frankly doesn't suit my taste and style as I love family warmth, connection and am a family guy

Living with mum or wife won't make difference to my life as general households responsibilities will be more or less same. Its just change of person.

 

[NotAGolf]

I think it's fine to live at home as long as you have the view to move out eventually and are actively working towards that goal.

I think it's odd to stay at home with no ambition to move out. I also find it odd when people stay at home to 'save money' but then buy lots of luxuries, have a flash car, go on holidays etc.

I was at home for 2 years after finishing uni to save money, but I saved 95% of what I earnt. My parents didn't charge me a thing as they knew I would be around longer if they did! I saved up enough for a deposit and now have my own place

 

[regulus]

How do you propose one saves up to buy a house?

You save money?

 

[ChrisJSY]

Yeah I don't see myself ever being able to really own a house over here, too expensive, even small flats, the last thing I want to do is put myself into a life of debt after coming out of years of debt moons ago.

I wouldn't even know how you'd save up after you take into account monthly outgoing payments, I'd have to double the average life expectancy of humans, you'd have to have a well paying job, maybe a partner to help and savings already at my age. I have neither, I'm not sure what's going to happen down the road to be honest and it's killing me!

 

[regulus]

I in the camp where I think it's slightly weird if you still live at home past 30 but whatever works for you. I moved out at 18, moved back for 5 weeks aged 21 and lived with a friend for two years, girlfriend five, and on my own ever since. In the time I bought and sold two houses, bought an investment property abroad I sold last year, and just renting at the moment with the idea of either moving abroad or buying within the next two years. I'm renting with the money I've earned from selling my properties and am still in the profit at least 70k.

For me personally, and this is just my opinion, I'd feel ashamed if I met a girl and had to tell her I still live with mom. I just couldn't do it.

 

[dakaiez]

I have just turned 27 and am still living at home, purely though for financial reason. I don't want to rent as it will mean that i will not be able to save enough for a desposit on a house.

So i've stayed at home and now have a healthy amount of savings, i intend to do this for another year or two so i can put a bigger deposit down and afford everything i need for it. I will though once i have enough move out and buy my own property, which in my opinion is so much better than renting. It will not be in London though, as the prices are absolutely insane.

 

[EdwardTeach]

I don't think there is anything wrong with it. Often I feel that the pressure to leave comes from the parents. Considering the rental prices in London (you could easily spend £15-20,000 a year on rent), it seems illogical/ insane to me to not stay with your parents. It is the most practical way of saving up for the deposit for a mortgage.

Having said that, I have never actually moved back home after leaving for uni at 19, bar a few long summer holidays. However in London my wife and I had the benefit of staying in a house her parents owned, on a pretty much rent free basis. Her parents did not live there permanently, but would typically be there 3-4 nights a week when staying in London for work. I stayed there for around a year, and my wife had already been living there a year or so before I arrived, and this had a a big role in helping us save up the 100k deposit you need to buy property in London.

 

[Vegeta]

I have just turned 27 and am still living at home, purely though for financial reason. I don't want to rent as it will mean that i will not be able to save enough for a desposit on a house.

So i've stayed at home and now have a healthy amount of savings, i intend to do this for another year or two so i can put a bigger deposit down and afford everything i need for it. I will though once i have enough move out and buy my own property, which in my opinion is so much better than renting.

Same age same situation but I plan to move out in the new year

 

[EdwardTeach]

I should also add, I don't agree with the concept of parents charging their children rent. Of you parents are wanting to charge you rent, then the equation changes and of course you should consider moving out.

 

[Tican]

Well I am 25, and cannot afford to move out. I work in a low paid job, but a job I enjoy. I pay so little to live here it's unreal

I should hopefully progress within the company within a year or so, so then I will be able to afford it! Hopefully.

Edit: I pay rent here, as I work and my mother is on long term ESA. I pay the difference that the benefit doesn't pay out. Direct to the council.

I buy all my own food and stuff, throw money [not literally ] on the gas/electric etc.

 

[Megahurtz400]

I'm 20 and still live at home, which I think isn't that bad, but give it another year maybe two and i'll be embarrassed to say that I do personally.

Still got a lot of travelling to do though, so probably won't own my own home in the UK for a few years yet unless plans change and I end up staying abroad somewhere

 

[OpenToSuggestions]

I am 24 years old and recently ditched my PhD for a graduate job in a huge manufacturing firm in the UK.
At University I was a warden and so had my own separate flat. I was paid in benefit as the flat was free and so were the bills, but I had still left home. I moved back last month and find it OK. Short term I have some bills to pay (two lots of car insurance), but I am only back home so I can get together a house deposit as I feel renting (long term) is a fool's game.

10+ years ago you would laugh at a 30 year old who lived at home, but now many people cannot get on the housing ladder. I personally feel a mortgage is what I want and I feel that is a sign of maturity.
I live with my parents as I choose to do so, rather than being a muppet who has run up big depts and has no other option. I would like to have a mortgage before I am 30 .

 

[Infidelus]

32 here, live at home with parents.

Couldn't care less what people think. If they saw what was in my bank account they would soon shut up..

Well said. Judging somebody because of circumstances you don't know is just wrong, plain and simple.

As an example, I have three friends in their late 30's and early 40's.

The youngest (36) went to uni for a year or so when he was 18 or 19 then dropped out and moved back home, and has stayed there ever since. He's single and has mostly been on a low wage his entire life.

Second one (44) moved out when he was about 30, rented a place and lived by himself for a while and then his dad moved in with him (for whatever reason). His dad eventually bought the house so technically now said friend lives with his father, and has done for close to a decade now. Also on a low wage and single.

Third one (42) has never moved out. Again, single, again on a low wage.

None of these people earn enough to realistically afford to buy or rent anything in the area they live. It may be frowned upon by certain types of people, but that says more about how arrogant and judgmental those people can be (IMO).

Edit to add. These people are all well rounded individuals (IMO). If you didn't know they lived at home, you probably wouldn't think they did either, and if you weren't a judgmental ***** you wouldn't care either.

 

[Nitefly]

Well I am 25, and cannot afford to move out. I work in a low paid job, but a job I enjoy. I pay so little to live here it's unreal

I should hopefully progress within the company within a year or so, so then I will be able to afford it! Hopefully.

Edit: I pay rent here, as I work and my mother is on long term ESA. I pay the difference that the benefit doesn't pay out. Direct to the council.

I buy all my own food and stuff, throw money [not literally ] on the gas/electric etc.

I assume you pay all the council tax too?

 

[Sui]

Lived away at Uni for 4 years (minus the holidays) and I definitely think it's best to be independent as soon as possible unless parents need you at home. I dislike having to live at home at the moment as I want my own place, but until I get a job offer from the hundreds of applications I'm sending out I don't think I'll be going anywhere soon

 

[Nitefly]

Well said. Judging somebody because of circumstances you don't know is just wrong, plain and simple.

As an example, I have three friends in their late 30's and early 40's.

The youngest (36) went to uni for a year or so when he was 18 or 19 then dropped out and moved back home, and has stayed there ever since. He's single and has mostly been on a low wage his entire life.

Second one (44) moved out when he was about 30, rented a place and lived by himself for a while and then his dad moved in with him (for whatever reason). His dad eventually bought the house so technically now said friend lives with his father, and has done for close to a decade now. Also on a low wage and single.

Third one (42) has never moved out. Again, single, again on a low wage.

None of these people earn enough to realistically afford to buy or rent anything in the area they live. It may be frowned upon by certain types of people, but that says more about how arrogant and judgmental those people can be (IMO).

They may be nice people and I appreciate that it sounds fairly arrogant to say so (I feel a bit of a douche for doing so), but many people have much higher aspirations than that.

 

[OpenToSuggestions]

They may be nice people and I appreciate that it sounds fairly arrogant to say so (I feel a bit of a douche for doing so), but many people have much higher aspirations than that.

I am afraid I agree with you Nitefly.
Deposit aside, my first graduate job can pay for a mortgage for a small house in a below-average area, but I would be broke. I have no idea how someone in their 40s is on a low wage if they have any aspirations in life at all.

At 42 I would expect to be on a pretty good wage as I become a more experienced engineer - If I have not moved out by then, somebody please shoot me! The same can be said for men who cannot drive (note: that is different to have a full license but do not own a car), I would like to think I am a manly enough to move out one day into a castle (house) of my own.

 

[Infidelus]

I am afraid I agree with you Nitefly.
Deposit aside, my first graduate job can pay for a mortgage for a small house in a below-average area, but I would be broke. I have no idea how someone in their 40s is on a low wage if they have any aspirations in life at all.
.

Unfortunately, not everyone's born to be a high flyer. Some people are just happy trudging along, and as long as they've got enough money to put food on the table, that's enough. If these people weren't around, who would serve you at the till at your favourite food/clothing store. Most of these are minimum wage jobs, and as the minimum wage is about £6.19 (AFAIK), that doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room for fancy things like houses ....

Out of the three of them, two of them (given sufficient funds) would leap at the chance to move into their own pad. The third one (who just happens to be the youngest of the lot) appears to be waiting for his mother to leave this mortal coil in the hopes he'll inherit the property. I wouldn't call him a moneygrabber though. He just has issues with his parents, but finds it easier just to rant about them than actually do anything about it. He's probably the one I feel the least empathy towards, but I still don't think people should judge him for failing to net a £40k a year job.