**I'd like to preface by saying that I, myself, live with my parents and I wrote this article with a healthy dose of sarcasm and self deprecation**
Today I would like to list some of the pros and cons of staying at home.
Today I would like to list some of the pros and cons of staying at home.
Staying at home is only one of multiple options. Living with your parents is usually called ‘living at home’ but sometimes it is referred to as ‘laziness’ or other times it is called ‘mooching’. Another option is moving out. Whether it’s moving on your own, with roommates or relatives, moving out of your parent’s home has advantages and disadvantages.
Actually, I change my mind! Since I am trying to be less pessimistic, let me list the advantages of living at home AND the advantages of moving out.
Actually, I change my mind! Since I am trying to be less pessimistic, let me list the advantages of living at home AND the advantages of moving out.
Advantages of living at home:
- Rent is cheap! If you’re parents do not want you to pay for your stay then you can save up the money you would use for rent and utilities. Save it for the down payment on your first home, save it for spending on college classes, or spend it on pizza delivery and the latest video games (you may even be able to afford to upgrade your head set!)
- The art of compromise. Because when you’re on your own there’s no one to please but yourself (and everyone that you owe money). I imagine that if I lived on my own then I would become accustomed to having my way and develop selfish habits that would otherwise be suppressed if I lived with other people. Living at home offers many opportunities to compromise; what to have for dinner, dealing with different schedules or being reminded to put your shoes away (learning to accommodate others sense of order). Of course, you can also practice compromise if you have roomies but for some reason it always seems harder to cheerfully accommodate your family than other people (or is this just me? I know I shouldn’t be like this, I’m working on it but please tell me I’m not the only one who feels this way!)
- Safety. Living with your parents can be somewhat safer then living on your own. When I hear a strange noise in the middle of the night, I know that I am not the only person in the home, meaning; if our house in being invaded by an army of rabid chipmunks then I will not be nearly as outnumbered as if I was on my own.
- Accountability. Living at home provides an easy system of accountability. It’s simple to be accountable to your parents and siblings. But if you are out on your own it takes a little more work to set up an accountability system but it is doable.
Okay, now let’s look at the advantage of moving out:
- Responsibility. This is a bigee. When you have bills that need to be paid, food that needs to be provided, a job to keep and, hopefully, a social life to maintain, it can mature and strengthen you. And stress you out. It all depends on how you react. There are some ways to build responsibility while living at home but, I think, none of them are going to mature you as much as the real thing. Here are some examples: Pay rent (A friend suggested using a fraction. There are seven of us at home, so I could pay 1/7th of the house payment); if you haven’t bought your own car, pay your parents for the use of theirs; help pay for food and help with the cooking, pay for your own clothing, hygiene items and entertainment. Of course, this is small stuff compared to the seriousness of making your own way, but it’s a start and its certainly better then nothing.
- Individuality. Nothing can make you your own person like moving out (whether it’s getting your own place or getting married), you will always be viewed as your parents child until the day you move. There’s a difference between inviting a friends over to your place or inviting them to your parents house. I have a hunch that hospitality on my own would be an entirely different ball of wax. A big, exciting ball of wax!! I look forward to the day that I can offer homemade hospitality to others from my own home. For now, I can try my best to help my parents run their house, host our company etc…
Other things that could play a role in whether or not you live at home:
Your parent’s opinion. My parents don’t want me to move out but maybe your parents see moving out as an important step into your adulthood. When it comes to living with your parents, do your best to keep communication open. If you want to live at home be sure to have their blessing first.
Examine your motives for the option you choose: laziness and irresponsibility are not good reasons to live at home. Running away from family responsibilities is not a reason to move out. What are your reasons for the living situation you have chosen?
Bethany
Your parent’s opinion. My parents don’t want me to move out but maybe your parents see moving out as an important step into your adulthood. When it comes to living with your parents, do your best to keep communication open. If you want to live at home be sure to have their blessing first.
Examine your motives for the option you choose: laziness and irresponsibility are not good reasons to live at home. Running away from family responsibilities is not a reason to move out. What are your reasons for the living situation you have chosen?
Bethany
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