Comments on: Twentysomething: Be responsible, go back home after college

By: Jeff J

Jeff J — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:49:03 +0000

I think this is a great article and great idea. I graduated a year and half ago and moved back home. I am now looking for a place to buy myself. I have saved $95,000 in my saving account and 25 thousand in my 401K (24 years old). Most of my friends who all decided to rent have nothing in saving or retirement.

I know some kids can't do this because they get jobs that require them to move but if you can live at home for a year or two I think it is a great idea.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:09:45 +0000

I wholeheartedly agree with this post. As a twenty-five year old female still living with her parents, I have established goals for myself and certainly am not "using" my parents. I have a full-time job with benefits and am in the early stages of developing my dream career. Los Angeles is the ONLY city I can do it in.

If I were "thrown out in the real world" I'd have to live in a very bad neighborhood (all that I could afford) and that wouldn't be safe. I contribute 25% of my income to my 40lk and pay for all my bills (outside of utilities and rent).

If I were on my own, I wouldn't be able to save anywhere near what I am now. I'd have to be paying rent and incur credit card debt, instead of saving money for a downpayment on a house (and we all know renting is just throwing money away).

Moving home is the practical thing to do for many people, though sometimes it can be abused if the person isn't motivated or responsible. I am not one of those people. I'm not costing my parents any significant dollar amount and they are happy to have me. They'd rather have me stay with them for 3 years so that I set up a fulfilling career where I can COMFORTABLY support myself and build a finacial future, instead of my scraping by and living a life of debt with a job/career I hate.

People on this site should be less judgemental and acknowledge the changing times that have resulted from a poor economy. Most recent college jobs can't find jobs (and it's not for lack of merit or persistence). The cost of living is going up,wages are not increasing enough to support it, and industries are contracting. We all need to get real and adjust to evolving social norms.

By: Awilli38

Awilli38 — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 06:06:00 +0000

See, I'm different. My parents live in a one bedroom apartment,… as much as I would like to go home I can't. No space and they are disabled,… So what about grads like myself who are gonna end up homeless after school? No, I don't want grad school (can't afford it) and I want to do so much before I make that commitment. I work a lot and well it seems like no matter what I do, it still won't be good enough.

Any insight friends? I think I'm going to buy a car to live in…

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:06:00 +0000

Actually from a mom standpoint, I admire other cultures who embrace the extended
family unit, and encourage children to understand that living with family is indeed a blessing. If everyone involved contributes to the family unit and supports one another,
respecting privacy as individuals, how can this be a bad thing. In actuality the US is in the minority in that the norm is to encourage children to "leave the nest" ASAP. There is alot to be learned from other cultures in this respect.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:06:00 +0000

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:06:00 +0000

By: Nicole Ferguson

Nicole Ferguson — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:30:00 +0000

You are clearly delusional about the state of the economy. A lot of people have 4.0 GPAs, have done internships and networking and still can't find jobs. Or if they do find jobs, they are mainly contracting gigs that don't provide benefits. If you are TRULY responsible and just aren't lucky enough to land a good job yet, it is smart to move back in with parents and save up money.

By: Nicole Ferguson

Nicole Ferguson — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:21:00 +0000

While I think living at home is a great way to save money for a house, I don't buy the excuse that you can't afford it on nearly $2000 a month. A lot of people live on their own for half that much. You have to be frugal, but it definitely can be done.

By: puto

puto — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 06:22:00 +0000

Don't waste money on rent, instead, look for a better job around your area.

By: Rahkayelle

Rahkayelle — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:57:00 +0000

I'm 21 years old and I'm about to graduate college in two years. My father passed away when I was eighteen, which is why I live with my grandparents (my siblings are with aunts and uncles).

Right now, I'm in residence, but I simply cannot afford it next year, so my grandparents told me to move back home if I wanted to. I agreed with them that I should move back, but I don't want to stay home forever. I could take out a student loan, but why would I take out a loan if I have the opportunity to live back home? I pay my own bills and for all of my schooling. I paid for school by working full-time in the summers, even when I hated the job I had. My grandparents told me that I don't owe them any money, but I do have to be in school full-time or working full-time.

I also want to stay in the same city as my grandparents, even though it's more expensive. My grandfather has a heart condition and I want to be there for them should anything happen.

I will move out eventually, it's just that I want to pay for everything myself. I don't want to take out loan after loan to pay for school and food. The only time I want to take out a loan is for a mortgage.