I moved back in with my parents during college – it was the best decision

There are financial benefits

I recognize that my situation is better than most. Personally, Don’t pay rentI don’t pay bills or food, and every time I try to do so, my parents refuse to accept my money.

The financier Benefits of living at home It’s obvious. If you save on rent and bills, you’ll inevitably have more disposable income. I, for example, have been putting money aside from each paycheck and am getting used to the idea of ​​treating myself.

Whereas before I felt guilty about frivolous spending, now I don’t mind indulging once in a while. stimulating purchasea nice dinner out or a short getaway. I’ve even saved up enough money to fund a backpacking trip to Southeast Asia.

Living with my parents has helped my career grow.

However, money is not the only factor that has driven me to continue living at home. I always thought I needed to move out in order to establish myself professionally, but in a surprising turn of events, my current living situation has helped my career thrive.

I am a freelancer and My schedule is unpredictable At best, life is chaotic and at worst, my work obligations are more intense, being able to share household chores with my parents is a salvation.

Even during college, I found myself struggling with… Maintaining a balance between work and personal lifeAny time I had left after classes and homework was quickly taken up by cooking, eating, cleaning, and exercising. My mental health was at an all-time low and I had very little free time to recover. Not to mention social commitments, I barely had time to sleep.

My parents have now taken over the kitchen and, after retiring, my father keeps himself busy with household chores. After spending all day working, I can relax in the evenings, which makes me a happier and healthier version of myself.

I live in rural England, where public transport is notoriously unreliable, and I don’t drive, but my father is always willing to drive me around when needed. Without him, I wouldn’t be able to take on as many projects as I do.

My relationship with my parents has improved.

However, the biggest advantage of living at home is how much my relationship with my family has improved.

My parents and I have never gotten along very well (a mix of intergenerational and intercultural conflicts has fueled the flame since I was a child), but being constantly so close has finally opened the channels of communication and we are on a much better footing than before. At this point, I can’t remember the last argument we had.

Plus, most of my extended family, including my grandmother, still lives nearby, so I’m able to maintain my relationship with them as well. I know that when I inevitably leave the nest and start my own family, I’ll be so grateful for the time I’ve been able to spend with them.

I always thought I needed to move to realize my full potential, gain more freedom, and kick-start my career, but over the past four years I’ve realized that I can accomplish all of that and more without leaving home. I’m sure I’ll move one day, but for now, I’m perfectly happy with where I am.