What do you do when the adult kids move out … and then come back?
It’s not uncommon – the Census Bureau reports that more than one out of three Millennials (ages 18-34) are living at home with their parents. (In some states, it’s nearly 50%!)
- “A Third of Young Adults Live With Their Parents”
Jonathan Vespa, U.S. Census Bureau - “Young adults living with their parents hits a 75-year high”
Aimee Pichi, CBS News
This is not unusual historically – when we look back in our family history a hundred years or more, we see it was common for adult children to be living with parents and sharing the work of farm, forge, and kitchen – or for newlyweds to be living with their parents or in-laws for a time, too.
But this has become more common in recent years. Why?
Young people are getting married later – age of first marriage is approaching 30 for men and 27 for women
- In 1976, 75% of men and 93% of women were married by age 30
- In 2014, it was half that – 32% of men and 46% of women
- More Millennials live with their parents than with a spouse
Student loan debt is a serious burden to many, too. The average college graduate with a bachelor’s degree left school with nearly $28,500 in debt
- “Student Load Debt Statistics”
Brianna McGurran, NerdWallet.com
And this all happening in the midst of a long, sluggish recovery from the financial crises of 2008 and beyond.
So it’s not surprising or rare for parents to find themselves with a twenty-something son or daughter moving back into their old bedroom.
The question is, how can we make this work for all of us?
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Great podcast. One point on the rent thing that is kind of in between the two things you talked about.
My son does not want to do any work around the house and he is working full time. So we set rent at only $100 but he has the option to work it off. So one month he shot a deer during hunting season and that covered his rent for that month. We give work options every month but he does not usually take them.
I feel like this gives him some dignity as well as treat him like an adult. But it does give him options.
That’s a really good idea. In fact, I meant to mention and totally forgot that one of our sons who needed to live here for a short time was unable to contribute financially, so he contributed by working in our business. I think as long as everyone is contributing – financially or by working, it’s fine! Kudos for figuring out a flexible arrangement that works for your family!