11 people in their late 20s tell us why they still live at home.

A new study from the Australian Institute of Family Studies has revealed that 40% of women and 55% of men have not left home after their twentieth birthday.

The stats reflect a trend towards young people staying in the home for longer.

A recent Reddit thread asked the Internet if they were still living at home after the age of 25 and, if so: why?

These are the 11 most thought-provoking responses.

1. “The mister and I are building a house.”

I’m 28 in July and I still live at home. I would have moved out when I was 22-23 and working full time (which is the average age in Australia) but I got really sick and ended up going on disability. I’m doing better now, and my parents encouraged me to go back to uni full time while I’m at home (which I did, and I’m now in my final year).

I also would have moved out when I was 25, but the mister and I are building a house and have faced over 2 years of delays. Our house is actually finally going somewhere and should be finished by the end of July, just in time for my 28th birthday. So I guess I’m kind of an outlier, even here in Australia where plenty of people don’t move out until their mid twenties but I wish I could have moved out a little sooner. That said, my mum doesn’t want me to go lol. My dad works really long hours and travels for work and our dog died a few months ago, so I think she’s going to be a bit lonely. But I have to go sometime, I feel like I’ve been missing out for a while now.

2. “Living witb parents until marriage is actually normal in my culture.”

Living with parents until marriage is actually normal in my culture. I am not yet 25, but most people here live with their parent unless they are married. And that’s around 30 years of age here.

EDIT: Indian culture

3. “I was forced into bankruptcy.”

I am 40 years old. Last year I was forced into bankruptcy after two layoffs in three years. I lost my home and everything I worked for the past 20 years. After decades living on my own I had no choice but to move back in with my parents. I am totally ashamed.

I am making money now and saving it but I still feel like I am in a kind of limbo. The whole thing feels too comfortable. I help around the house and my parents would never think of telling me to leave. They travel and me being there as housesitter is a plus.

I want to move but I can’t do a thing now. I am working a contract that will end in June and I have $6,000 to my name. I have no social life and I don’t date because I am too nervous about this subject coming up. I am in some lukewarm limbo that I can’t seem to get out of and it fucking sucks.

4. “It kind of sucks but they’re my parents.”

27 here and the oldest son of very traditional Asian parents. My dad has a struggling/failing retail business and can barely provide income for himself and my mum. So they are living with me until they can collect social security.

Pluses are home cooked meals and my mum pampers the hell out of me because she still thinks I’m 12.

Downsides are my social life suffers because my parents are old, never really assimilated or adapted to american life, and need me to do a lot of things for them. I’m also saving a whole lot less. I give my mum a stipend every month so she has money to spend (usually she just buys a ton of groceries so she can feed me), bought her a car so she can get around, and I help with my brother’s college loans (paying only the interest) while he finishes med school. It kind of sucks but they’re my parents.

5. “We needed to do something drastic to get our finances in order.”

Funnily enough I turned 25 last month. I also moved back home for the first time since I was 16 last month too. My husband and I were apprehensive about it, as my family can be a little overbearing. But we needed to do something drastic to get our finances in order. I’ve been ill for a while and we’ve been going backwards steadily ever since.

So we bit the bullet and moved in. I really miss my independence, not having to ask for permission for things and not having to wear pants! But for the time being it is helpful for my husband to have extra support taking care of me. The fact that I have a family willing to do that is absolutely amazing though. So as much as I miss those other things, I truly couldn’t want for more. Abd hopefully, I’ll get better and we will be back on our feet in no time. Here’s to hoping!

6. “Can’t work to pay rent in Switzerland while studying all week.”

I’m getting out this year finally (at 25) and I stayed mostly because I was studying. Can’t work to pay rent in Switzerland while studying all week. I worked during engineering school but I didn’t get enough money to get out. Then dropped out, get in another school and finishing this summer and as soon as I get a job and find a place to live I’ll get out of my father’s hair :) I’ve been wanting to get out for a long time but without money it’s pretty hard, so here it is. I’m pretty excited to leave the house :D

7. “I fell pregnant.”

I’m 27 later this year; moved out at 22 to live overseas with my then boyfriend, now ex-husband-to-be. Basically i moved back because i fell pregnant, he decided 34 was too young for a man to become a father, ran away to America and cheated A TONNE and it was either stay alone in Canada where i’m only a temporary resident or head back home to Australia and live with mum and dad and raise my daughter in a great home environment.

Sydney is definitely one of the most expensive cities to buy property in, the neighbourhood i live in is about 40 minutes away from the CBD and beaches and yet the average house prices here are well over $900k.

As someone raising a child alone on single income (not even, i’m not back at work yet) and relocating back home in terms of both residence and country, I don’t really have a choice, but my super-conservative, Christian, Asian parents have been pretty cool with the whole situation, so it’s not too bad.

8. “I’m afraid to live on my own.”

27 years old here. I currently live at home with my parents and my younger (22) year old brother. I tell myself that it’s because I have a shitty job and can’t afford to live on my own (which is technically true, since I work 40+ hours a week and earn $13 and hour), but I know that that’s just an excuse.

The real reason, I think, is that I’m afraid to live on my own. I did move out and live with some friends when I was 24-25, but that was a disaster that I hated soooo much. But, I’m getting better. I have multiple job interviews scheduled–just had a phone interview today!–and I tell myself that, once I get one of these jobs and earn serious money, I’ll move out and get on with my life.

I’m almost SURE I’m serious.

9. “Due to visa restrictions we’re not able to live in the same country yet.”

I’m 29 and married. My husband is British and I’m Canadian. Due to visa restrictions we’re not able to live in the same country yet, so while we figure it all out I’m at my mum’s. I truly appreciate her letting me stay here, rent free, while my husband and I try to organize our lives from different parts of the world.

10. “I took out a mortgage to purchase a house and I just rent it out.”

Because it saves so much more money. I took out a mortgage to purchase a house and I just rent it out. The rent covers the mortgage repayments so I pay nothing out of pocket, other people are essentially paying off the house for me. I can’t imagine how much money I would’ve spent by now if I had moved out.

I do not pay rent, though I do pay for all of my own food, clothing, necessities, etc. I have my own phone so I pay my own phone/internet bill. I do my own washing, dishes, and chores.

I will however probably move out however once I start my own family though.

I don’t understand this huge desire to move out of home once you’re an adult. Think about how much money you could be saving, in rent, bills, food, etc. Where I am, rent can range from $1500 to $2000 each month, you could take out a mortgage and pay that much for your own house!

My parents completely respect me and my freedom/boundaries because I am an adult. So I don’t get told to do anything and they don’t pry into any of my business. It’s no different than living with any two other people except they are my parents. Having partners come around is no issue either (have a lock on my room) and in fact have had a significant other live here together for awhile when we were together.

11. “She looked after me. Now it’s my turn.”

My mother can’t walk. She lives with me and my husband. I love my mum to bits. I’d never see her in a care home. Especially these days. I’ll be with her till her final breath.

She looked after me. Now it’s my turn.

When did you move out of home? And if you’re still at home – why?