Imagine that you live in a really lovely house, where the bills are always paid and the landlord never comes knocking, asking for the overdue rent.
The house is nicely decorated and although your room is somewhat small, your bed linen is of a quality thread count and there is excellent shower gel in the bathroom. At the end of each day, you place your dirty undies in the washing basket and they are cleaned, folded and returned to you promptly.
Three meals a day are cooked and placed on the dining room table for you. They’re beautiful meals. Well-made. Quality ingredients. If you miss dinner time then you can grab something out of the well-stocked fridge. And your contribution to the upkeep of this magical place? No real requirements, perhaps you occasionally make your own bed.
This isn’t a fairytale where hardworking elves, à la Harry Potter, do your bidding. It’s the reality of an increasing number of Gen Ys who are choosing to forgo share house living or buying their own place in favour of staying at home with their parents. Often, well into their 30s.
Siam Goorwich, has written an article about her life as a 30-year-old freelance writer, who still lives at home with her parents. And Siam – understandably – loves it.
She’s not expected to contribute to the running of the house in any way whatsoever, financially or otherwise. One of her parents pays for everything. The other does all the washing and cleaning and cooking. Occasionally, Siam does the dishes. She’s also expected to keep her room clean.
Siam claims that she can’t move out.
She doesn’t earn a living wage from her work as a freelance writer, and she’s had enough of living in shitty sharehouses where the dishes aren’t done and the bills aren’t paid. And she doesn’t care when people judge her for being 30 and still living at home. She writes:
Top Comments
Here's the big problem with staying at home for too long: it inhibits the growing up process and can cause, I believe, a sort of infantalisation, where adults are like teenagers. I would've been embarrassed not to pay board/contribute to bills at home whilst I was still there. These parents unfortunately aren't 'finishing off' their work very well, because their kids won't cope when they finally do move out at 35...they'll get a huge shock (especially if mumsy and daddykins have been looking after them like slaves and expecting no financial contribution!) It's a recipe for poor resilience, a sense of entitlement and not coping when you are living with a partner/housemate and have to do your share to run a household!!! Do what you like girls, but it aint healthy.
I moved out at 22 with my boyfriend after graduating from uni. We both loved it. Luckily for me I never had the experience of having 'play money' and very quickly learned how to budget. However when our lease was up, we were totally over paying nearly $2k a month to asshole real estate agents/landlords. We decided to ask our families whether we could move home to save money so the next time we moved out it would be on our own terms. Its sobering to realise you paid a good chunk of a house deposit on rent. Nevertheless we loved it and it was worth it for us being able to set our own rules and live our own lives. Now we are both back with our families, its definitely not as fun, but we have such a good incentive. I was able to see how well we would live together, everything was equal (chores and bills). Honestly, just do what you want. I believe there is only a small minority who just sponge off their families, don't contribute, etc. Most people are trying to save for their house deposit, they help around the house, they're studying and working multiple jobs, and their parents actually like having them around!