When Is It Time To Move Out Of Your Parents’ House?
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Did you know that approximately 30% of young adults, ages 18-34, still live at home with their parents? Or, that approximately 45% of young adults, between those ages, are unemployed and living with their parents?
Although some young adults can’t wait to move out of their parents’ home. Others don’t know when it’s the right time to branch out on their own. As a rule of thumb. If you have the funds and can’t get living in your own space out of your mind. You’re probably ready to move out. Keep in mind your finances will probably be quite snug…
As long as you’ve researched the cost of living, made a solid budget. And figured out what you need to do to live independently (cough…cough…without Mom and Dad’s moola), it may just be the right time to leave the nest. The truth is, for most, the benefits of living in your own house, condo, townhome. Or apartment far surpass the advantages of staying under your parents’ roof.
But, if you’re still leery about packing up all of your belongings and forging your own path, listed below are four signs that it is officially time to jump ship and start a brand new life – in your own home.
Glance around you. What do you see? A lot of “things” perhaps? Now, pause for a minute and ask yourself the following question, “Are these “things” crowding you out of your own small room?” If so, it’s probably time for you to start looking for somewhere else to live. One of the clearest signs that it is indeed time to move out is if your belongings take up more space than you.
If you don’t have any more room for your “things,” and are starting to get claustrophobic, you probably need more space – in a new residence.
~ Psychologist’s Note!
If you feel like you constantly have to hide things – personal things – it may be time for you to consider getting your own space and move out of your parents’ house. The truth is, if you are an adult, even a young one, you shouldn’t have to abide by your parents’ rules and hide things. However, that is what happens when you live with your parents.
Living in your own home gives you the freedom to do whatever you want to do. It also gives you the privacy you need to have “adult time” with friends, dates, lovers, a partner, or by yourself.
~ Psychologist’s Note!
If you’ve always wanted a pet, but your parents have never been really fond of dogs or cats, you may have to move out to get one. Maybe, one or both of your parents are allergic to pet dander… Maybe, they just don’t want to feed and clean up after one, while you work and run around with your friends in the evenings and on the weekends…
Well, if you live in your own home, you can pick up as many pets as you want from your local animal shelter or rescue center. Just understand that you will be solely responsible for the care of your cute, cuddly new friend. Be prepared to make time for it, empty its litter box, go on evening walks with it, feed it, and clean up after it, of course.
How old are you? If you’re over 30 years old, it’s definitely time for you to move out, but only if you can physically and financially take care of yourself without 24/7 assistance from your parents. The thing is, when you are in your late teens and 20s, it’s common to live with one’s parents. You just graduated from high school and you are technically still a “teenager,” so you probably don’t have the skills to snag a high paying job.
However, by the time you enter your 30s, you can no longer use that excuse. By that time, you should make enough to rent at least a small one-bedroom apartment – and pay for all the things that go with it (i.e. water, electricity, groceries, a bed, table, television, gas, home insurance, etc.). If not, it may be time to go back to school or look for a new job that will give you some independence.
If you are over the age of 30, it is definitely time for you to get your own place – where you can make your own rules.
~ Psychologist’s Note!
You can learn more about moving out of your parents’ home by reading the following articles, reviewed to be the best by our professionals: No-Nonsense: A Millennial’s Guide: How to Leave Your Parents House, Adulting 101: #Wisdom4Life, How To Leave Your Parent’s Home & Live On Your Own: A Guide for Teenagers and Young Adults, How to Move Out of Your Parents’ House in 13 Easy Steps, and How to Move Out of Your Parents House (and Survive).
When you live on your own; you are responsible for a lot of things – bills, bills, and more bills. You are also responsible for pets, safety, groceries, health care, finances, and even your property (lawn care, the cars parked in front of it, the paint on your house, flowerbeds, etc.). All of these things are inescapable.
So, before you take the leap to finally become independent, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the cost of living in the area you want to live in. For example, research the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment, your weekly, bi-weekly, and/or monthly grocery bills, gas, and utility (i.e. water, electricity, cable, phone, internet, etc.) costs.
Don’t forget to add in some extra money, if possible, for entertainment (i.e. movies, parties, dinner, pizza, Netflix, Hulu, HBO/Showtime/Cinemax, bowling, putt-putt golfing, etc.
You’ll also need to determine your weekly or monthly budget. Be realistic when figuring out how much money you have to spend and either document it on an Excel spreadsheet or use a budgeting program like Quicken or Mint. When calculating your totals for the week or month, don’t forget to include both essential (rent, electricity, phone service, health insurance, home insurance, water, gas, and groceries) and non-essential costs (cable, internet, clothes, and entertainment – i.e. movies, concerts, restaurants, dance clubs, festivals, vacations, etc.)
Try to stick to your budget as much as possible. Also, add in extra “savings” money for a rainy day – or week – or month. It always helps to have some “extra” available in case of emergencies or unforeseen costs.
Once you have researched moving out of your parents’ home, familiarized yourself with the cost of living in the area you want to live in, and created a realistic weekly and/or monthly budget, it’s time to choose a new place to live. When deciding where you want to live, there are several things you must consider.
For instance, do you want to live close to work or away from it? Do you want to live in the city or the suburbs? Do you want to rent a townhome, apartment, condo, or house? Do you want to live alone or with a partner, friend, or acquaintance? The goal of this step is to determine what is important to you. FYI: Having a roommate is not only the most cost-effective option, but also the safest one.
Before you venture out into the world on your own, do a trial run. What is a trial run? It involves pretending you have moved out of your parents’ home – while still living there. In other words, “act” like you are living independently a few months before you actually move out. Develop a weekly and/or monthly budget and start paying that amount to your parents for rent, utilities, gas, groceries, and any other fees you will be responsible for once you move out. The goal of this step is to give you an idea of what it takes to live on your own.
You may want to ask your parents to hold the money that you give them – until you move out. This will give you more money to buy furniture and put into a savings account for rainy days.
Ph.D. in Family Psychology
Ree has a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy (M.M.F.T.) and a Ph.D. in Family Psychology. She spent over ten years counseling families, couples, individuals, and children on adjustment issues such as blended families, same-sex couples, dysfunctional family relationships, relationship issues, etc. Now she writes for famous health organizations and is a published author.
Full Bio | LinkedIn
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