Why It's Totally OK to Move Back Home After College

Not too long ago I witnessed a rather heated confrontation take place between two adults where the topic of living at home in your mid-twenties was brought to the surface. As I listened I heard the word "loser" used carelessly and inconsiderately by the older adult, who clearly was angry about something completely unrelated to the said topic. I thought to myself, "Loser? C'mon man. LOSER?!" The more I thought about it, the more irritated I became.

While I stewed in my own anger, I thought about my experience.

While I was in college I shared an apartment with a roommate for my junior and senior years. I went home frequently on the weekends, but for the most part I was pretty freakin' independent. Paid my rent, shopped for my own groceries for the most part, and supported myself as much as possible, unless I was super low on cash and my parents offered to help by temporarily paying for essentials. I didn't have a car at the time and the bus that ran all over the city and its outskirts was free with my student ID, so I had that "luxury" at my fingertips.

After undergrad I left my little two bedroom apartment and returned home while I attended grad school.  Moving home was one of the most uncomfortable, valuable, difficult, yet life-saving experiences I could have had as a graduate student. My family was happy to have me (but probably not all the extra furniture), despite the number of times we butted heads getting used to all living under the same roof again.

I struggled to regain my independence and fought to establish my role back at home; many times I felt as if I were 16 again, fighting against my parents rules, and not living the "normal" 20-something lifestyle some of my friends were experiencing.

But you know what? I found out that my situation -- a 20-something graduate student living at home -- wasn't all that abnormal for this generation. UH, in FACT, an article from ABC news from June of this year said that the "smartest thing you can do after graduation [is to]...move back home." TIME said back in 2011 that as much as 85% of grads were moving back home just a couple years ago. Who's the loser now?!

I dare you to go to google right now and type in something related to post-grads moving back home and you will find ENDLESS results containing information about how there is NO shame whatsoever in moving back home after graduating college and how it is a highly popular thing for post-grads to do.

Why, you may ask? Well, if you've ever experienced the post-grad lifestyle, you know it ain't all that pretty. You're broke, you may or may not have a car payment to handle, you're struggling to start your career, and you're just in this awkward transition period in general. Moving back home may be stressful for some, (as it was in my case), but trust me when I tell you it's a blessing in disguise.

Although I eventually ended up with a car payment, my parents were kind enough to allow me to forgo on rent -- so really all I had to worry about were my non-necessities (clothes, makeup, jewelry, etc.), my car responsibilities, my student loans, or any other "special" items that weren't considered necessities. Sure, there were times I paid for my own essentials or groceries, but for the majority of it all my parents were more than helpful and generous...something I could never repay them for. Living with them allowed me to save money during my "awkward transition period," something I still struggle to do.

But without their help, there is no way I could have done it on my own...unless I worked four jobs and slept two hours a night (that may be a stretch but you see what I mean).

So know that if you are going through this situation as you read this, you are first and foremost NOT a loser and you are certainly NOT alone. It is a difficult time in your life, and there is absolutely no shame, whatsoever, in going back home for a couple years. Do it while you can. Hell, even living at home for the first couple years of your career isn't so bad either. 

Want to read more about living at home after college? Tweet me @thequeenlifexo or e-mail me at thequeenlifexo@gmail.com!

xoxo