Being a college student who lives at home, I feel like I have a negative stigma stamped across my back like I don’t know how to live without Mom and Dad by my side. But that is so far from the truth. There is nothing wrong with living with your parents during college and here’s why.
Living at home is not hindering my independence, it’s propelling it.
I have so many people comment that by living at home, I’m stopping myself from learning how to be independent. This is so wrong. I did live on my own for two years and I functioned just fine by myself. Those who know me, know that I am a very independent person. I did not move home because I couldn’t function by myself, I moved home to save money so that I could better prepare for my future of living on my own after college. Being able to save money now, ensures that I can live more independently later on.
Saving money
Like I said before, I moved home to save money, and let me tell you that I do a little happy dance on the first of each month when rent isn’t taken out of my bank account. It has taken so much stress off my mind by not having to worry about making rent each month or working a ton of hours to make sure I have enough money to live off of, and it has given me the chance to enjoy college a little more by getting the “college experience.”
Freedom of college
Living at home has actually given me more of the college experience than when I lived in my apartment. Because I haven’t had to work as much, I got to join clubs on campus and spend more time with my friends. And my parents also are great because they respect the fact that I am still a college kid. I get a lot of people asking how strict living with my parents were, and if I had curfews. And that’s when I realized the difference between living at home in high school and now, and it’s that I no longer asked if my plans were okay, my parents ask me what my plans are for the night.
My Mom and Dad are awesome
Okay, but let’s be serious. Living with my parents is a blast. I mean, who doesn’t love those mom-made home cooked meals and getting to come home at the end of the day and telling my parents about everything that happened. And truly, I have a wonderful relationship with my parents, and they respect me as much as I respect them for letting me live at home. I can imagine it can’t be easy to give up the “empty nester” title to let a chick back into the nest, but they have been absolutely amazing. And no one will ever be able to tell me that spending as much time with my parents now will ever be a regret. I am so grateful for the fact that I get to spend so much time with them before I have my own house and family to take care of.
Don’t let anyone ever tell you that moving home during college is a dumb move, because only you can decide what is best for you. And if you don’t live at home, think about how much you love visiting and you may understand why some people move home. There are so many positives about living at home, I just may stay there a while longer..