How old is too old to be still living with your parents

Invisible Crane

Adventurer
Okay I need to ask a bit of a serious question because this has been bugging me for a long time now.

I'm 26 years old and as of now I don't have a job and I still live with my parents. I want to move out and find a job but the problem is the bad economy makes it really hard to find a job and without a job I don't have the income nessessary to afford even afford my own home or even enough to share with room mates in a shared apartment.

The thing is though my parents keep telling me that there is nothing wrong with me still living with them and even tell of other people like me in similer situations. But then I go out there and ask other people and they tell me otherwise. Stuff like how someone at my age who still lives with their parents is a loser, how no girl will ever want to date anyone who still lives with them, how it shows a lack of growing up, etc.

I don't know what to think, I've had a lot of pressure on myself just wanting out of my house but considering how difficult it is for me to achieve full independance I just feel so overwhelmed...anyone here got any thoughts on any of this?
 
I think you should focus on the job thing and not feel pressured by people; it's a shame that some people can be so quick to condemn.

I have friends older than you who still live with their parents, whereas for myself I was out of the door the moment I got the chance. Independence and growing up is a lot more complicated than just where you live - some people who live away from home still have their parents help them with everything anyway (or are forced to have the help, by pushy parents who can't stay away...).

Anyway, good luck with the job hunt.

R
 
was a statistic out last week that the number of people living at home is actually higher than people buying a house first time.

Due to the new goverment crackdown, banks can't give out luxury mortgages like they use to, meaning u normually need £50k just for a down payment. Renting is not a market you want to get into, it costs more in the long run than a mortgage for ur own house.

I'm 27 myself, and i essentially still live at home, although i technically own a quater of the house, i only pay for bills, not council tax ect. and i'm finding that hard enough to go by as it is.

Would i like to move out? yes, can i afford to? Me and Chaz are working 25 hours each, the equiverlent of 50 hours a week, and even if we both moved together, we couldn't afford our own place.

If you want to move out then more power to you but i'd advice this first

1. Take advantage of your parents offer (not in a bad way) and use this time to save money up to use as a deposit.

2. If you haven't already, get a credit card, use it for normal payments that you can afford to pay off, and pay it off as soon as you can DO NOT USE IT TO GET INTO DEBT. This will in turn improve your credit rating and allow you to get more of a deal from banks if you do intent to rent or even move out.

I signed up a credit card last year, as i lived at home i was force to start off with my dads credit and limited to £500. 1 year on, i am on my own rating and have an option to have £1500 on it. All i've done is used it to buy food, petrol and internet products, all payed off within 2 week. Simple as that

TL:DR?

Aslong as ur parents are happy, enjoy ur time at home
Start saving for rent/mortgage for if u do move out
Get a Credit Card to improve ur credit rating if u don't already
 
I'll keep the credit card thing in mind though to be honest I never wanted to use one because I was worried that interest would pile on to the point where I would not be able to pay it off...then again I know nothing of credit cards, I just use debit cards and Paypal.

And also just to clear up some things, me and my parents get along fine, they often tell me I'm lucky in that regard considering most people my age don't and fall out with them (and often end up on Jeremy Kyle).

But still I can't help but think if what people have told me ("you are a loser for still living with them, no girl will want to be with someone who still lives with them, etc) is true because I had a big impression left on me by the people who kept telling me that. Also I tend to get a bit depressed when I see people my age living away from their parents because it makes me feel so inferior
 
Invisible Crane said:
I'll keep the credit card thing in mind though to be honest I never wanted to use one because I was worried that interest would pile on to the point where I would not be able to pay it off...then again I know nothing of credit cards, I just use debit cards and Paypal.

Ryo's right, and the best way to go about it is to look at what your buying... say you've got a spare £40 in your bank account and want to buy something? Then go buy it on the credit card, then go home, get on your internet banking and pay it off straight away. Its the safest way to increase your credit rating without getting yourself in debt.

Oh and if you still don't want to have a credit card, you can build credit rating still if your normal account is used very frequently (like mine :D ) oh and having friends in banking always helps lol, they can advise you more than you think.

Invisible Crane said:
And also just to clear up some things, me and my parents get along fine, they often tell me I'm lucky in that regard considering most people my age don't and fall out with them (and often end up on Jeremy Kyle).

Ha, they aren't kidding... your older than me, yet i know that living with the parents is hell at times. I want my own independance to do things whenever i want. They want me to do things for them and its not always as easy as getting things done to keep everyone happy. I've personally found that if i balance out my time well then lives a cake walk; i spend enough time at home to get some chorus done and i pay my rent on time and they are fine with me having my independance and rolling in at whatever time.

Invisible Crane said:
But still I can't help but think if what people have told me ("you are a loser for still living with them, no girl will want to be with someone who still lives with them, etc) is true because I had a big impression left on me by the people who kept telling me that. Also I tend to get a bit depressed when I see people my age living away from their parents because it makes me feel so inferior

Living away from home is mostly a sign of maturity, independance and being able to fly the nest and keep yourself afloat is no easy task these days (well, if your honourable and you work to better yourself, not sitting on the dole in a council house) I've been looking into the property ladder and its not too easy, the official statement that came out the other week was that this generation of people have, on average, to wait till they are 40 to get themselves a mortgage for a house. Its mental, but with this in mind its no surprise that many people who wish to fly the nest go into renting first. (oh and btw there's some places that let you part rent and part buy so this may help)

Its much easier when you've got a decent income, a considerable other who also brings in money and the pair of you can get onto the ladders, just a waiting game i'm afraid, but fear not.... there's no shame in living at home in this day and age, if everyone was forced out of their house at 16 (legal age your parents don't have to look after you) then i think about 50% of the 16 year olds population would be sleeping rough on the streets if not dead.

Main things to take away from this (if anything) don't worry about it, don't listen to others. Just try and better yourself and work on a relationship :) STAY POSITIVE too, patience is a virtue!
 
I know someone that didn't leave his parents house until he was 28. He only left because he'd found a girlfriend and they were moving in somewhere together.

Just keep looking for a job and try and get yourself organised. It certainly isn't a problem to be living at home, especially if you get on with your parents.
 
With regards to credit cards, just make sure you never overspend what you have in cash, and then have a direct debit pay off your card in full. I have had a credit card for well over a decade now and have never paid a single penny in interest ;)

To be frank, I'd say lack of a job is far more of a red flag to a potential mate than where you live, and when you get one you'll feel a huge boost to your self esteem. Even if it's not steady work, if you can find a niche for yourself doing odd jobs or selling things from home it will help save up towards a future deposit on a flat or house, or you can spend time working on some learning from home (and it looks good to prospective employers too, if you've been keeping yourself busy).

Some people may act as though they have brilliant lives living together with a bunch of mates and being independent, but their mums probably still buy their socks and hem their trousers, and to a visiting girlfriend being in a house full of lads isn't really any more desirable than being taken to a family home. Independence is an attitude and you can be a valuable member of society without having to do things the same way as other people. Traditionally it was common for people to live at home until they were married in many areas after all - buying alone is rarely financially viable and renting alone is a complete waste of money if there's a perfect alternative option available.

R
 
I still live with my dad. I'm 27. True it is a 3 bedroom house, but then again me and my dad get on and since I value my free time too much to have a girlfriend, it works fine.

Stay as long as you or your parents want tbh
 
To me their seems to be little point leaving your parents unless you going to share a place with a partner. Someone who you are planning/hoping to stay with long-term. While it obviously going to be financially difficult renting a place on your own. It could also be very potential lonely living on you own. It unlikely you going to have family and friends around every night to keep you company.
 
Neferpitou said:
To me their seems to be little point leaving your parents unless you going to share a place with a partner. Someone who you are planning/hoping to stay with long-term. While it obviously going to be financially difficult renting a place on your own. It could also be very potential lonely living on you own. It unlikely you going to have family and friends around every night to keep you company.

I love living alone far more than I think I can ever enjoy living with others. Granted, I'd also rather I didn't have to sleep alone all the time, but I like having the ability to close my door and know there's nobody else in the house on a fairly regular basis (sadly, telling people to leave when you've had enough of them isn't all that conductive to relationships). Being trapped in your home with other people who *never leave* is a goddamn nightmare, that's why I was glad to move out. But everybody's different I suppose.
 
Lawrence said:
I don't have any intention of leaving home soon, why throw myself into the frying pan when I'm perfectly comfy where I am.

In fact after I leave school next year, I intend to take a gap year and get a job instead of rushing off to university and to an extent 'freedom'.
thats what im doing but this will be my last year at college
im going to have a gap year and just enjoy my self and find my self
 
I live at home, I turned 29 today! :O

My brother also lives at home, he's pushing towards his mid 40's now. But its not like the film step brothers, he has a girlfriend who he's marrying later this year and he already has a house that he's been rennovating (which I think he intends to sell at a higher value and purchase another house.)

That'll leave me out of 3 older brothers being the sad one, It's highly unlikely I'll have a girlfriend anytime soon.
 
Ryo Chan said:
Due to the new goverment crackdown, banks can't give out luxury mortgages like they use to, meaning u normually need £50k just for a down payment.

If you are buying a mansion, maybe, but for a normal mortgage you wont need anywhere near £50k. Exaggerations have indeed risen by 1000000% it seems.


@animefreak17: it is mum, not mom. This isn't the US. :p
 
Mutsumi said:
Ryo Chan said:
Due to the new goverment crackdown, banks can't give out luxury mortgages like they use to, meaning u normually need £50k just for a down payment.

If you are buying a mansion, maybe, but for a normal mortgage you wont need anywhere near £50k. Exaggerations have indeed risen by 1000000% it seems.


@animefreak17: it is mum, not mom. This isn't the US. :p
sometimes other people say mom over here
actually theres
mammy, mom, mum, mother, mam, pain in the neck........... dont tell ya mum that lol
ok il try remembering to spell it mum k
 
Mutsumi said:
Ryo Chan said:
Due to the new goverment crackdown, banks can't give out luxury mortgages like they use to, meaning u normually need £50k just for a down payment.

If you are buying a mansion, maybe, but for a normal mortgage you wont need anywhere near £50k. Exaggerations have indeed risen by 1000000% it seems.


@animefreak17: it is mum, not mom. This isn't the US. :p
... And it's not mum, it's mother, you dimwitted twit! :p *Walks off chin-up and pimp-strides with stick*
 
Chaz said:
Mutsumi said:
Ryo Chan said:
Due to the new goverment crackdown, banks can't give out luxury mortgages like they use to, meaning u normually need £50k just for a down payment.

If you are buying a mansion, maybe, but for a normal mortgage you wont need anywhere near £50k. Exaggerations have indeed risen by 1000000% it seems.


@animefreak17: it is mum, not mom. This isn't the US. :p
... And it's not mum, it's mother, you dimwitted twit! :p *Walks off chin-up and pimp-strides with stick*
dont be so hard on him different children call there moms different ways mum, mom, mother ect depends how and where your raised really
 
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