No, I didn’t have a baby — I moved back in with my parents.
The choice felt simple: I landed my first full-time position with benefits. And it was a writing role — fantastic. The office sat less than five miles from my childhood house.
Also, I’m very close with my folks. After living on my own for six years, the return was welcomed — perhaps even pushed a bit.
On top of that, I’m saving a bundle.
Rent for a reasonable one-bedroom in my fast-growing hometown starts at about $900 a month. Stashing that cash over the past year has been a relief. I’m now establishing a financial base for my future rather thandepending paycheck to paycheck.
I’m grateful for my parents, for my home, and for my choice. That said, if you’re pondering this move, it’s more than just tossing out old memorabilia from high school.
7 Mistakes We Made When We Moved Back Home — and How to Dodge Them
Trust me: Mistakes will happen. On your side, your parents’ side, everyone’s side.
So if you’re thinking about moving back with your parents — or you’re already there, scrolling through this from your freshly repainted childhood room — pay attention.
Fortunately, I didn’t commit all of these errors. I also surveyed friends, colleagues and our Facebook community to ask: What missteps did you make when you moved home and how could they have been prevented?
Mistake No. 1: Assuming you’re the only one who’s unhappy
Odds are, your parents are struggling with the change too.
Whenever I got caught in waves of irritation, my mom would say: “You’re not the only one dealing with this transition.”
My parents enjoyed an empty nest for two years. It took time to adapt after my younger brother left, and they ended up loving the freedom.
Then I returned home.
“Remember that not only are you adjusting to living with us again; your dad and I are adjusting to losing our empty nest,” my mom reminded me recently.
How to dodge this mistake: One of my closest college friends has been living at home for two years. At first she joked that her parents were now her roommates.
Really, that’s a helpful outlook. They aren’t your caregivers anymore. They’re more like roommates, and you need to be considerate.
Mistake No. 2: Not agreeing on household rules beforehand
Oh, you’re going running? Be back before dark, is something my dad would call out.
Dadddd. You do realize I lived downtown in a major U.S. city with no familiar faces, and somehow managed, right? I worked at a magazine with 2 a.m. deadlines and walked home alone.
Your parents might forget you’ve been out growing up and handling adult responsibilities, and moving back into your old room doesn’t exactly scream “adult.”
How to dodge this mistake: It’s crucial to set ground rules before moving back in. Yes, you’re moving into your parents’ space; be respectful.
But that 11 p.m. curfew from senior year probably doesn’t apply anymore. And a total ban on alcohol? I’m 24; a glass of wine is fine.
Mistake No. 3: Ignoring rent or a contribution plan
My parents don’t charge me rent. Yes, boo, hiss; I’m a spoiled millennial.
But that also gives them leverage. For instance, my mom accidentally ate my beloved guac the other day. I made a slightly snarky remark and she reminded me she bought the chips I’d been using — and that I’m living in herspace.
That’s not typical for us, but I’ve lived in homes where the go-to comeback in an argument is: “Do you want to start paying rent?”
How to dodge this mistake: Even if your parents don’t request rent, contribute around the house.
I know my mom dislikes unloading the dishwasher, so I try to do it often. I help with laundry. I keep my room tidy. I squeegee the shower doors — a quirky task she appreciates.
One colleague negotiated a more specific arrangement when she moved back for a few months. Instead of rent, she agreed to keep the fridge stocked and cook dinners.
It didn’t entirely work out. “I ended up spending way more on groceries for three people and two dogs than I would have on modest rent,” she says.
So be savvy about it.
Mistake No. 4: Spending all your time at home
When I lived alone, my apartment was my refuge. After long 12-hour grad school days, I’d go home — and often stay in through the weekend. A couch potato.
Doing that while living at your parents’ house can inflame those earlier feelings: irritation, claustrophobia…
How to dodge this mistake: Make plans outside the house. Get out. Or find a private corner, whatever works.
My partner lives in Orlando, so I visit him at least twice a month.
If I’m not traveling one weekend, I enjoy being home. But I recognize my parents aren’t my entertainment. I do my own thing, stay out of their path, and they stay out of mine.
But working from home complicates things.
My coworker moved back with her parents one summer while freelancing. “I was around way too much,” she says. “They also didn’t really get when I was working.”
On my remote days, I make my boundaries clear.
Mistake No. 5: Forgetting that you’re an adult
Don’t lose sight that you’re a functioning adult.
I’m 24. I have a full-time job with great benefits. I have a serious partner. I hold two higher education degrees.
I still have things to learn, but I’ve earned my adult badge.
Still, it’s easy to forget. You see peers doing exciting things on social media, you face that “lazy millennial” stereotype, and you’re back where you lived as a child…
But you can’t overlook that you’re an adult.
How to dodge this mistake: Remember what you’ve done and what you’re doing. Saving money or being in a slump doesn’t justify being looked down upon.
Set up your own routines.
I find a schedule helps: work 9-5, go for a run (sometimes), have dinner, handle chores. I budget and watch new apartment listings. I also enjoy spending time with coworkers.
Mistake No. 6: Not having a finish line (or move-out date)
I moved home kind of haphazardly. Sure, this will be nice for a bit.
I told myself I’d save for about six months and leave around Christmas. But I didn’t make a firm end goal — no hard deadline. And look at me now. Nine months later, and I’m still here.
And I don’t have concrete plans to pack up any time soon.
How to dodge this mistake: Set goals.
If you want to build savings or an emergency fund before moving out, calculate six months’ worth of living costs.
Pull out your rusty math skills and draft a budget. Compare your paycheck to your expenses (including potential ones).
Having a firm deadline or measurable goals beats saying, “It’ll happen when I’m ready.” You might get too comfortable otherwise…
Mistake No. 7: Seeing all the money you’re saving — and blowing it on nonessentials
I saved the most cringeworthy error for last.
As mentioned, I moved back to avoid rent and save. Initially I was disciplined — I didn’t have much wiggle room. But once I’d squirrelled away some cash, it became easy to splurge here and there. Even on an overpriced concert ticket.
How to dodge this mistake: A family friend answered my Facebook post with excellent advice: “Pretend you’re paying rent, and deposit that money into a savings account,” she suggested. “When you’re ready to move out, you’ll have a solid down payment!”
Another friend told me she wishes she’d used her savings to pay off her car. Now she’s renting and must limit her apartment budget because of that monthly payment.
Now that I’ve listed these mistakes, I ask myself: Who in their right mind would move back home?
But I don’t regret my choice — provided I keep budgeting and tucking money away.
Alex Morgan is a junior writer at Savinly. She’d add Mistake No. 8: Moving back during an election year when your political views don’t match your parents’. Yikes.
