After Graduation: Should You Move Back In with Mom & Dad?

By Elana Goodwin on June 3, 2017

This article is brought to you by Kaplan, the leader in test prep for over 90 standardized tests, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.

Congratulations! You’ve finished your time as an undergraduate and have received some sort of degree for your time and effort.

After four or more years of working towards graduation day, that momentous occasion is now imminent or has already occurred, which means it’s really time to start planning for after graduation.

One factor to consider is your living situation. If you’re budgeting for grad school or trying to figure out your next move as a postgrad, you may be asking yourself this question: should I move back in with mom and dad? Here are some things to consider while making that decision.

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com

Money. If you’re planning to go to grad school in the fall or within the next few years, moving back in with mom and dad can be a smart financial move. You’ll be able to save money you would’ve otherwise spent on rent, utilities, groceries, etc., and also put away whatever earnings you might make at your interim job.

Additionally, if you have to start paying back your student loans each month, not having to spend money on somewhere to live and all the expenses that go with it will lessen the financial burden you carry. If you’re not planning to go to grad school but haven’t been able to secure employment yet as a postgrad, living at home is also a smart idea as it will allow you to save your money until you have a job.

Being able to knock down your student debt and save money without really worrying about bills is definitely a benefit of moving back home for a period of time.

Convenience. Moving back home gives you the luxury of time, without you feeling like you’re wasting money every day you don’t have a job or are living on your own. By living with your parents, you’ll have the flexibility and opportunity to explore different career paths and options. You can apply to jobs from anywhere but there’s a bit less pressure to take the first gig offered to you if you’re not paying rent along with your student loans and are desperate for cash.

Responsibility. Of course, moving back in with mom and dad doesn’t mean you’re going to shirk all responsibilities that come with living in an apartment or house of your own. You should still be prepared to pitch in, whether that means doing chores, walking the family dog, buying groceries, or even contributing to some other household expenses.

Normality. If you are going to be moving back home after graduation, you’re not alone. According to a 2016 survey by the job site Indeed, 36 percent of graduating seniors planned to live at home at least a year or more after graduation. Plus, another 2016 study by the Pew Research Center found that more 18- to 34-year-olds live at home with their parents than in any other arrangement (like, for instance, living alone or with roommates).

Basically, there are plenty of other recent grads who are in the same boat as you — graduating and returning home — and there’s nothing wrong with that boat. There’s no longer the stigma there used to be about moving home after college so you don’t need to worry about others thinking badly of you because you’ve chosen to move back in with mom and dad.

Relationships. While you may have butted heads with mom and dad in high school, moving back in after college sees the relationship you have with your parents change. It may take a bit of time to adjust to living at home but many parents and grads see their relationship change from strictly parent-and-child to becoming more like friends.

Your parents will be there for you as a source of support and someone to bounce ideas or options off of in a different way than they might’ve been while you were away at school. You’ll also appreciate everything they do for you more when you see their efforts up close and personal and will be able to spend more time with them as an adult, which changes the dynamic of your relationship. Though not exactly a reason to move home, this change is an added benefit to moving back in with mom and dad after graduation.

Motivation. Living at home, while fine for a while, is probably not what you want to be doing super long-term. So if you don’t have grad school as a destination in the fall that will see you moving out, living with mom and dad may act as motivation to get yourself in gear and start cranking out cover letters and resumes and applying to jobs you’d qualify for.

Moving back home and living with mom and dad doesn’t have to be a bad or shameful thing. In fact, it may actually be a smart move for many postgrads out there, especially those headed to grad school or still looking for jobs, and should definitely be something you consider after graduation.

Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.

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