What do you think of people who live at home for free during college?

[frostedflakes]

Fortunately, my parents are pretty cool. They basically let me do my own thing, they could care less as long as I don't do stupid stuff like drink and drive. Heck, even in high school they weren't that strict. If they tried to keep me on a short leash, though, I'd definitely have to move out.

 

[Playmaker]

Nothing wrong with it. If I had gone to school back home I might have as well. However, I'm very happy I didn't, because I would have missed out of the best parts of college.

Moving BACK home after college when one has a full-time job is a different story. I knew only two friends who did this, and it takes a certain personality to make it work (whether they realize it or not). I definitely couldn't do it.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: RyanSengara

Originally posted by: Stiganator
I'm curious about this. This is brought on by the My Dad and Job Offer thread. I obviously agree with the Dad in that thread.

I have worked since age 15 and I haven't asked for a dime from my parents since I left for college in 2003.

I have some classmates who lived in the suburbs near my school and even now live with their parents, even though they have graduated and have a job (and are 24). Sometimes they can be little bitches about things. I think it's because they don't know what its like to bust your ass all week and see half or more of your money disappear towards house payments or ungrateful children etc.

Financially prudent.

When you work with the people who did this to be "financially prudent" they are not. For the most part they roll around purchasing cars they cannot afford on their newfound "wealth" of a 60K salary. They then can't understand why they can't afford a house at age 27 and blame other factors beside their own piss poor judgement and decisions.

Sorry, I see it all the time. Whining about still living at home because they "can't afford to do otherwise"

WTF!!! You wanted to live at home to be financially prudent and still you fail. Clue - it's you, it's just you.

You are conveniently ignoring the ones that are truly prudent and therefore managed to insert an inane rant. Good one.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: ChaoZ
I think they are non-white people.

pretty much.

On a side note, my college experience was VERY mundane. Partly my fault, partly the school. My feelings would have been really hurt if I didn't have 80% paid for by the school.

 

[Turkish]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran
If you can, great. Some people won't have that choice. After 18, my mom started charging me rent. I moved out pretty quick after that.

I moved out of my parents house at the beginning of junior year in high school, not because my parents forced me to, but because I moved 5000 miles away from them ( ) but that is so fvcked up IMO. I worked from age 12 till 16 with my father, and went back home during summers to work for him in college. In return, he paid my college tuition (state uni FTW). I covered my rent, food, entertainment, beer, etc. I think that's a fair deal as I didn't have a work permit (non-US citizen). My parents still often tell me that I can ring them up if I ever need money, food, or a place to live. I think it goes both ways, you cannot always blame children. I think neither of those situations are normal where parents charge their kids for living with them after 18, or when they shield them from financial responsibility till their late 20s...

 

[Anonemous]

Smart, instead of accumulating loans/debt they instead sacrifice their dorm life/college experience so they won't be a burden on their family.

 

[Christobevii3]

I've had my own apartment and rented since 18 and managed to not accumulate any debt. Most people I know are just lazy and stupidly bought a new car so they can't really afford to move out. I've landed a salaried job with the city's it department and now going to go be a bum at my grandmas. She moved into a lightly assisted place since she can't drive and her house is paid off and going to be gifted to my parents. So I'll get to live in it for roughly 1/3rd the cost of my apartment... Ever had sex in your grandmas bed?

 

[NuclearNed]

My parents have never had much money, so they couldn't afford to help me pay for college. Letting me live at home rent-free during college was one way they were able to help me out.

 

[Modelworks]

I think it depends on lots of things.
If you live at home and still help out, do laundry, mow grass, etc then I think its fine.

What upsets me though is people like my niece.
She is 22 and still at home.
She is moving out with her boyfriend and they are getting a place.
She does nothing all day except watch tv.
If asked to help wash dishes, etc, she complains she is tired.
When asked what is the hold up on the place she is moving to, she says, they don't have the water turned on yet.
When asked why, she says they need to pay the deposit.
So, I ask, how much is it ?
The reply, I don't know.
I say, maybe you should call and find out.
The reply, I will when I get a chance.


Sorry , I just want to shake her and say "wake up, your 22, no one is going to do this stuff for you !"

 

[Eeezee]

I pity them - you'd have to pay me pretty damn well to live with my parents for more than a few weeks (more than the cost of food and rent anyway). I really enjoyed my college experience, of leaving home and learning how to strike out on my own. My parents were a bit protective though, so if you have less protective parents it could be alright to live at home.

I guess I was also in a unique situation in that I graduated in 4 years without a dollar of debt and without having to work more than 20 hrs/week. You have to either get a sports scholarship or some serious academic rewards for that kind of opportunity, especially as a white male!

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: StevenYoo
uh, i think they're pretty damn smart.

Yeah - it's a big money-saver to live at home. If your parents want to charge you some rent, that's up to them. My parents thought about charging me rent while I was still at home (stayed there till I was 23, and yes, I did work full-time), but I was always useful around the house, so there was no rent fee.

I managed my own finances, as always, and bought at least half of my own food. If my mom felt like cooking something, she did. If not, she'd let everyone know that we were on our own for supper, and that was it, not a big deal.
Everyone got along quite well, and it just wasn't a bad deal.

But I was working retail, and wanted something better than that, or I would've lost my mind. And the pay sucks in retail. So, here I am in college, far from home.
I lived my first semester in the dorms, and then 4 semesters in the on-campus apartments. I really would have preferred to live with my parents instead. I learned the meaning of "disrespectful arrogance" during that time, and the phrase, "Goddamn college idiots" regularly entered my thoughts.


I don't think staying at home "stunted" me in any way. I've found living on my own to be fairly simple. Make sure the bills are paid, don't overspend, and......well, it's just not all that difficult.

 

[VoteQuimby]

I lived at home for 3 years of college. Honestly I think my Mom liked having me there and she let me do my own thing/stayed out of my business. Free meals and a place to sleep isn't anything to sneeze at. Then again I worked full-time through out college and SAVED a lot because I was able to stay with my parents.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: StevenYoo
uh, i think they're pretty damn smart.

QFT

 

[HardcoreRobot]

shame on the parents, in most situations

however there are some cases where it is for the best. just not enough info to really judge

 

[BassBomb]

I live at home and I love it.

They pay for mortgage and utilities and internet/cable, car insurance

I pay for some food, all my gas and some of theirs, my tuition, my books, everything else that is "mine"

 

[nageov3t]

I have a friend who commuted from home to college and it always seems like she missed out on a huge part of the college experience.

I made friends my freshman year in the dorms that are still some of my best friends today... it's really something that can't ever be replicated (though there are certainly bad parts to go along with the good).

I did move back home for a year after graduating (a brief window of time between graduation and landing my first real job that paid something I could live off of) but I moved back out as soon as possible... not that my parents mind having me there -- with my sister and me gone, it's just them, the dog, and three empty guest bedrooms -- but it's rough going from semi-independence to having to lie to your parents about what you were doing last night and what time you got home.

staying at home is the right choice for some people, but it definitely wasn't for me.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I think they are still children and are too scared to become adults. They will carry this apprehension of the unknown into their pseudo-adulthood and forever be crippled by a security blanket. Rationalizing their behavior as "but I'm being smart", they will never build the essential skills of adulthood.

Agreed. That was one of the reasons I moved from podunk East Liverpool, OH to Auburn, AL for school. When you're 800+ miles from your parents there's no running home to mommy & daddy when something goes wrong. Even when I came home for the summers my dad arranged for me to work in the melt shop of the steel mill, so it wasn't like I'd come home and just fuck around.

 

[Saint Nick]

I think most of your college expenses fall under the "housing" category. If all you had to pay for was tuition, you're saving an unbelieveable amount of money.

But, then again, you're missing out on a lot of what college is about by living at home.

 

[911paramedic]

As the father of a college student, if I was near his college I would love to have him live with me. But he is going to school out of state...

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
I'm curious about this. This is brought on by the My Dad and Job Offer thread. I obviously agree with the Dad in that thread.

I have worked since age 15 and I haven't asked for a dime from my parents since I left for college in 2003.

I have some classmates who lived in the suburbs near my school and even now live with their parents, even though they have graduated and have a job (and are 24). Sometimes they can be little bitches about things. I think it's because they don't know what its like to bust your ass all week and see half or more of your money disappear towards house payments or ungrateful children etc.

sorry you had a tough life; dont be bitter about it though

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: loki8481
.

I made friends my freshman year in the dorms that are still some of my best friends today... it's really something that can't ever be replicated (though there are certainly bad parts to go along with the good).

this is true all of my good friends from college lived in the doorms, hell all of us lived on the same floor, kinda funny how that all worked out

staying at home does save a ton of money, Room and Board is a large part of the cost, being able to avoid that can be great, and it really depends on the situation at home, if say you had an apartment over the gerrage it wouldent really be that bad IMO

 

[yllus]

Despite not wanting to live at home and miss out on the dorm experience, I did it. Between that, working and barely eating I managed to graduate with zero debt. I got a job three weeks after graduation, moved out for good six months after that and have excellent credit to boot.

Stereotypes != reality.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: dartworth
why would you want to live with your parents...?

hahaha...exactly, It is the smart thing to do, especially if you have loans...but man, you really have to give up a lot when you live with mom and dad.


My mom actually wants me to move back home. Hell No. I enjoy living on my own. Yes, I have loans up the wazoo....but I am willing to deal with it for now.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: NightDarker
I think most of your college expenses fall under the "housing" category. If all you had to pay for was tuition, you're saving an unbelieveable amount of money.

But, then again, you're missing out on a lot of what college is about by living at home.

exactly. Housing is alot.

 

[oddyager]

You know it's incredibly easy to make blanket generalizations about a group of folks. Sure some people are freeloaders and leechers and then there's a lot of them that are actually being smart and saving money.