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Moving back home
How to survive it!
Bob Dylan once sang that ‘The times they are a changin’ and moving back home is quite the change! With the big bad recession and consequent job losses, more and more people are moving back in with their folks.
Why do people move back home?
- To help out. Maybe a parent or family member is sick and somebody needs to care for them.
- To save money. Maybe you are planning on travelling or even buying a house. Moving back home for a while can mean cheap (or even free) rent, which allows you to save more than you would if you had to pay rent and bills in your own flat.
- Because they have no choice. Maybe you’ve lost your job and it’s a choice between moving back home or sleeping on the street.
- A career move. If you are looking to get into a popular career, internships are the way to go. However, they are usually free or poorly paid. So doing an internship when you are still living at home allows you to move your career forward without having to worry about money.
- A relationship break down. This is a very common reason to return home. It may not be ideal, but it’s better than sharing the toothpaste with your ex and their new partner!
How to cope
- Make your space your own. It may be temporary but you do need to settle in and make your room your own. If it’s still filled with Busted posters from when you were 12, you’ll probably need to re-decorate! So work to fill it with your stuff and to make it homey.
- Do your own chores. It might seem pretty cool for a while to be waited on hand and foot, but it will soon start to lose its thrill. After all, are you really gonna feel good about yourself when your mammy is still cooking for you every night?
- Keep up with your social life. You might start to get a bit depressed if you are staying in every night and watching TV with the folks. So get out there and make time to meet your friends. If you aren’t living near your friends, take time to join a gym or to take up some other sociable hobbies.
- If you moved home because you’re unemployed, now is the perfect time to apply for internship or volunteering opportunities.
The positives of living at home
- You can save. If you don’t have to pay much rent or bills, you’ll literally be saving hundreds of Euros a month. That saved money can go into your bank account.
- Your family home is often nicer and cosier than the typical flat. Enjoy the luxury of constant hot water, well heated rooms and extra space while you can.
- You get to spend time with family. You may underestimate it now, but it’s true. You only have one family and they won’t be around forever.
Tips to make it harmonious
- Be aware of your parents' space and privacy. Respect their boundaries and don’t go poking around their stuff.
- Keep it clean. Messing up the house is kinda selfish. It might have been borderline acceptable when you were younger, but it’s really not cool now.
- Don’t expect your parents to wait on you hand and foot. Yes, your parents may have done all the washing and cooking when you were a kid, but it’s not fair to expect them to do it all now.
- Treat your family from time to time. Why not make a nice meal for everyone or take them all out somewhere fancy?
- Remember that you are still your parent’s child. It may be annoying to be asked where you are going, when you’ll be back etc. but your parents are actually asking such things because they care.
- Focus on the positives. Maybe your mam is over protective, but she is also very caring and there for you when you have a bad day. Maybe your sister is whiney, but she is also a great laugh!
How to get back on your feet
- Save. Yes it’s boring when you could be spending the money on snazzy clothes or trips away, but you’ll never be able to move out if you don’t save.
- Work hard at your job or at looking for a job. If you work hard, you are more likely to get a raise or even a promotion.
- Set some goals. Goals motivate us to get things done. You could make a specific game plan for moving out and use it to motivate you and to get things done.
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