Yearly Archives: 2009

Interesting online discussion about adult children living at home

There is an interesting online discussion about adult children living at home happening here. The questions up for discussion are:

Do you live in culture where it would be considered inappropriate to move out of the family home before you are married? Are you a parent who feels you have brought up your children to the best of your ability and now its time for you start enjoying life as a couple again? or are you a twenty something desperate to strike out on your own but constrained by the cost of it?

More stories of adult children living at home

We keep hearing more and more stories of adult children living at home as the economy worsens and more people lose jobs and can’t afford their housing costs.

This recent article from the LA Times shares a few of those stories.

This growing trend can be really tough on families, as the article reveals. For help with the challenges of dealing with extra people living in your home, visit www.adultchildrenlivingathome.com.

Decor tips for adult children living at home

Returning to a childhood room that still looks like a childhood room can be hard on the self-esteem of adult children who move back home. There are ways to decorate an adult child’s room that maximize investment in pieces for future use, and minimize impact on the parents’ home after they leave. This article provides some tips on how to make the decor of an adult child’s room work or everyone in the home.

Admitting to living at home on a first date may reveal your date does too!

This recent article from the Philadelphia Inquirer profiles a couple of twenty-somethings who were both afraid to reveal that they lived with their parents on their first date. It turned out, of course, that like many of their peers they were both living at home.

It makes for interesting dating scenarios, like this one:

There is also the privacy issue. When [Mike] and [Kelly] cozy up to watch a movie on the weekends, a parent might walk through the TV room. They tell their parents of their whereabouts when going out, something they’d never have to do living on their own. And that spare bedroom in [Mike’s] family’s trilevel in Cherry Hill? That’s where [Kelly] sleeps. “At least, to the best of my knowledge that’s where she sleeps when she comes here,” says Barbara Englisch, Mike’s mother.

Sleepovers are one contentious issue (of many) when adult children live at home. It’s important for all of these issues to be sorted out ahead of time to keep all family members happy with the living arrangement. We explain how to decide what works best for your family at www.adultchildrenlivingathome.com.

"Zero rent gets you the creepy room": A charming perspective from one adult child living at home

Today we share with you the story of Sam, a 22-year-old New Zealander who’s back living at home after 3 years away. While he was gone, his mother took over the newly vacated “spare room” for her craft passion. His parents’ house has a guest room, too, but that’s not where he lives. No, he gets the “creepy room.” Here’s how he describes it:

Although there is a guestroom, I have been assigned to a room labeled by my father as “the adult child returning home” room, although this is a purpose it has evolved into over the years. It was originally built in a section of the attic as a room for my then ten-year-old brother. There is no door, just a set of stairs that leads directly into a single room with bright colours and walls that connect the ceiling and floor at a forty-five degree angle, as opposed to the standard ninety. It’s the ultimate tree fort, and a child’s dream room.

It’s an adult’s nightmare.

But Sam bears his parents no ill will for the attic room. He shares his perspective on his blog, in an entry that is worth checking out if you have adult children living at home.

How will Gen Y (your kids?) cope with the recession?

A new article from smh.com.au looks at the impact of the recession on the so-far easy lifestyles of Generation Y, many of whom have the financial buffer of still living at home.

The article figures Generation Y is going to be just fine:

Of all the generations, gen Y is the one most likely to cope well. Their extended “adultescence”, with no spouse, children or mortgage, means they will be the last to rein in their spending. Although their confidence – after a lifetime of being told they’re infallible – will be shaken, Salt [a demographer with KPMG] believes their adaptability will kick in as a survival mechanism.

If you’re dealing with Generation Y-ers who have recently returned to the nest, a solid communications strategy will be key to making the situation livable for everyone — including the kids with the shaken confidence and possibly bruised egos. You can find tips for communication with your adult children moving home here.

AARP: 33% of 18-49-year-olds live with parents or in-laws

With Americans of all ages feeling the effects of the economic crisis and the plummeting housing market, mutigenerational households may become more prevalent in the coming years. AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for 50+ America, recently released the results of an exclusive new survey that looks at housing trends and how the economy may be impacting adults’ living situations. More than 1,000 people age 18 and older were surveyed about who they live with, how likely it is that they will need to move in with another family member or friend, and how comfortable they would be living with additional friends or family members if that would become necessary.

The results show a direct relation between a loss of income and young adults who are moving back home with their parents after a period of independence. Additional key findings include:

Multigenerational Housing: 11% of people age 50+ live with their grandchildren or their parents.

“Boomerang Adults”: 11% of people age 35-44 report living with their parents or their in-laws.

Why People Move: 34% of people who said that they would likely have to move in with family or friends said that it would be due to a loss of income.

“The recession is having an impact on people of all ages, and the effects are starting to be felt at home,” said Jim Toedtman, Vice President and Editor of AARP Bulletin. “We see more people living under the same roof as their parents and their adult children. As Americans face tougher economic conditions, we’ll likely see more of this.”

Results of AARP Bulletin’s Multigenerational Housing survey suggest that as jobs continue to disappear and the foreclosure crisis continues, millions of 50+ Americans will be living with their adult children and grandchildren in multigenerational homes.

Multigenerational Housing and Boomerang Adults

The survey found that that 4% of people age 50+ are currently living with their grandchildren. Results also showed 33% of respondents age 18-49 live with parents or in-laws. A further analysis of this group showed 11% of respondents age 35-44 live with parents or in-laws. Of those respondents, 9% report living with their parents and 2% reporting living with their in-laws.

Likelihood of Moving in With Others

When asked how likely it is that they may need to move in with family members or friends or have family members or friends move in with them, 15% said that it was likely. Among those who thought it would be likely, the largest percentage — about one-third (34%) — said it would be due to a loss of income, 19% said that it would be due to a change in job status and 8% cited home foreclosure as the reason.

Results also showed that respondents between 18 and 34 are more likely than older respondents to have already made such a move (20% vs. 9% for those age 35-44; 8% for those 45-54; 9% for those 55-64; and 7% for those 65+).

Comfort in Living with Additional Friends or Family Members

Roughly one in seven (14%) respondents said they would not be very comfortable, and nearly three in ten (29%) would not be at all comfortable living with additional friends or family members. In contrast, 14% said they would be extremely comfortable and 14% said they would be very comfortable if such a change in housing became necessary. More than a quarter (27%) of respondents said they would be somewhat comfortable with such an arrangement.

Additional information can be found in the March 2009 issue of AARP Bulletin at http://www.aarp.org/research/housing-mobility/affordability/multigen_housing.html.

AARP Bulletin’s Multigenerational Housing Survey was conducted by International Communications Research, Inc. (ICR) in January 2009. A short telephone survey among a nationally representative sample of adults ages 18 and older was taken to learn more about housing patterns and their options about how their own housing situation may change in the next year. The total sample consisted of 1,002 adults who are 18 and older.

Source: AARP/PRNewswire