How To Live With Your Parents After College
Living with your parents after graduation? It’s not permanent, you’re not alone, and that’s not something to be ashamed off. Here’s some great tips from our new contributor, Samantha Raab, on how to live with your parents.
Hi, my name is Samantha, and I live with my parents. Whew, it feels good to get that off my chest. I am smack-dab in the middle of my 20s and graduated from college almost three years ago, and my roommates are named Mom and Dad.
Many people around my age are graduating from college and returning back to live at home. It is financial sound. It makes sense. However, there is a social stigma surrounding this particular living arrangement, and, more importantly, no one really wants to go back to living with their parental units after the sweet freedom college gives them.
While you are stuck in that twin bed in your old room, try to make the best of it. Staying with your parents after you graduated from college probably wasn’t how you imagined how your life was going to go, but you can live a little more harmoniously now.
Respect Your Parents
You are no longer a teenage. You are now an “adult.” Don’t revert back to the way you acted before you moved out. This goes beyond just getting along with the folks. This also means respecting their house, which legally they don’t have to let you live in. Keep the house clean and clear of your stuff. I have a problem with this rule of mine, but I just try to keep the mess quarantined to my room. Respecting the parents also includes not waking up the house when you come home after a night out. Perhaps stick to a schedule that respects theirs. Sharpen your ninja skills by not turning on every light in the house and not slamming doors.
Stay Positive
Living in your parents’ house can elicit some depressing thoughts, but you’ve got to keep things in perspective. You are young. Millions of other post grads are in the same boat you are in. Keep in mind this situation is only temporary. Plus, you are saving tons of money. Keep track of your spending so you can work towards finding a place of your own.
Get Out of the House
Living with your parents doesn’t mean you have to spend every moment at their house. Establish a support system outside of the house. Get in touch with old friends or make some new ones. Develop a hobby outside of the house. For me, I connected with some friends from high school. I planned time to spend with friends from college that lived relatively near to me. I even got into community theatre and met some really great people.
Can you relate? Got any more ways to cope? Tell us what works for you in our comments section below or tweet us at @mscareergirl now!
