Use these smart strategies to navigate living with your parents again.
Getty Images / Maskot
Many young adults are living at home or moving back in with their parents.
However, personality, privacy, and personal finance clashes could ruin a happy home.
Credit:Getty Images / Maskot
These tips make moving back in with your parents smooth for everyone involved.
Benefits of Living with Your Parents
Adultsmove into their parents homefor several reasons.
Some do so to offer care to aging parents.
Others need help with childcare.
Many young adults are prioritizing savings over independence.
Money and time savings aside, multigenerational households are a common cultural norm around the world.
Prepare Before the Move
Have a meeting before making any final decisions.
Determine who is moving where and whether its a temporary or permanent change.
Proper planning ensures that everybody is on the same page and knows what to expect.
For good measure, write notes that you all keep for future reference.
Determine Accommodation Arrangements
As soon as possible, determine sleeping and living arrangements before moving in.
Otherwise, determine which rooms are shared and which are private.
But they may not be worth the expense for a temporary arrangement.
Manage Expectations to Prevent Conflict
Living together doesnt mean spending all your time together.
This is especially true if one family member is a caregiver for others.
Privacyin space and timeis going to be important for everyone involved.
To prevent conflict, set expectations around common issues likefamily meals, visitors, and pet or childcare responsibilities.
Divide Financial Commitments
Before moving in, determine how finances will be split.
Will you divide the cost of groceries for the whole month, or will each of you shop separately?
If theres rent or a mortgage, is the cost divided in half or according to square footage?
Who buys shared household items like toilet paper and cleaning supplies?
How will utilities, lawn care, and internet bills be divided?
Money talks can be awkward, but its better to have them before theres conflict.
Resentments get worse the longer you wait.
Plan out finances beforehand to mitigate future conflicts.
Split Household Chores
Bills arent the only things that need to be divided.
Dont forget abouthousehold chores.
How will cleaning shared spaces be scheduled for all members of the household?
Is the laundry room shared?
What aboutgeneral maintenance and repairs?
So, be realistic about splitting chores along realistic lines rather than simple 50/50 guidelines.
Set a Timeline
Set a timeline to revisit the arrangement and decide if its really working for everyone.
Similarly, if this is supposed to be temporary, set the goal posts.
Are you saving up for a new home?
Also, if its for caregiving, revisit how long that arrangement can work.
If helping ailing parents, when will you decide if its time to hire a home health worker?
Set expectations and timelines that consider everyones needs.
Enjoy Quality Time Together
Remember, youre still family.
Make the most of living together.
Spend quality time together and enjoy each others company.
Hostbackyard barbecuesand invite cousins over for family dinners.
Take a road trip or go on a family cruise.
On the tough days, remember the benefits of shared living and express gratitude for your tight-knit family.
To make lasting positive memories, dont take each other for granted.
Bureau, US Census.
Nearly Two-Thirds of U.S.
Households Are Family Households.
Accessed April 17, 2025. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/families-and-living-arrangements.html.
Accessed April 17, 2025. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/07/20/young-adults-in-u-s-are-much-more-likely-than-50-years-ago-to-be-living-in-a-multigenerational-household/.
