Moving Back in With Mom and Dad — How to Make the Money Work

For many young adults, moving back in with mom and dad is part of the journey from childhood to adult life. Not everyone is ready to get their own home, move to a new city, or start a long-term career right after graduating from high school or college. 

Some young adults might choose to move back in with mom and dad to rebuild their finances after some financial trouble, overcoming a layoff or career setback, or completing a debt relief program. Many young adults need some extra time and support to save money, get established on a career path, and build a stronger financial future.  

And that’s totally fine. Whatever your reasons, moving back in with mom and dad is nothing to feel bad about. This kind of family-friendly housing arrangement can be especially good news for your bank account. 

When you move back in with mom and dad, everyone can benefit. Parents and adult children can cut their housing costs, save money on groceries, and boost their personal finances. 

Before you move back in with your folks, it’s important for everyone to set some rules and make agreements upfront about how to manage money while living together.    

Here are a few tips on how to make moving back in with mom and dad a win-win for everyone’s wallet. 

Moving Back In With Mom and Dad Is Normal 

Don’t feel as if moving back in with mom and dad is a step back in life. In fact, it’s pretty common. In 2024, about a third of American young adults 18 to 34 were living with their parents, according to Pew Research. And only 45% of young adults in this age group were completely financially independent.

There are a few reasons why young people today might want to live with their parents, even after leaving the nest.

People are getting married later in life 

One of the traditional milestones of adult life in America is marriage, and it’s a big reason why people used to move out of their parents’ homes. But more young Americans are delaying getting married than previous generations, or not getting married at all. As of 2024, the typical age of first marriage for men was 30.2 years old, and 28.6 years old for women.   

Student loans 

Higher education is expensive. Average student loan debt ranges from $38,375 to $41,618. Moving back in with mom and dad could be a good strategy to pay off student loans faster.  

High housing costs 

Affordable housing is in short supply. High rents could drive some young adults to live at home while they save up for a deposit on an apartment or a down payment on a home. 

For these social and economic reasons, moving back in with mom and dad can often be a smart move for your personal finances. 

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How to Make Money Work for Parents and Adult Kids Living Together 

Moving back in with mom and dad is a chance for everyone in the family to cut costs, share responsibilities, and save money. But before you move in, take time to talk about the household budget. Make sure everyone’s on the same page.  

Should the adult child pay rent? How much money should everyone contribute to shared monthly bills like utilities and groceries? What if parents want to help out financially—should they cover all their child’s financial needs, or should the adult child be at least partially independent? 

Here are a few tips for parents and young adults to stay on track financially after moving back in with mom and dad: 

Parents should make sure to:

• Keep saving and investing for retirement. Don’t pull money out of your retirement account to cover your child’s expenses. You need to plan for your future even while your adult child is living at home. Leave your investment accounts alone, and let that money grow for the long term. 

• Plan for a bigger household budget. With more people under one roof, your costs for utility bills, groceries, and even car expenses like gas and auto insurance might go up. Think ahead about how parents and children can pay their fair share of these costs of living. 

• Help with the essentials. Adult kids can pay for their own entertainment and meals out. As a parent, if you’re financially comfortable enough, you might want to cover the basic living essentials for the family, such as mortgage payments, utilities, and food. But if your adult child is living in your home rent-free, any extra fun spending, like vacations, hobbies, or entertainment, should be your child’s responsibility.

Setting expectations upfront can help everyone get the most out of living together as a family again. It’s understandable that as a parent you’d want to help your child at any age. 

But keep on saving for your own future retirement, and encourage your adult child to help with household expenses. Helping foot the bill for some of their housing costs and shared living expenses can keep your adult child motivated to stay financially disciplined while they get ready to find a place of their own.  

Adult kids need to:

• Get on a budget. Write down the expenses you still need to meet while living with parents. Take a look at your monthly income, debt, and expenses and make a budget plan for your finances each month.

• Save for future living expenses. Living at home may be only temporary, so take the opportunity to save, save, save. Build up some cash in the bank for a deposit on a new apartment and moving expenses.

• Use unemployment benefits to your advantage. If you’re collecting unemployment, use this time to pay off debt or build up an emergency fund.

• Help out around the house. Whether or not you’re paying rent to your parents, as a young adult you can be hugely helpful with managing the household. Offer to help with running errands. Volunteer to do more than your share of chores. Take things off your parents’ to-do list in ways that money can’t buy. 

As an adult child moving back in with mom and dad, take a  step back and think about the big picture. What do you want to gain from this time of living at home with your parents? Set goals. Do you want to save three months’ worth of living expenses, get out of credit card debt, find a new job, buy a car, or choose a new city to move to next? 

Talk with your parents about how this temporary living arrangement is helping you move forward with your life plans. That way, everyone in the family can feel more invested in your future success. 

Make the Most of Moving Back in With Mom and Dad

Many young adults might discover that moving back in with mom and dad is a relief and a comfort—and a great chance to improve your personal finances. Use this time to make big progress toward your goals, such as paying off debt, fixing your credit, saving money, and getting ready to make your next move. 

A note to parents: work as a team with your adult child. You don’t have to let your adult child live rent-free or raid the fridge without chipping in for groceries. Instead, make a plan for how to share the monthly bills and help your child work toward their financial independence.