According to the Office for National Statistics’ latest figures, there are 3.6 million young adults (ages 20–34) living with their parents. This figure is up by almost 10% since 2014. With housing shortages, a tricky job market and rising cost of living, this trend could be set to continue.
Some adult children return home after a life change such as end of education, redundancy or a relationship breakdown; while others have come home to save up for buying a place of their own.
Whatever the reason, this family arrangement is both frustrating and rewarding, and requires everyone to do some negotiation.
Setting boundaries and managing expectations with your adult children
Many young people move back to the parental home to save up a deposit for a house; while others are attracted by home comforts like cooking and laundry. Either way, it’s important that everyone is on the same page about contributions to the household income and to domestic labour.
Uncertainty about how long this new arrangement will go on may also contribute to strife, and open communication can help with this.
Rules imposed on teenagers and children are unlikely to be appropriate for adult children. You may find yourself welcoming their guests (including overnighters!) And young adults may expect to come and go freely. Going the other way, it’s reasonable for parents to want a heads-up about how many to expect for each meal, and to want the odd check in when their adult children are out and about, particularly late at night or on long journeys.
A room of one’s own
One potential hardship of taking adult children back into the family home is the loss of space. In some cases, parents have downsized, only to find themselves short of room for returning children; or they have converted a bedroom into an office or hobby space, or even a box room.
Other families find themselves giving up a spare room that allowed them to host house guests.
If your adult child is contributing financially, then you may find it practical to rent a studio or office outside the home. Or the rent your child pays might be used to put guests up in a nearby B&B or hotel.
More stuff in the same space
Your adult child may have domestic goods from wherever they were living before. These can be an imposition, particularly if space is already tight.
Self-storage is an ideal solution for people in a temporary living situation. A storage unit is the perfect place for stuff that you want to hand, but don’t need every day – seasonal sporting equipment, for example.
How much does storage cost?
For families on a fixed income, storage costs may be a worry – but they do compare favourably with the cost of renting (or buying) a larger home. However, there are storage solutions to fit every budget, and there are ways to reduce your storage costs each month. Take a look at our tips for driving down your monthly storage bill.
Do self-storage units have insurance?
One thing you should not skimp on, however, is self-storage insurance. Self-storage units do need to be insured. The best way to save money is to get several quotes by shopping around to see what different providers can offer. Get a quote from Store and Insure today.
