Come on people, get it together

[Unregistered]

Twenty Something college graduates still living at home?

What is going on here? I understand the economy is bad and that it's hard to find a job in something you went to school for. But to still live at home? Give me a break. Cry and complain all you want about still feeling like a kid but it is your own doing. Why should your parents continue to support you? Chances are they've contributed heavily to the cost of your education and now you're going to stay at home and continue to leech off of them?

What? They're not going to need the money later in life? Who's going to pay for the tremendous cost of their health care? You?

You still feel like a kid because you're acting like one. Move out. Get a job or two or three. And here's a big word everybody needs to understand: BUDGET. Chances are you're not a fashion model so you should stop trying to live like one. Your life is what you make it and you won't have one until you cut the umbilical cord. The world doesn't owe you a thing; you have to earn it.

Grow up and start acting your age, you embarrass those of us who do.

[CAT11]

I haven't lived at home since I was a junior in high school and worked two jobs just so I could graduate.
I would live at home if I could, in a New York minute. It's been a long, hard haul and I am ready for a break.
Not everyone was coddled and given the perfect life so that they could go out in the world and find a fabulous job in a rotten economy. Many of us didn't get a dime from mommy and daddy.
Don't be so righteous. Next time you hit burn out, if you haven't already, you'll wish your mommy was still around.
Some of us don't even have parents. Don't judge people you don't understand.

[Phoenix]

WHOA there tiger (to Unregistered):

There is nothing wrong with living at home in order to get by. My parents are happy to help out and I'm not embarrassed by any means to be living w/ them... I worked my butt of during college, worked a student job to help pay for bills and food, and I've done everything I can to get a job in my field, out of my field - heck, even tried to get a retail job to get by...but you know what, no one's hiring...and even if I had a retail job I still couldn't afford to live on my own with having to pay for health insurance, car insurance, etc. I work at a temp job but that barely covers my expenses, I have a budget, and that does NOT include being able to pay rent.

I suggest you get off your high horse and take a look at reality. "Get a job or two or three" isn't happening ANYWHERE.

Frankly, I think the only person that should be embarrassed is yourself -- for making such a callous statement.

[Jessica]

I so agree with you Phoenix - why berate people who are fortunate enough to have parents that are still willing to support their kids. You don't stop being someone's offspring because you graduate!

I must be the worst kind of offender because I left home after university for three years and then moved back home for a year having suffered clinical depression. If it wasn't for my parents I wouldn't be in the position I am today where I'm buying my own place and am changing employment.

There's no need to be so judgemental about what others are doing - life is not black and white and you can never guarantee your path so I just thank God that I have the kind of parents that would always welcome me with open arms no matter how old I am. I am proud of that not ashamed.

[cmsmith26]

I feel that there are some people out there who really don't want to help/encourage those of us going through this QLC.

Just remember that some may find out about this place & come to create havoc. (All message boards have folks like that.) Take some people & their comments w/a grain of salt.

These days, it is very, very normal to find recent grads still living at home. It has nothing to do with us being lazy, mooching, etc. It's just reality. How many generations before us have had the opportunity of education like we do? How many before us had access to financing/loans like we do? Not many generations had the amount of debt we do at our age. Yes, some of it may have been unnecessary debt, but the majority of the debt comes from loans & credit cards used to pay for books/material/fees/etc.

Again, take some people w/a grain of salt.

[abby]

cmsmith, jessica, pheonix and cat - you are absolutely right. unregistered - you are fortunate to never have had to live at home or had other problems adjusting to this huge life transition.

there IS nothing wrong with living at home, parents agree. it is common and often inevitable. the qlc is partly a result of entering the 'real world' without preparation, and it's perfectly healthy to take measures, such as living with your parents before finding full-time employment, to help ease this major transition.

i typically delete posts that are here for the sole purpose of making people feel bad about their problems. these sounding boards are here to help people, and do help people tremendously by letting them know they're not alone. but i think this thread proves that, despite some close-mindedness, we are still not alone.

let me know if you want it deleted...-aw

p.s. read the news - newsweek, nytimes - more and more twentysomethings living at home, taking longer than ever to become in adult, mostly due to external factors - it's everywhere!

[Hugh_Betcha]

Living at home is looked down upon here - but in Europe & other countries it's not looked down upon at all!

[abby]

p.s. i don't live at home now but did for a few months after graduating, before finding work, and see nothing wrong w/people who live at home even longer :)