Today, college graduates are facing several factors that make coming back to the nest an ideal option. Some factors include, student loan debt, job unavailability and sky-high rents. And for the first time in modern history, living with parents is the most common living arrangement for 18-34-year-olds. Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on how to live with a college graduate.
However, before you freak out when your college graduate decides they want to move back home, read these tips on how to make it work:
1. Treat your child like an adult
That means, not doing their laundry for them or giving them money for a movie. Don’t fall back into the same parental role you played when they were little. A college graduate should not expect the babying treatment.
Also, let them grow their independence. If you let them, they will be more prepared for life. And word to the wise; stay out of their personal relationships.
2. Insist that your child get a job
After four or more years of basically job-preparation, your college graduate may be expecting their dream job to land in front of them like it’s complementary of a degree.
But you know the real world doesn’t work like that. So should your child. It isn’t healthy for your child to be dependent on you financially while they search for their “dream job.” They’ll be more prepared and confident for life if they can pay for their own expenses.
If your college graduate is binge-watching Netflix and swiping on Tinder all day, that’s a red flag that the living arrangement is not working.
3. Consider charging rent
Next, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. So, this is something your college graduate needs to know. Most importantly, this strategy works best if you have a plan for why you’re charging rent.
One idea is to collect the money and build a nest egg for your child. They can access the money when they’re ready to move out. Or, you can use the rent money toward your graduate’s student loans.
4. Have your child plan to pay off student debt
So, one of the biggest reasons college graduates fly back to the nest is money. They can save money by living with you. Expect them to live within their means. Encourage them to save their money and pay off their student debt.
5. Set a reasonable goal for when it’s time for your child to move out
Most importantly, don’t allow your college graduate to get stuck in the comforts of home. That’s why they need to set goals. Therefore, helping them set goals will help them spread their wings and fly.
Talk with your child about what will work for both of you. For example, when will the time to leave be? Will it be when loans are paid off, or in one year after they’ve saved x amount of money? Make sure your college graduation understands the plan.
Also, ask yourself how much support you can afford. Therefore, you can’t take care of your child if you aren’t taking care of yourself first.
Finally, it does not have to be a problem when your child wants to live at home after graduation. As a matter of fact, help them get better prepared for their future. Just follow these tips to make living with your college graduate easier.
Bio
Justin Lavelle is Communications Director at BeenVerified (https://www.beenverified.com). BeenVerified is the fast, affordable, and easy way to access public records and search for people. Find out ages, marital status, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, criminal records, and more
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