Has it become impossible to juggle paying monthly rent payments, pitching in on nine boxes of pizza a week and making your credit card payments on time?
You're not alone. As the fall semester draws to a close, many students are stressing about finances. Sometimes financial pressures can become so overwhelming that students realize that they must either drop out of school and take on 40 hours a week at McDonalds or throw themselves upon the pity of their parents and move back home.
Recent studies have revealed that an increasing number of college students are choosing to cut college expenses and live with relatives while completing their education. Students who have chosen to make the move back home report numerous benefits, including hot meals, use of a washer and dryer for laundry and a lessened financial burden. However, with the benefits come certain drawbacks. There can be a struggle re-establishing ground rules that will work for both parents and their college-aged children, and living with siblings can sometimes be more difficult than living with the most annoying of college roommates. Read ahead on how to maintain your sanity and prevent a family feud while living at home.
Rent: Often parents will not charge rent to their returning tenants. Many find that having their little birdies back in the nest is payment enough. Some parents, however, feel that students need to learn to pay bills and will charge students a small amount of rent. If you find that the amount is too much, the simple thing to do is discuss the issue with your parents. A good way to convince them to reduce the rent is to negotiate extra chores in place of the amount you were paying. Baby-sit your younger siblings, fix the car, or become the family chef.
Food: As with rent, some parents will provide food for their down-and-out students while they are living back at home. However, this may not always be the case. For families with more than one child it can become very expensive to keep the house continually stocked with groceries. Students should make arrangements with their parents regarding meals at home. Some students also find that they have different eating habits after living alone, such as being the only vegetarian in a family of carnivores. In this case, students should buy their own food and designate a shelf in the refrigerator just for themselves. Students who are concerned about hungry siblings eating their food can purchase a mini-fridge to place in their bedroom. These can be found at most stores with appliance sections for less than $100. No matter what the arrangement, students should make sure to discuss it with their parents to endure that the situation will work for them.
Chores: If you make a mess, clean it up. This is a basic rule in all settings, but it goes double once you have moved back home. If your parents have been gracious enough to allow you to live with them in hard times do not give them reason to regret this decision by leaving your dirty socks lying around the house. This is a quick way for students to wear out their welcome.
Siblings: Brothers and sisters can be a great joy in life. However, living with younger siblings after living away from home can be difficult. One of the biggest points of conflict is often bathroom time. This issue can be easily resolved by working out a house showering schedule. If you have the same schedule as some of your siblings, take a shower the night before or wake up earlier in the morning. The bathroom is not the only place to do your hair. Take your styling products to your room and do your hair there. It may be awkward doing your hair on your bedroom floor but it beats having it ripped out in a scuffle with an angry sibling. The TV may be a little more difficult to handle, especially if you have favorite shows on at the same time and only one TV. In this case, you can flip a coin, play 'rock, paper, scissors', or alternate nights watching TV at your friends' houses. Regarding phone usage, you might be better off taking the money you aren't using for rent and purchasing a cell phone. Most wireless companies offer 1,000-minute local plans for around $50 a month. Having a cell phone can be a necessity while living at home for privacy and convenience. Phone time is like oxygen - there is really no negotiating for it.
Finally, college students living at home should remember to be courteous and respectful to their parents. Although you are old enough that you aren't required to listen to your parents, you are also old enough that they aren't required to give you a place to live. Simply being considerate while living at home can prevent a lot of friction between parents and students.
Students choosing to live at home will discover many benefits as well as many obstacles. It is often difficult to adjust to moving back in with the family, especially after a few years of freedom, but it sure beats the alternative of dropping out to flip burgers. Good luck!
Mackenzie is a junior majoring in journalism. She can be reached for comment at bglife@isu.edu.
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