As employment rates are currently quite poor for graduates, families are seeing a new trend which is affecting family wellness – the return of graduate students back into the family home.
Having a grown up child move back home can a testing time for family wellness and wellbeing, because, as well as there being a conflict between the parent whose natural instinct is to ‘parent’ their child and the – now adult – ‘child’ who sees themselves as a fully-fledged and independent adult who doesn’t have to follow any rules, it can also cause a massive financial strain, leading parents to spend their retirement funds.
Figures from America show that having an adult ‘child’ back home can cost between $8,000 and $18,000 per year, depending on how much parents spend on items such as entertainment and travel.
In the latest census, records show that around 22.6 million adults aged between 18 and 34 are living at home with their parents (these figures were taken in 2012) which is a staggering 32 percent of this age group. This is up 27 percent from just one decade ago.
If parents find themselves in this situation, they need to follow some firm rules, to make sure that it doesn’t become a massive burden on family life or on their resources.
Parents should lay out a strict financial plan, showing their child what they expect to contribute to the household in terms of food and utilities, as this enables the grown up child to see that living as an adult has responsibilities.
Experts also advise that parents should aim to have their children moved into independent accommodation after no longer than 18 months, because any longer than that and living at home becomes a habit.
Parents must also communicate to their child that they expect them to find a job and to work (even if it is not in their chosen profession at first) in order to contribute to the household and maintain a working CV.
