KONDA: Living with your parents after college is OK
Column: Pitch in
Fun fact: The U.S. is one of the most prominent countries with an individualistic culture, meaning autonomy and independence are highly valued. Americans grow up in a society where being self-sufficient is considered necessary, so they can feel pressured to live up to that expectation by taking the first step toward autonomy: moving out.
But really, there should not be a stigma surrounding living with your parents, especially during and after college. The price for higher education in the U.S. is already some of the highest in the world, and students are often left paying off their debt for years after completing their bachelor's degree.
It usually takes students approximately 20 years to fully pay off their debt after college, without including those who go on to pursue graduate degrees, according to a study on student loan payment.
So, why are people still looked down on for staying with their parents? The ideal lifestyle of a young adult is engraved deeply into our culture. And does it mean that living with your parents makes you dependent? Embarrassing? Shameful?
Some people might feel that way, knowing that more than one-third of Americans believe that young adults living with their parents would be deficient for society. But for those with different cultural values or other financial obligations, living at home might be the better option.
Graduating from college and choosing to stay at home might be a more intelligent financial decision for those unable to transition quickly to an independent lifestyle. Not only are you expected to make a stable income on your own, but you are also expected to manage expenses such as rent, student loans and basic amenities straight out of college, which can be a mental and practical challenge that some people are not yet ready to face.
Consider that health insurance can be covered for adult dependents by their parent's plan until age 26, if necessary. Without such a law, young adults would be expected to financially stabilize themselves to afford health insurance on top of other expenses mentioned earlier. Ultimately, society's expectation of immediate independence does not align with the financial reality of most people.
In various other cultures, living with your parents is expected and even normal — multigenerational homes with a tight-knit community are often cherished more than the self-sufficient ideal.
Many Asian cultures, for example, encourage living with multiple generations of family members and providing for one another. For Americans looking to pay tribute to their culture, hearing that others may look down on you for sticking with your parents can be pressuring.
Knowing this, the number of young adults living with their parents has grown recently. In 2023, 2 out of every 5 young adults live at home, and 83 percent of parents are more than OK with it. If both parties are benefiting from the living situation, why should cultural ideals continue to push for immediate independent living?
It all leads back to our attitude toward people's decisions about the future. Living with your parents can help you financially, and having your family's support will push you toward maintaining a solid career and adjusting to adult responsibilities. You can take that time to invest in your future, work on personal goals and build stronger relationships.
Yet, for others, it might be difficult to continue living with family after graduation for various reasons. And that, too, is OK. People should be allowed to make decisions about their future, whether they live alone or with family, without being looked down upon or considered immature.
Having your parents' support when they are willing to give it should not be so embarrassing, especially when you are equally contributing to responsibilities.
Independence, autonomy and responsibility grow from a person's successes and achievements, which can be done by living rent-free in their parents' house while navigating the job market for the first time.
Let this be a wise choice you can make to offer financial stability and time and support to plan your future. You can spend only so much time with your parents, so why not live with them a bit longer?
It is essential to see that independence can be familial. Society must see things from a different perspective to understand the full extent of utilizing the support system around you.
Vaishnavi Konda is a sophomore at Rutgers Business School majoring in business analytics and information technology and minoring in linguistics. Her column, "Pitch In," runs on alternate Sundays.
*Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily reflect the views of the Targum Publishing Company or its staff.
YOUR VOICE | The Daily Targum welcomes submissions from all readers. Due to space limitations in our print newspaper, letters to the editor must not exceed 900 words. Guest columns and commentaries must be between 700 and 900 words. All authors must include their name, phone number, class year and college affiliation or department to be considered for publication. Please submit via email to oped@dailytargum.com by 4 p.m. to be considered for the following day's publication. Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily reflect the views of the Targum Publishing Company or its staff.
