Pros & Cons of Moving in with Relatives
Making the decision to move in with family, whatever the reason, can be a difficult one to make, but rest assured that you're not the only one who has to deal with the choice. According to a 2010 article by Sam Roberts of the New York Times, more 25 -to-39-year-olds in the United States have been living in their parents' homes than before 2000. From 2000 to 2008, the percentage rose by 32 percent, with 20 percent of people in that age group living in multigenerational households. There are many pros and cons to moving in with any family members. Make sure to think it over carefully before making your decision.
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Financial Burden - Con
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One of the hard things about moving in with family is figuring out a good financial situation. Unless your family is well off and doesn't want you to pay a dime, you may find yourself sweating to make payment due dates, and also feeling incredibly guilty if you can't make them.
Financial Leniency - Pro
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If your family is financially stable enough to let you live there payment free, there is no problem if you can't make a payment. However, even if you have agreed to make payments such as rent or utilities, then maybe as family they'll be a bit more lenient if you need to make the payment a little later than normal.
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Close Quarters - Con
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Though you may love your family very much, living so close together can still drive you and them crazy, especially if the house you're all living in wasn't meant to house so many people. You may wind up taking over space by have to sleep on the couch, or piling your stuff in their garage. You don't want your close family relationship to go downhill because you chose to live there.
Simple Living - Pro
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Sometimes being closer to your family can be good for your relationship. If you or someone else in the family has been feeling distant, living in the same home can sometimes reignite the closeness you once felt. If the house size is smaller than your family size, though, then you may be able to learn to live like a minimalist and be happy with having fewer material things and furniture.
Head of Household - Con
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When moving in with family, one of the bigger hurdles adults face is obeying the rules of the person who heads the household. Unless you and your family decided to move into a new place together, the house you're moving into is theirs and they may have rules and ways of living that may not be a good fit with your way of life.
Improving the Environment - Pro
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Living with your family can affect more than just your life and those that you're moving in with. If you're living in the same home, you're sharing lights, so therefore not using as much electricity as you would, or using less gas if that's the way the home is heated. You may also be able to cut down on carbon emissions from cars if you shop for groceries and other items together instead of in separate cars. Since you're bringing it all back to the same place, it makes sense to do it in one trip.
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References
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