I moved out by the age of 20 and I did pay rent from the time I graduated high school until I left home. I don’t see anything wrong with kids moving back for a short time after they graduate from college. They need a little time to find a job, place to live, etc. But anything beyond that, no. I know a couple of guys - one in his late thirties, the other in his early forties, that still live at home. There is definitely something wrong with that. If I were their parents I would have forced them out a long time ago. And what self-respecting man would still want to live at home at that age?! That’s just embarrassing!

“Good parents give their children Roots and Wings. Roots to know where home is, wings to fly away and exercise what’s been taught them.”
– Jonas Salk

Living with the parents will be more common in the future. It’s really expensive to live in a lot of cities these days and the money that’s saved from renting can be used to buy a home.

I lived with my parents until I was 29. Since I went to commuter college I never left. I contributed to the household but at a much lower rate then I would have paying rent and used the savings for down payment on a condo.

However, even though I left my parents on good terms, I could never go back, and my parents agree. We would probably tear each other apart now, because our lifestyles are now so different.