College grads, live at home or move out?

I'm 23, graduated Spring 06, moved back home, and started working in September 06. It's cool to see our products making the hot deals here. You guys sure take advantage of some of the deals from our retailers. I see the bills from them and it can be

I work in Orange County, CA and drive about 35 miles one way. Because of traffic it takes me 1.5 hour each way. Most of the employees at the company I am working for are a lot older than me, so they are living on their own. Even though I have a professional job, I feel like a child since I don't live on my own. I feel kind of embarass to tell people that, and it doesn't help when trying to meet a potential date.

Should I move out or not? Here is my situation:

Only bills I really have is a cell phone, dish network, gas, clothes, entertainment, eating out, etc.
Living at home- No rent, no grocery shopping. Will save about 25K in 2007. 15K in 401k, and 10K in other investments.
Only debt is 10K student loan, no need to pay it off early, so I will pay off in about 10 years.
My future goals are to obtain an MBA and have a house/condo/townhome. I don't see myself being a homeowner anytime soon due to the prices in California but would like to have one by the time I'm 27.

So what would you do?

financially speaking, live home.
socially speaking, move out.

MySilverEX00 said:
So what would you do?

I moved out when I was 17, joined the army, used the army college fund to get an education.

What was the question? Oh yeah, I'd get a girl friend to spilt rent with and live a lot closer to work. 3 hours a day in traffic, no thanks.

IMO, your living at home is not the cause of making you feel like a child nor is it something that I would be totally embarrassed about, it's the fact that you are freeloading which I find bothersome. that is the reason why you like living at home, isn't it? contribute to your household that you live in, or move out - either of these options would make you more adult-like

kaiotes said:
go check out tom leykis man....


LOL. I do listen to him on my drive home to work.</blockquote>

ff

this horse has been beat dead...dead...dead.

my advice? get a roommate (girlfriend or not), move out and live someplace reasonably priced with a much shorter commute and visit the P's on the weekend to do your laundry and eat. Financially you might like living with the P's now(saving money etc...) but unless you like living under someone elses rules and reliving the script to "Failure to Launch", it's better to be in your own place for your own mental well being and....ahhheeemm....love life.

ask SIS he still lives at home and he is in his thirties!!!

vinhboy said:

LOL get a girlfriend? That's like trying to put out a fire by pouring gasoline on it.


kaiotes said: are you kidding me? get a gf to live w/ u?
girls are the cheapest creatures on earth, they will drain your wallet like crazy. they will make U buy useless junk that they will never use. they will waste utilities etc etcetc.
go check out tom leykis man....

It sounds like if you want to live the true FW lifestyle you need to be either celibate or gay?

My situation is similar to yours, only a three year difference.

Your social life is whatever you make of it. In my experience,
there is a lot of young professionals doing exactly the same thing --
I'm sure if you find that someone, you'll feel its the right time to move
out.

Pay rent to your parents and help out on various expenses (whether you stay or not)
at the least if you have the means. You were their burden for probably 18+ years and its just giving a little back.

Cut the commute (mine is 15-20 minutes) and get better hours if possible.
Keeping the weekends/nights open is a must if you want to do stuff.

Make a list of things you want to do. It took me a year to figure that one
out and I enjoy things a lot more (travel abroad, e.g: canada, asia, etc.)

kaiotes said: are you kidding me? get a gf to live w/ u?
girls are the cheapest creatures on earth, they will drain your wallet like crazy. they will make U buy useless junk that they will never use. they will waste utilities etc etcetc.
go check out tom leykis man....

well, look for a rich girlfriend then

oh yea, only girlfriends spend all the money?

Plenty of guys are stupid with their money, buying to much car, to much TV, to many gadgets, etc

Although I think it could be disastrous for plenty of other reasons.

MySilverEX00 said: I'm 23, graduated Spring 06, moved back home, and started working in September 06. It's cool to see our products making the hot deals here. You guys sure take advantage of some of the deals from our retailers. I see the bills from them and it can be

I work in Orange County, CA and drive about 35 miles one way. Because of traffic it takes me 1.5 hour each way. Most of the employees at the company I am working for are a lot older than me, so they are living on their own. Even though I have a professional job, I feel like a child since I don't live on my own. I feel kind of embarass to tell people that, and it doesn't help when trying to meet a potential date.

Should I move out or not? Here is my situation:

Only bills I really have is a cell phone, dish network, gas, clothes, entertainment, eating out, etc.
Living at home- No rent, no grocery shopping. Will save about 25K in 2007. 15K in 401k, and 10K in other investments.
Only debt is 10K student loan, no need to pay it off early, so I will pay off in about 10 years.
My future goals are to obtain an MBA and have a house/condo/townhome. I don't see myself being a homeowner anytime soon due to the prices in California but would like to have one by the time I'm 27.

So what would you do?

live at home if you have family value

mhesidence said:
Interesting that no one has told kaiotes off for this ugly stereotyping of women.

Because for MOST women (not they type that read FWF) it's true?

caonima said: ...live at home if you have family value...

That too.

Op, I would move out simply to find a closer location to work. Having a tough commute just drains so much out of your morning and night. Before you know it, you'll be come dependent on your parents cooking/ cleaning just like how it was before you left for college. In the long run, the longer you stay, the harder the transition to independence it will be, with or without a girlfriend.

When I graduated, I had the option to move back home (Went to school at a neighboring city) but decided to stay with roommates as we all got jobs after graduation locally. We are all independent and get along well, you might want to try the same thing. Might next step is getting a place of my own once enough capitol is saved.

packratmarty said: oh yea, only girlfriends spend all the money?

Plenty of guys are stupid with their money, buying to much car, to much TV, to many gadgets, etc

Although I think it could be disastrous for plenty of other reasons.

i think the point being made was that way too many girlfriends/wives revel in spending all their bf's/hubby's income, not just their own... like Gabrielle Solis in Desperate Housewives...

whereas guys who don't work but spend all the money their gfs/wives can earn on expensive clothes and jewellery might be hard to find LOL....

mind you, i'm not the one complaining; i'm just explaining the complaint against financially irresponsible women... personally, i like Gabrielle Solis; what's the point of earning money if there isn't somebody to make use of it ? ....

Anakin

I'm in a similar situation -

I graduated when I was 22 and I'm now 25 and still living at home with the folks. About 2 years ago, my parents bought a new home and I had decided to take a part in the purchase (I didn't pitch in for the downpayment, but I do pay $1k/month for part of the mortgage) - this is for a home in the Bay Area.

I don't make a ton, so it would be somewhat difficult for me to pay mortgage and shell out some more money for rent, although it is possible. I did move out briefly for a few months (found a bargain rental), but returned home after the owners decided to sell the place.

Bottom line - I do want to move out but I can't (comfortably) since I have a partial mortgage to pay. While I like the fact that my money is going towards the purchase of a home - I'm stuck living with the folks. And who knows how long we're going to keep the home for? What if I'm stuck here for the next 10 years?

Ideally, I would have liked to purchase my own home and then rent out some of the rooms. That way, I would be able to live on my own and have the rental payments offset some of the mortgage. But on the downside, I don't have enough saved up even for a downpayment...

As long as you're not ready to get married or have a serious love life, and your parents enjoy having you there, stay!

But, as others have said, even if your parents are financially secure, consider making some sort of payment. Take care of the electric, water, and phone bills. Or do a grocery shop once a week. SOMEthing, so that you are a contributing member of the household.

23 and unattached -- NOW is the time to make the big bucks. Get your MBA, take the second job, and start investing. Without the worry of the yard, whether you have toilet paper or coffee, home maintenance, etc. Sounds like you have it made!

i graduated summer of 2005. i do consulting so i travel from time to time. in any case, i suggest you live at home for a year and save enough money for a downpayment on a place. that's what i did. just purchased my condo and waiting for escrow to close.

gluck

jopher34 said:

Cut the commute (mine is 15-20 minutes) and get better hours if possible.
Keeping the weekends/nights open is a must if you want to do stuff.
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Cut the commute...see if you can find another job that is closer...
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