Living Off Your Parents

There are a lot of people I see that live off their parents for way too long. I just don't think this is acceptable. Parents raise their children, and at age 18 that child should be ready to take care of themselves. Most people, including myself, rely on their parents to get through college...and that is fine. But their comes a time, and that time is graduation from college when it's time to cut the chord.

With today's poor economy, I can't blame anyone for moving in with their parents to either save money or out of necessity since they lost their job. But there's a difference between moving in with your parents and living off your parents...and that difference is money.

When you leave school and step into the world, you should pay all of your bills. That means groceries, insurance, cell phone, gas, etc. If you graduate from college and you can't find a job, then get a temporary one at the hardware store and pay your own bills even if you still live under your parent's roof. How can anyone feel like they are worth their salt if their parents still pay their medical or car insurance?

I just don't think you are respecting yourself or your parents if they are paying bills you should be paying for yourself...especially into your mid-late 20s, heaven forbid 30s. If you fall on hard times and they help you out, that is fine. But if you are spending your money going out to eat and are borrowing to pay the electric bill? And if you are married and you let your parents keep paying any bills at all, then you are just despicable.

JB