Still living with your parents? Youre probably bad at this, study warns

Moving back home with Mom and Dad has become surprisingly common for today’s young adults.Nearly half of parents say they have an adult child between the ages of 18 and 35 who has “boomeranged” home for a while, according to a survey by financial services provider Thrivent.It’s not hard to understand why. Entry-level salaries haven’t kept pace with the soaring costs of rent, student loans, and everyday expenses.

For many, moving home can seem like the smartest way to save money and regroup financially.But there’s a hidden trade-off: While boomerang kids often save on rent and groceries, they tend to fall behind their peers when it comes to building strong budgeting habits.Of those who moved back home, less than half (46%) got top marks from their parents for their budgeting skills, compared with 63% of those who never returned home, the Thrivent survey found.“When adult kids move back home, it’s easy for budgeting skills to slide because the stakes feel low,” says Caitlin Slavens, a psychologist and co-founder of Couples to Cradles.“Rent can be free (or almost free), groceries mysteriously appear in the fridge, and Wi-Fi doesn’t come with a payment plan.”In other words, while it might be financially necessary to live rent-free at home, the lack of real-world expenses means budgeting can be easily ignored.“The lack of financial threat makes the push to budget seem optional,” Slavens adds.Stress adds another layer.

Many boomerang kids move home during a rough patch, like from a job loss, breakup, or other life transition.“Their bandwidth may already be stretched to capacity,” says Slavens.“Setting a budget requires executive functioning they may not have in excess.”Patrice Williams-Lindo, a career visibility strategist and CEO of Career Nomad, puts it bluntly: “When adult kids boomerang home, it’s not just about budgeting—it’s about power, privacy, and parenting boundaries that never got a reboot.“Most parents ...