How to Survive Moving Back Home After College: 6 Tips

Whether they like it or not, a lot of college grads end up moving back home after graduation. How much is a lot? Last year, CNN reported that as many as 85% of college grads move back home for one reason or another. So if you’re planning on moving back home, remember that that your situation is more common than not. It might not be a perfect situation, but if you’re getting nervous, follow these tips on how to survive moving home after college:

1. Communicate up front
Moving back in with your parents might feel like a real shock to your system. You probably won’t have quite as much freedom as you did when you were off on your own in college. Remember that despite your accomplishments (and your diploma), your parents might still see you as a kid, or at least, not as a real adult just yet. This is why it’s important to communicate with your family up front. You need to talk about each other’s expectations for your re-entry into the house. It might sound silly&#8212it’s your home after all&#8212but things change. Make sure to talk about privacy, curfews, guests, and anything else that has any potential to cause a rift between you and your folks.

2. Don’t regress
Keep your independence alive. It might be easy to revert back to how things were when you lived at home before college; you might even do it without realizing it! But think of all the independence you’ve gained over the last four years, and don’t let go of that. Be in charge of your own life, your own ambitions, and continue to be self-motivated. If you don’t plan on living at home forever, you need to be proactive in making your plans come to fruition.

3. Contribute
Whether or not you’re asked to pay rent, remember that you’re an adult now; you shouldn’t have to be asked to put your dishes in the dishwasher or to clean up after yourself. This one’s simple: be tidy and help out around the house, and I can guarantee everyone will get along better.

4. Have a long-term plan figured out
If you don’t plan on living home forever, you should definitely map out a long-term plan. How much money will you need to save in order to find a place of your own? Where would you want to move to, what kind of a place would you want to move to, and should you start looking for roommates? When and where should you start applying to jobs? Make a game plan early on, and it will help guide you along while you’re in this state of transition.

5. Set a tentative time limit for yourself
Once you have a game plan, decide what your time limit should be for staying home. It could be three months or three years; everyone’s circumstances are different. Just don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re not moved out by your original deadline. Life for college grads can be tough and unpredictable. Finding a job is difficult, especially in today’s competitive workforce. Just make sure to keep trying, and don’t get too discouraged along the way.

6. Try to appreciate your circumstance
Maybe moving back home after college isn’t’t ideal, but try to stay positive by remembering that you’re actually pretty lucky to have a home to go to. Enjoy the comfort of your old bedroom, the supoprt of your family, and all the potential home cooked meals you’ll get to enjoy.