Getting Over the Stigma

Fact: It Won’t Always be Sunshine and Daisies

Since I’ve been living at home, I’ve had mixed feelings—depressed because I feel stuck at home and I can’t support myself, but sometimes thankful to have been able to improve my relationship with my parents. Sob stories are a dime a dozen, but there is nothing worse than a bunch of bomerangers whining about their lot in life? No, the job market isn’t the same as it was in 1980, and no, wages haven’t necessarily increased to support the cost of living. Yes, the research is true, we are being taught to sacrifice our dreams to pay bills. Guess what? Get. Over. It.

Survival Tips: When life doesn’t even give you a lemon—go out, find one, and make lemonade.

A) Seize the Opportunity: Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Make job searching your full-time job. Even though I am attending school still while at home, I am soon to graduate and apply to jobs on a constant, daily if not weekly, basis. There are some great tips out there on how to get started.

B) Learn From Other Cultures: Here’s the deal- In most other cultures, and even more recently in Canada, you have multiple generations living under the same roof. This isn’t weird to them, and it also isn’t something to be ashamed of. Obviously they were doing something right. Check out this research article to see how they succeeded by emphasizing family values and care for one another. 

C) Don't Let the Stigma Exist: Many researchers and sociologists report that with the rise of boomerang kids, the stigma that previously existed with it is diminishing. Enter and exit your childhood home everyday with your head held high.

Lastly, Don't ever forget to laugh. 

"Money Changes Everything"-Cyndi Lauper

Fact: Money Makes the World Go ‘Round

Sociologists, economists and psychologists have been researching and analyzing various statistics to figure out what brought our unexpected move back home. After much painstaking data collection some of the following reasons were discovered:

Financial problems from high credit 
&student loan debt

Tight job market

Prohibitive cost of housing

Conclusion: according to recent statistics, fewer and fewer children expect to have it better than their parents. Most of us move home with the best of intentions, which is to primarily to save money for major life goals. But when it comes down to putting out money where our mouths are, we find ourselves falling short of our goals. Here are some times for getting that money to stop running away from your bank account:

 Survival Tip: Dust Off Your Calculator

A) Be Your Own Detective: Channel your inner Sherlock Holmes and track your expenses! Be it your morning latte, late night pizza-it’s a cost that needs to be noted. Break down your expenses into those that are fixed (i.e. phone bills/loans) and those that are recreational (going to the movies or out to dinner with friends). Check out the top 7 money saving apps here!

B) Prioritize: Just because you have more money at your disposal doesn’t mean you should go to the bar more or dine out every night. Show your finances (and parents) some respect and responsibility. It’s okay to say “No” sometimes to spending. Trust me, you’re not missing out on much.

C) Words of the Wise: Parents are helping you save money and achieving your crazy life goal of growing up. They also provide great advice on how to get to where you want to be…they were in your shoes once remember? Pick their brain for some money saving tips!

D) Set financial goals: How much do you want to save within a certain time? How much do you need to have saved to feel comfortable moving out? 

Remember: Living at home isn’t suppose to be a free ride to having more fun, it’s to help you push your life forward in the long run. So get achieving those goals! Just for some inspiration...

Social Life 101: Part Two

Fact: Socializing Becomes a Chore

So your social life is hanging by a thread, don’t sit there and cry- Embrace it. No, it won’t be the same as your life at college, but that is just a part of growing up – we all have to stop going to homecoming parties some day. Studies at the Stanford Centre on Longevity have shown that many young adults do become less social as we get older.  But you just spent four years of perfecting the art of socialization, why stop now?

Survival Tip: Get Out There

A) Go Out: Don’t let those horror memories of the suburbs turn you into a social hermit. Trust me on this one – it will keep you sane and give your parents some quality time together that they probably want too. Here are some Girls and Guys night out ideas to get things going. According to the latest Census Reports in Canada, there are plenty of us out there. Use this to band together with friends and laugh over your hardships together. (Julianna is my venting outlet).

My partner in crime

B)  Plan, plan, plan and maybe plan some more: If you’re like me and was the regular host for having friends over at university, then moving home was an absolute nightmare. Best thing to do in this case is plan in advance and inform your parents about your intentions to have people over. Ensure that you have the space “booked” to do so and that your parents understand the proper adult-child guest edict guidelines.

DON’T THROW A RAGER- we’re not 16 anymore guys.But remember: don’t try to force the social life you had at school into the social life you have at home, because they are so different.