When Should You Move Out? 15 Signs It’s Time To Leave Your Parents House
When should you move out of your parents house? Here are 15 signs it’s time to find your own place.
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It can be hard to tell exactly when you should move out of your parents’ house. But with about 18% of Americans now living in multigenerational households, sticking around your childhood home is more common than ever.
The top reason to live with your parents is to save money. Aside from financial milestones, there are other social, mental, and emotional factors that will let you know that it’s finally time to move out.
So if you’re wondering when you should move out, look for these signs—the answer might be right now!
At What Age Should You Move Out Of Your Parents House?
The age at which you should move out of your parents’ house is going to be a little different for everyone.
In the post-pandemic world, about half of Americans between 18 and 29 years old are still living with their parents.
Based on that statistic, you should aim to move out of your parents’ house by the time you’re 30 years old. In some cultures, it’s socially acceptable to live with your parents even longer than that!
However, a lot of people will be ready to go live on their own well before age 30.
What age you should move out of your parents house depends on a few factors:
- Your current financial situation
- How you feel about sharing a space with your parents
- How your parents feel about having you living in their home
- Your preferred social life
Signs It’s Time To Move Out Of Your Parents House
1. You’re Financially Stable
Money is the most common reason Americans are living with their parents into their late 20’s. With skyrocketing costs of living and student debt at an all-time high, this is a perfectly valid reason.
But once you have a steady income, can manage your budget, and make enough to afford rent somewhere else, money isn’t as much of a problem.
If you have a stable job and a robust emergency fund, it’s probably time to spread your wings and leave the nest!
2. You Feel Like You Need Your Own Space
When you’re living with your parents, it’s easy to feel suffocated. It’s their house with their kitchen where they can make their food whenever they want. Every room in the house might start to feel claustrophobic when you know it’s not yours.
If you’re starting to feel like you need your own space to just be, it’s time to move out.
3. Your Friends All Live On Their Own
Comparing yourself to others is natural. It’s a way our brains help us understand where we fit in this social world.
So when all your friends have found freedom by living on their own, it’s an opportunity for you to make changes in your own life.
Rather than staying comfortable in your parents’ house for too long, you can look at all your friends having fun out on their own and say, “That’s my next step.”
4. You Often Fight With Your Parents
If you’re fighting with your parents all the time, it makes for a stressful living environment.
Problems will come up no matter who you live with but living with your parents adds a whole other layer. You’re related, so you’re all more comfortable speaking up about small grievances.
After a while, all the fighting gets old. For your peace of mind (and theirs), it’s time to move out.
5. You’re Heading To College
College is a time to branch out and expand your horizons. You’re entering a whole new world where you’ll meet new people, try new things, and learn inside and outside of the classroom.
This is a time where you’re discovering your independence. And you can’t bring your parents along for the journey.
Most people will either live in student housing or apartments nearby to their college.
If you’re moving into a dorm soon, we have a ton of articles that will help you prepare for living at college:
- 30 Trendy Dorm Room Ideas For College Students In 2022
- 50+ Essential College Roommate Questions To Ask Before Move In Day
- The Best Dorm Shopping Tips You Need To Know Before Moving Into College
- How to Make Your Dorm Bed More Comfortable (Without Spending A Ton)
6. You Want to Expand Your Social Life
Along the same lines, it’s difficult to have a social life as an adult when you’re still living with your parents. If you never bring your friends around your house because your parents are around, odds are you’re getting tired of it.
You’re ready to move out and finally host a game night for your friend group.
7. You’ve Saved Up
Earlier, we established that you should move out of your parents’ house if you have a steady stream of income. An equally important sign is if you have a nice nest egg built up in savings.
This should be enough to pay your bills (including rent) for a couple of months. Once you’ve built up that kind of cash, there’s no longer a strong reason to keep living with your parents.
8. You Always Spend Time Away
Living with your parents probably means that you aren’t bringing your significant other or friends over all the time. It might be at the point where you’re always spending your time at other people’s places just to get away from your own parents.
If a majority of your life is spent avoiding your parents’ house, you’re ready to permanently get out of it.
9. Your Mental Health is Suffering
As you might imagine, living with your parents as an adult has some psychological effects. One effect includes “regressing.” You might physically be an adult, but mentally you’re a teen again, stuck under your parents’ roof.
If your mental health is on the decline due to your living situation, it’s time to look into other options.
10. Your Boundaries Are Nonexistent
Having no boundaries with your parents is another contributing factor to declining mental health. When you’re sharing a common space and have no sense of privacy, there are more instances of people “crossing the line” without thinking about it—especially your parents.
If this is constantly making you tense and uncomfortable, start looking into other housing options.
11. You’ve Been Out of College for a While
After you get out of college, there’s an unspoken grace period where it’s socially acceptable to stay with family and save up until you get your first “real” job. And then there’s the time after the grace period.
Once you’re in this time frame where you’ve established yourself professionally, it’s time to move out of your parents’ house.
12. You’re Sick of Commuting
If you’re living with your parents to save on rent, great. But if your parents live far from your workplace, after a while, you’ll get sick of commuting. The time you’re spending in your car could be better spent doing things you enjoy.
If you’ve been with your parents long enough to get tired of wasting time on the road, it’s time to move out.
13. You Want a Pet
One conflict that can make or break a living situation is pets. If you desperately want a pet but your parents aren’t fans, it’s time to look for a pet-friendly living space.
14. You’re in a Serious Relationship
When you have a significant other and you’re living with your parents, it’s difficult to have them over at your place. There’s no room for your own privacy, much less privacy as a couple.
If you’re looking for a living situation that’s easier on romantic relationships, you’re ready to move out of your parents’ house.
15. Your Parents Have Nudged You Out
And now, for the ultimate sign that you should move out—your parents tell you to. Or they at least hint at it. If a parent says, “Wow, Karen’s daughter just rented the cutest place down the street,” they’re more than likely wanting you to move out. Look out for comments like this. The signs could be right in front of you!
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving Out
How To Tell Your Parents You Want To Move Out
Approaching your parents about wanting to move out can be uncomfortable, but once you overcome the initial conversation, you’ll be glad that you did.
You can ease your parents into this conversation by dropping hints in the weeks leading up to the main conversation.
You might say that your friends have been looking into affordable housing in the area or that you’ve been window shopping for furniture.
When it comes time to tell your parents that you want to move out, make it clear that you’re grateful for the support they’ve given you.
Then, explain how moving out will help you meet your goals and otherwise grow as an individual. They can’t argue with that!
What Is The Average Age To Move Out Of Your Parents House?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median age of moving out of a parent’s house is 19 years old, though 54.6% move back before they’re 27.
So the average age to move out of your parents’ house permanently is somewhere in your early 20’s.
Is It Weird To Live With Your Parents After College?
Due to the rise of multigenerational households in the US in the past few decades, the stigma around living with your parents after college has decreased significantly.
Ultimately, it depends on your social circle whether this living situation is “weird.”
If most of your friends have their own place right out of college, you might feel like an outsider for living with your parents. If not, you might have to deal with the “weirdness” while you’re saving money at your parents’.
This post was all about when you should move out of your parents house.
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