Anonymous wrote:I agree that the headline of this post is obnoxious and honestly it’s incredibly smart to allow the kids to come home and save for a few years after college. Just like a kid graduating without any student loans is going to have a leg up so is one who can save a few years of rent staying in what would be an unused basement.
By coincidence the best job offer my kid got after college was back in this area. I’m happy to have him move to my basement (not back into his old bedroom). He can be my roommate. No expectation of me behaving like his mom. He can have people stay overnight and he can live his life and I can do the same. He just won’t have to spend one paycheck on rent at a crappy apartment or house. I think Michelle Singletary is doing her kids a huge favor by allowing it and it’s a financially savvy decision.
Anonymous wrote:I know very few single adult college grads who are DC metro natives and actually rent. Makes more sense to stay at home and repurpose that basement for a while, until you can build up savings. The rent is too high.
Anonymous wrote:This is Michelle Singletary. I object to the headline. If you read my columns, you will see our children's choice to live at home is not a failure to launch but a financial triumph. As a family, we discussed what was the most economical way for them to launch. And living at home rent-free in exchange for saving thousands a month will be a game changer for them. One daughter is saving 15% of her income for retirement while also investing in a non-retirement account. She plans to save most of her salary for a downpayment on a home. Our son is on the autism spectrum and he's saving for the time he will also be able to leave and go right into home ownership. The same for our youngest child, who is an educator. Right now, all three of our children have more saved than many people we know who are making six-figure salaries. They are very money-savvy. In many cultures, it is not a sign of failure to live at home. It's being money smart.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it seems like a reasonable and responsible set-up. Taking what she says at face value, they contribute to the household and are saving. I assume she lives in the DC area - rents are ridiculously high.
I find this set up a whole lot less off-putting than parents helping their adult MC kids with a down payment or daycare expenses.
I guess I feel the complete opposite. Parents helping with downpayments and daycare promotes independence and living on their own. It also lets their kids have the grandchildren quicker. Most people have no trouble paying the day to day expenses of kids but those daycare years are impossible. I pay 4k a month in daycare for my kids.
Anonymous wrote:Glad she chimed in but really delusional premise in this thread...WHY NOT set your kids up for success? Look at all the parents who launched their kids only to have them return after a job loss sinking in debt because nobody took the time to show them how to be financially savvy...I did the same with mine and allowing them to stay home after college gave them the time and $ to save, max out their 401Ks and ROTHs and build in that retirement planning discipline, pay off student loans, no new flashy cars, no crippling credit card debt, all following Michelle's advice!
Anonymous wrote:This is Michelle Singletary. I object to the headline. If you read my columns, you will see our children's choice to live at home is not a failure to launch but a financial triumph. As a family, we discussed what was the most economical way for them to launch. And living at home rent-free in exchange for saving thousands a month will be a game changer for them. One daughter is saving 15% of her income for retirement while also investing in a non-retirement account. She plans to save most of her salary for a downpayment on a home. Our son is on the autism spectrum and he's saving for the time he will also be able to leave and go right into home ownership. The same for our youngest child, who is an educator. Right now, all three of our children have more saved than many people we know who are making six-figure salaries. They are very money-savvy. In many cultures, it is not a sign of failure to live at home. It's being money smart.
Anonymous wrote:I have no issue with this: her kids are financially savvy.
I do wonder about local life coaches/parenting coaches with kids with rather pronounced issues…