From 2017-2024 I was a big boy, I lived on my own, paid my own bills, and was dating as a bachelor. But life changes, life changes fast. In January of 2024 I moved to a city and state where I didn’t know anyone. It was scary and exciting, everything that I thought it would be. Then in July of 2024 I lost that job, a month of job hunting in the area and I was out of luck. I couldn’t afford to keep looking and had to make a decision, move back in with my parents while working, move to Birmingham, or take a job in a smaller town than I would ever be happy in.
One thing that nobody really prepares you for is the emotional stress of losing a job. After all you still have bills to pay, but now you don’t have the financial replenishment of a paycheck, meals get smaller, further apart, or skipped altogether. It’s especially stressful if you’ve always been bad with money like me. Impulsive purchases, random dinners out, too many drinks, whatever it is, being bad with money is always hard, and being unemployed only makes it harder.
So after spending all of August looking and interviewing all over the Charlotte area and getting no closer to a job I had the three aforementioned job offers. I had to make a decision.
Ultimately I decided to move back in with my parents for the job. It made the most sense, save money to move out, minimize all my other bills. Hell as I type this I’m in what was previously referred to as “my room” but was really just an extra room in their house. I work a good job, much more relaxed than my previous job.
I think that moving back in with my parents has really given me perspective on the things that matter. I feel like we’re closer than we ever were when I was growing up. Maybe it’s because we’re not arguing as much, maybe it’s because I’ve grown up and as a consequence of that know much more about myself.
It is weird, don’t get me wrong. They’re still my parents, I’m still their son, but every so often it feels less like a parent/child relationship and more like roommates. I still pull my weight, earn my keep so to say by helping out around the house with projects and chores. I still do all the adult things that adults do, laundry, dishes, cleaning, but for the most part, I go to work come home, go to sleep, and repeat.
All In all I think moving home has calmed a lot of the mental anguish I felt living on my own. I maintain my own life, as much as I can in a college focused area. I just have some roommates, who happen to be my parents. It’s something that I think some people can really benefit from, and relate to.
WC Fulks 