Pros & Cons of Moving in With Relatives

Saving money is the most common reason people move in with relatives, according to the website CatholicMatch. If the recession is putting a financial squeeze on you, decide how much you would need to save to make living with your family worth it. If you are moving in with mom and dad, they may cover the bills, while you pay something toward rent. If you move in with your brother and his wife, they might expect half the mortgage. If that's the case, save yourself the grief. Find an apartment. Get a roommate.

If you move in with mom and dad, you will have access to cool stuff you can't afford. Your laptop monitor is nothing compared to that 60-inch LCD television on their family room wall. Their recliner beats your desk chair hands down. As for their washer and dryer, the laundromat can't compare. If you're lucky, mom will take care of a load here and there.

When you move back to the old homestead, it might feel as though you never left. Everyone could fall into the roles they held before. No matter how old you are, those patterns are hard to break. Brace yourself for that inevitable moment when someone asks, "Where are you going?" "What time will you be home?" "Do I know his family?"

Is there anything you'd rather your parents not know? If so, kick the habit or accept that it will become common knowledge. The first time you come home from a nasty day at work and pour yourself a drink, the relative you live with will be on the phone, calling your mom to tell her you have a drinking problem. Forget inviting friends over – unless, of course, you don't mind grandma taking a seat beside you on the sofa. You might not have privacy with a roommate, but at least he won't call your mother.

If you do live with relatives, set ground rules. If your family needs to reach you when you're out, they can call your cell. You are not going to give them a detailed itinerary. Establish that your room is your space, and no one should enter without asking permission. If you are not contributing financially, figure out how to assist the household -- help with chores, cook meals or babysit. This reminds everyone that you are not a kid anymore. For the sake of sanity, keep a goal in mind – know when you are moving out.