Moving Out: A nessisary need for life, or an inconvienent cultural item?

[Blue Tempest]

We're constantly told in the western world that as soon as we start college or turn 18, we have to move out of our parents home. It's become just a matter-of-fact that life just conveniently gives you the tools needed to survive at that exact age.

But not only is it a lot harder to keep a job (let alone get one) in the current economy, but it's incredibly difficult to have a job that pays for an apartment AND college as well. On top of that, there are constant stories and reports of thousands of college students moving right back in with their parents after their done with college.

Some say that we have to move out because we need to learn responsibility and to go out on our own. But by our very definition of humans being a social animal, being alone is akin to suicide. Why should we arbitrarily force ourselves to hardship and toil when it's unneeded? because it's some modern-made concept of what an "adult" is? There are plenty of cultures around the world that have definitions about what makes an "adult" that we would consider weird or even outright barbaric, so why should we automatically this one in particular can be any less weird?

My grandma, who is latino, adamantly REFUSED to let my mom or any of my aunts and uncles to move out of the house while in college because she believed that education was the most important aspect, that it is too much to have to divide your time between having and keeping a job and getting an education.

What do you all think? Agree or disagree?

[Jannah]

I think moving out can be a good thing, especially if you're somebody like me who is introverted and doesn't really get along with their parents. I live in my father's basement and I have aspergers so am often treated like a child, having no privacy and such. I have my own independent decisions I try to make that are hard to live by here such as wanting to eat vegetarian(he's a heavy meat eater).

Moving out can be hard though when you haven't worked for five years and are too intellectually inclined for minimum wage places to even want to hire you(I don't have any proper qualifications to work in anything higher up either). Thankfully I'm getting into subsidized housing soon in the city so I can take some university courses. I grow so bored since I live in a small town, don't work, or go to school.

[Hellis]

Good thing if the individual has the financial means, the mental stability and responsibility for it. It helped me mature a lot as a person and learn many important lessons in life..

[Christiefries]

For financial reasons, I think it best to remain living with your parents/guardians until college is completed and a steady job has been obtained. If parents are not alive, attempt to acquire roommates. If you do not get along with either parents or roommates, try your best to find replacements. Money is a very important thing to have, and if you can learn to tolerate others, it will help you in more ways than one.

Living completely on your own should be only considered if you can be mentally and financially capable of providing for yourself. Doing otherwise would actually prove yourself to be not responsible and will hurt you in the long run. If you can however pull it off, you will learn things at a faster rate. You do not have to live completely on your own to mature, and life lessons will be learned regardless, just in a different way.

[Hank]

"the western world"

That's America. Not a thing in Europe as far as I know.

[Dervish]

I had moved out of my parent's after college as a temp worker, and I found it both liberating and enjoyable, but also terrifying in the sense that if you aren't on a career path and earning just enough for food and rent and insurance, phone, and internet payments plus a bit more, one major expense really sets you back. It's hard to save money when earning minimum wage, and having a car break down, needing time off work, or whatever hits hard. It can take you years to make it back where you were. The second time I moved out, I had an excelnt, secure job lined up an moved across the country. I pay more in taxes than I earned at my last job and I can actually sustain myself, afford nice things,and still have substantial funds for putting into savings. A word of advice, do not moveout until you're starting a career and not a dead end, minimum wage job. As for the social animal thing, I'm fine on my own, even 3500 kilometers from any family or old friends. You make new friends and modern life has an abundance of ways to keep in touch. The hardest part about moving back home is after having independance for so long, suddenly you have to go by what your parents want and you often get treated like a kid instead of an adult. It becomes grating for both parents and kids because you're pretty much a leeching presence on their income, and whatever you do affects their life and enjoyment of the house they own. Want to listen to music loudly? Good luck when you move back. Inviting friends over? Better hope they aren't loud and after your parents go to bed. Want to eat your own meals? With what room in the fridge? Honestly, it's incredibly difficult to co-exist when you're done school. My parents basically were on my ass to get a good job on a weekly basis, even though the economy tanked. It's hard for them to understand what it's like growing up in this generation when they're well into stable careers and you can't get your foot in the door.

[Blue Tempest]

Interestingly enough, the whole concept of moving out of the house at 18/college is a relatively recent thing, starting in the Post-WW2 era. Which doesn't help the fact that the economy was MUCH better in the US during that period then it is today.

[Brovo]

Depends on the individual and their family.

For me, I'm working on moving out within the next two years, because I'm a loner by nature. I prefer to be alone except when I desire the company of family or friends. (Though, I don't all that often.) Ergo, it would be better for me to move out, to live on my own, because I'm happier and healthier that way mentally than I am stuck living with others. (Especially family.)

For others, it could be very different. Some people prefer to remain in family homes, for example.

As it stands: I'm not moving out until I secure a decent paycheck, stable job, and enough savings to survive six months without financial aid from others if necessary. I can spend several months/a couple years to do this, even.

Have a good job though. So.

Just dat paycheck and savings need a wee bit of work.

That, and I'm stuck in a union. *_*

[Jannah]

That, and I'm stuck in a union. *_*

What's wrong with unions? Are you anti-union? Blasphemy! It's because of them you have work safe conditions and a weekend.

I'm not trying to start a debate, I'm just curious.

[Hellis]

Unions are good thou, protects you from alot of shit. Atleast over here.

That said. I live with family as there is nearly no housing where I live. It's slowly killing me, becouse I am not allowed to be myself, and I have to adjust to others comfort.