The Student Room Group

Starting uni, 24, living with parents while at uni

Do you think it’s worth living at home while at uni as a mature student to be able to save money? I’ve lived away from home for the majority of 6 years (brief spells at parents between travelling/working abroad etc) So it feels like a backwards step. However I’m single and don’t want to be house sharing forever (already sick of it)

My student loan and part time job, minus my monthly outgoings, and a bit of spending/socialising money, would leave me with £550 a month. That’s not this year because I’m paying off some debts this year which is why I’m definitely living with my parents for 1st year.

£550 a month seems a lot but where I live there aren’t many shared houses and you’d be lucky to find a one bed for £550 unless it was a total dump. It also would mean I wouldn’t be saving a thing.

If I live with my parents, I can pay of the debt, then save my arse off, then I can move out and even though I probably won’t be in a position to buy, I’ll have some savings behind me so I don’t have to worry about saving LOADS while also paying rent. It might mean living at home until I am 27, But is there any point paying £500+ to rent a bedroom in a shared house in the same area as my parents just for the sake of not living with my parents?
It depends on you really. Whilst saving money can mean living with parents is more ideal, if it affects your social life, your studies and wellbeing, you could look into living away. There might be cheaper places than £550 depending on where you are, so if you think it might be better for you to live away, it is always worth looking into it. If you have no problem, then live with your parents.
If you have a reasonable relationship with your family then why not?
There’s no rule that says you can’t live with parents in your twenties!
My two still do at 25 and 24. They work full time. Housing is incredibly expensive and I’d rather they enjoyed their youth rather than worry about bills!
Plus we do get on incredibly well
If your parents are happy to have you and you chip in with the expenses then use this time to clear your debts and save some money so that when you’re ready and the time comes you’ve got a financial cushion and can live somewhere decent
Good luck with your degree
Reply 3
0mm8
I'm 25 and about to start university next month. I got confirmed for a room in halls, but now I've decided to stay at home as it's only a 20 min commute to uni. This will save about 6k per year (South East), however, I know this living arrangement will stress me out as I have a younger sister who gets left with me to babysit. I occasionally put up with it because I don't get charged rent (my dad insists on not charging rent as he knows i put all my money into savings for a house deposit).
I'm going to trial this for my first year. If I'm unhappy then I'll look for a room on Spareroom (a great website) or team up with fellow students for a place.
I think you should give it a trial as long as you know staying with parents won't prevent you from studying or getting to uni.
Original post by HJ999
Do you think it’s worth living at home while at uni as a mature student to be able to save money? I’ve lived away from home for the majority of 6 years (brief spells at parents between travelling/working abroad etc) So it feels like a backwards step. However I’m single and don’t want to be house sharing forever (already sick of it)

My student loan and part time job, minus my monthly outgoings, and a bit of spending/socialising money, would leave me with £550 a month. That’s not this year because I’m paying off some debts this year which is why I’m definitely living with my parents for 1st year.

£550 a month seems a lot but where I live there aren’t many shared houses and you’d be lucky to find a one bed for £550 unless it was a total dump. It also would mean I wouldn’t be saving a thing.

If I live with my parents, I can pay of the debt, then save my arse off, then I can move out and even though I probably won’t be in a position to buy, I’ll have some savings behind me so I don’t have to worry about saving LOADS while also paying rent. It might mean living at home until I am 27, But is there any point paying £500+ to rent a bedroom in a shared house in the same area as my parents just for the sake of not living with my parents?

If you have a close relationship with your parents I think you should stay with them for all the reasons you said
Original post by HJ999
Do you think it’s worth living at home while at uni as a mature student to be able to save money? I’ve lived away from home for the majority of 6 years (brief spells at parents between travelling/working abroad etc) So it feels like a backwards step. However I’m single and don’t want to be house sharing forever (already sick of it)

My student loan and part time job, minus my monthly outgoings, and a bit of spending/socialising money, would leave me with £550 a month. That’s not this year because I’m paying off some debts this year which is why I’m definitely living with my parents for 1st year.

£550 a month seems a lot but where I live there aren’t many shared houses and you’d be lucky to find a one bed for £550 unless it was a total dump. It also would mean I wouldn’t be saving a thing.

If I live with my parents, I can pay of the debt, then save my arse off, then I can move out and even though I probably won’t be in a position to buy, I’ll have some savings behind me so I don’t have to worry about saving LOADS while also paying rent. It might mean living at home until I am 27, But is there any point paying £500+ to rent a bedroom in a shared house in the same area as my parents just for the sake of not living with my parents?


Don't see moving back with parents as a backwards step. In today's age its perfectly normal for twenty somethings to live with parents/move back with them. I'm 26 and living with my parents. I moved back in with them after finishing university and have no plans to move out again in the near future.

So cast that aside and think about you. Will you be happy enough living back home? Will your parents let you maintain the same level of independence you are used to? Will they expect you to pay some rent? How will the commute be? Many universities have limited parking on campus for students so you may have to take public transport. How would that be?
Original post by HJ999
Do you think it’s worth living at home while at uni as a mature student to be able to save money? I’ve lived away from home for the majority of 6 years (brief spells at parents between travelling/working abroad etc) So it feels like a backwards step. However I’m single and don’t want to be house sharing forever (already sick of it)

My student loan and part time job, minus my monthly outgoings, and a bit of spending/socialising money, would leave me with £550 a month. That’s not this year because I’m paying off some debts this year which is why I’m definitely living with my parents for 1st year.

£550 a month seems a lot but where I live there aren’t many shared houses and you’d be lucky to find a one bed for £550 unless it was a total dump. It also would mean I wouldn’t be saving a thing.

If I live with my parents, I can pay of the debt, then save my arse off, then I can move out and even though I probably won’t be in a position to buy, I’ll have some savings behind me so I don’t have to worry about saving LOADS while also paying rent. It might mean living at home until I am 27, But is there any point paying £500+ to rent a bedroom in a shared house in the same area as my parents just for the sake of not living with my parents?


Hi there,

It depends what you are wanting to get out of the University experience? Nowadays you need to take advantage of things like societies, sports clubs, volunteering, careers department in order to make more value of the money you spend on University. If you can do all those whilst living at home then I dont see why not. What course are you going to study?

Have a good look around to see if you can find somewhere less than that £550 as that seems really expensive even for a studio.

A few of my friends do commute from home and they dont seem to mind it, it does get difficult when they try to stay out late and have to stay over at someone elses because its too far to get home at that time. But if you are saying your parents house would be close I guess that wouldnt be a problem.

Personally I feel like I loose a bit of independence every summer having to move home so personally after having that freedom of living away I wouldnt want to permanently go back to living at home as I dont like who I am when I live t home as find it more difficult to get out and about because its easy to save money and enjoy the comforts of home.

Hope that helps,

Chandni
I am living at home, mine! Its an hours commute each way so once semester starts, Ill be there for the day and read etc. Treat it like a normal job and stay focused, thats my plan. Im 46..
Reply 9
Original post by HJ999
Do you think it’s worth living at home while at uni as a mature student to be able to save money? I’ve lived away from home for the majority of 6 years (brief spells at parents between travelling/working abroad etc) So it feels like a backwards step. However I’m single and don’t want to be house sharing forever (already sick of it)

My student loan and part time job, minus my monthly outgoings, and a bit of spending/socialising money, would leave me with £550 a month. That’s not this year because I’m paying off some debts this year which is why I’m definitely living with my parents for 1st year.

£550 a month seems a lot but where I live there aren’t many shared houses and you’d be lucky to find a one bed for £550 unless it was a total dump. It also would mean I wouldn’t be saving a thing.

If I live with my parents, I can pay of the debt, then save my arse off, then I can move out and even though I probably won’t be in a position to buy, I’ll have some savings behind me so I don’t have to worry about saving LOADS while also paying rent. It might mean living at home until I am 27, But is there any point paying £500+ to rent a bedroom in a shared house in the same area as my parents just for the sake of not living with my parents?


Sounds like living with your parents will be fine - you are not complaining about it at all. £6k a year is a lot of money (assuming £500 a month on rent) - even with a good professional job its a lot. You need to pay off any debts anyway. I'd stay at home for at least a year
Hii there !!In todays day, you shouldnt feel bad about living with your parents; it helps a lot if your close to your parents !!. I am also 24 too and just graduated!!.

I saved myself a lot of money by not moving out more than 15k!.Its up to you, but remember dont feel ashmed just because everyone else is doing it.Hope it helps x
(edited 5 years ago)

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