Chris O'Shea
If you have an adult child who lives at home and has overstayed their welcome, you’re not alone. A 2016 study from the Pew Research Center found that 15 percent of 25-to-35-year-olds were living in their parents’ home. While you might be allowing your adult children to move back home so they can get on their feet financially, there’s no doubt that the change will drain your bank account. So what are you to do? Below are some tips for how to deal with an adult child who should move out.
Make your rules early. The earlier you set expectations for your adult child the better. Discuss when you want them to move out, what is expected of them around the house, how much cash is needed for bills, etc. If you don’t set guidelines early things are more likely to go haywire down the line.
Be strict. Once those rules are set, you need to stick to them. If the guidelines aren’t enforced, there’s a chance your adult child could take advantage of you. They might ignore the moving out deadline or “forget” to chip in for bills. A hardline approach will make things much easier on you.
Don’t let them have it easy. As US News reports, some adult children enjoy living at home because it’s comfortable. If your end goal is to get them to leave your roof, make it a little uncomfortable for them. We’re not saying you need to be mean, just keep them on their toes. Treat them more like tenants, ask for proof of job searches, set a curfew — all little things that will make them less likely to stick around.
Help out with the move. As the deadline for moving out approaches, do what you can to help them out. Conduct mock job interviews so they’re less nervous when they visit their potential employer. Go apartment or home shopping with them and lend them any sage advice you might have from your own experiences. The more you help them with the transition out of your home, the less likely they are to ever return.
