Whether you go to a commuter school with no on-campus dorms or the dorm life at your school is poppin, sometimes it's best to take some time out from the poor student life and save some money by living with your parents. There's no shame in it and it can be very helpful at certain stages. But there's always going to be cons to it as well.
Pros: The most obvious one - You save LOTS of money
Want to have a little extra cash for yourself instead of paying for rent, utilities, laundry, furniture, etc? Your parent's place is where it's at! Maybe then you can even afford to take out that cute guy/girl you've been talking to in class lately. Just don't put them through the awkward situation of meeting your parents unless y'all are getting serious. As long as you have a car they (probably) won't think you're a bum for living at home. But, ya know, as TLC points out, there does come a point when a man should probably stop relying on his mama and his best friend's ride.
Strengthen family relationships
Every family is different, but there's probably at least someone at home that you care about and want to keep a strong connection with. Living away from home always makes you appreciate those relationships 10x more, but at the same time, with your busy schedule, it can be hard to remember to call and check up. And depending on how far away you move, you may not get to see your parents or loved ones often. Living at home for a while will give you the chance to see those loved ones more often, which can be a great benefit to both you and them. Family members can provide good advice and emotional support as you navigate your confusing young adult years.
Having a break from the constant distraction of social life
Dorm life can be really exciting and fun, but when it gets down to it, having your roommates and all your friends around you usually isn't the most conducive to studying and getting the work done that you need to for your classes. Family can be distracting too, but usually not as much so. And maybe you'll have a bedroom all to yourself at home, which also helps. Some people are good at managing distraction and getting their work done, but if you're tired of never being able to study in your apartment or always having to confine yourself to the library in order to focus, then maybe doing a semester at home with fewer distractions would be a good idea.
Cons: You won't feel as "adultish"
Moving out and living on your own is a really big step and a definitive rite of passage. It's the time when you're finally (for the most part) completely dependent on yourself for your own living and survival, which can be both scary and exciting at the same time. That's not to say that you can't be an "adult" and do "adult things" while living at home. You can still own a car, buy your groceries, work a job, and manage your own finances like budgeting and taxes. But still, there are important lessons to be learned in being on your own and paying for all your personal expenses. Besides, it's not really socially acceptable to sit in your parent's basement eating junk food and playing videogames for the rest of your life, so at some point, you're gonna need to plan on getting your own place.
Missing out on social life
Sure, you can still make friends on campus and in your classes while living at home. It's easy to have a social life if you get involved and put yourself out there. But it's just not the same as constantly having roommates and friends around you and a whole apartment complex to party with from time to time. There are definitely some aspects of the college social life you'll be missing out on while living at home.
Parents can sometimes be annoying or embarrassing
No matter how much you love your parents, you probably can recall those moments when they may have made you feel like you wanted to sink into the earth and disappear. You might be hoping that once you're 18, they'll respect more boundaries and all those embarrassing moments from high school will be over. But if your parents were the type to poke fun with you before, they're probably not changing those habits anytime soon. And sometimes moms and dads can be clingy, especially moms. The separation can be painful, but occasionally it's best for mama to learn that she can survive without her little dumpling constantly under her supervision. You are an adult after all, and as hard as it may be for your parents to accept, it may be time for you to gain more independence and make some decisions on your own.
There's definitely a stigma behind living at home once you're in college, but if for financial, emotional, or other reasons now's not the time for you to make the big jump and live on your own, that's totally fine! Don't let people make fun of you for it; everyone has a different timeline and different needs. Still, no matter what stage of life you're at, it's good to consider whether living at home is the best option for you, and to make a plan about how and when you'll go out into the cold, cruel world and learn how to survive and thrive all on your own! Besides, to be perfectly honest, mom and dad probably don't want you hanging around forever. ;)
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