So you’ve graduated! Hooray. Unless you’re incredibly lucky and have managed to get some high powered ridiculously well paid banking grad scheme (though: warning alert) it’s quite likely that you’ll be moving back in with your parents. This is going to be a weird and possibly challenging time so be prepared.
You:
It’s possible that you haven’t been living with your parents full time since you were doing A-Levels. This is NOT an excuse to revert back to teenage behaviour.
Your parents are not your housemates, which can have pros and cons: pros more chance of getting a nice meal. Cons: probably not so keen on you having a party.
Door slamming, rooms full of dirty cups, and last nights tights on the floor might have been fine at your uni house but might not be so cool at Casa Mum and Dad. Do your best to be tidy, too. They might not be so keen on having their lovely new office converted back into your bedroom.
If your parents are financially supporting you make an effort to look for a job. They’ll be a lot happier to fund your broadband usage if you’re going off to interviews every now and again, rather than binge watching* Orange Is The New Black.*
If you have got a job use this time to save as much as you can, and put it into the highest interest ISA you can find. You’ll probably never pay rent this low again so make the most of it. Plus: your parents will be super impressed with your financial responsibilty.
Make the best of it. You probably had a lot worse flatmates to contend with at uni. And there's definitely more where they came from.
When you do move out it will be back to seeing each other the occasional weekend and Christmas, so it can actually be nice to get to know your parents as adults. Get them to teach you all the things you should have learnt before uni like how to actually iron a shirt without burning yourself. Or, you know, cooking.
*Your Parents:
**
Your child will probably have changed quite a bit at university. They went away as a teenager but have come back as a fully formed adult. Whatever bad habits they had at 15 might have disappeared so try and be optimistic.
Decide what contribution you want your child to make, whether that’s through cooking, laundry, or simply rent. Stick to it religiously as a way to stop needless arguments. If you’re getting them to pay rent set up a standing order.
Try and be a bit understanding. Imagine if you had to move back in with your parents now. Decide what your expectations are and try and be fair.
Follow Sophie on Twitter @sophie_gadd
Picture: Sevgi
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.