In getting annoyed that a lack of a mortgage is given as an excuse for not leaving home?

[lesley33]

I am 47 and I know my generation has a higher proportion of people owning their own homes than there will probably be in the current younger generation. But I went to university and after people left university I don't know anyone who bought their own house straight away. Everyone I knew rented, sometimes for a very long time and at least for a few years, before buying a house/flat.

And yet I hear/read all the time - well he/she can't leave home as they can't afford a mortgage - usually with the implication that it was different for my generation.

AIBU in getting annoyed at this? I am aware that mumsnet seems to be full of people on a much higher income than average so I do expect postings of - well everyone I know was bought a house by their parents and I can't afford to do that for my DCs. But that really was the exception and preserve of rich people.

When I graduated (90s) I don't know of a single person who bought their own house or went back to their parents - everyone lived in shared flats, moved around, tried different jobs, worked abroad, went back to studying etc. Owning severely reduces your flexibility and is something that I would never have considered until my 30s, when I had settled into a long term job and was thinking about DCs etc.

We have had to move in with my mum with DH being made redundant. Rent for a one bed flat plus corresponding CT left £30 a month for everything else.

Living with my mum is over crowded and pretty hellish tbh. However the alternative is a cardboard box, perhaps you would prefer we took that option OP.

YABU.

Most recent graduates I know can't even afford to rent. Although to be fair everyone I know in this situation is in London/South East.

It's so much cheaper to live/rent when you're at uni, but then suddenly when you finish all the perks of being a student also go away like student discount (not just the fun 10% of clothes aspect but also things like half price travel) and no council tax. Also, when you're a student landlords know you get your loan coming in every term. It's much harder to rent when you are on a temp contract unless you have references/guarantors etc which not everyone has.

And then of course there are all these unpaid, and usually in central London internships that we have to do before anyone will hire us.