During university, I stayed at home — as did my siblings at different times and for varying durations — and it had zero negative impact on us mentally, emotionally, or financially. In our household, loans were seen as debts that could snowball into serious problems, so we made every effort to avoid them.
Many argue that living at home stops you from gaining essential life skills or finding work. That’s simply not true. You can absolutely learn those skills while living with family — the difference is whether parents actually teach them, or whether the children have been too pampered to bother learning.
In 2025, if you’re near a university, opportunities exist. Start looking for work nearby, and expand your search gradually. What matters most isn’t your postcode — it’s ambition and determination. A motivated person willing to work hard can thrive while living at home, and move out when the right opportunity arises. That’s exactly what I did when I landed a job in another city. My three adult siblings still live with our parents, all in well-paid jobs, and it works for them.
Yet on Mumsnet I’ve seen plenty of posts claiming that living with your parents is a sign of “mental illness” or “stunted development.” Honestly? Absolute nonsense.
It's possible to make friendships, attend parties, join societies, and spend money on ridiculous, useless things while still calling it the "university experience," even if you're living at home with your parents.
In modern British culture, there’s a strong push for children to move out at 18 and never return. Many parents even prefer minimal contact after that. I’m grateful my parents — without any grand philosophy — happened to go against that trend.
Living at home during uni doesn’t make you less independent. It just means you’re making a different, often more financially sensible choice — one that more people should see for what it is: practical, not shameful.