New American Dream: Graduate Then Move Home

According to CollegeGrad.com “Among 2009 U.S. college graduates, 80 percent moved back home with their parents after graduation, up from 77 percent in 2008, 73 percent in 2007, and 67 percent in 2006.”

Why should you go to college and become thousands of dollars in debt, to have a low salary job and still live home with you parents? This is not the American Dream, but it is the stepping stone to obtaining the American Dream in 2009. You earned your degree and this gives you hope. It becomes a lot easier to market yourself with that degree. Even though, now a Bachelor’s just isn’t enough to make it. After the degree you get a job, you gain experience you either move up in the company or you find a better job that pays more. Your college degree puts you in the place to become successful, but it’s your work ethic that will help you become successful.

Does moving home with your parents make you unsuccessful? No. It is a smart move and probably the best move most college graduates can make. Either you move in with a roommate and struggle or move in by yourself and struggle or go back to school and struggle. Either option you do more than likely you will be broke. Of course there are few exceptions. The best options are: go back to school and get your Master’s or Doctorate, or move back home with your parents and start your career. If you decide to move back home, most college grads still have their same room, unless your parents changed it into a office or nursery, you get home cooked meals which is desperately needed after 4 years of EasyMac and Oodles of Noodles. You will have a decent job that will be barely getting you by if you lived by yourself. Even if your parents make you pay a small rent and help with utilities it is nothing like living on your own and covering all of that by yourself.

Living at home allows you to save money. Money you can use to move out later, pay back your outstanding student loans, car notes, credits card and whatever else bills you have accumulated in your 4-5 years away at school. You even have extra money to buy clothes and help your club or bar habit on the weekends. Nowadays moving back home with your parents helps you to continue to live your life without the extra stress. You’re able to go on trips—homecomings, spring break—and yes you’re never too old to do those things. Don’t get me wrong living at home isn’t stress free, but a lot less stressful than handling everything on your own in the “real world.”

Yes, you love the independence of living by yourself, but most graduates had that feeling right after they moved out of the dorms sophomore and junior year to find out what living the “real world” feels like. So for most it isn’t that bad to move home with your parents unless they’re too strict and that would keep you from wanting to move back and you prefer to struggle by yourself.

Also, just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you’re going to be there forever. No one wants to be the 40 year old living in the basement. Have a plan—give yourself 1, 2 years, but not however long as it takes. I believe the maximum amount of years you should live with your parents before you attempt to try the “real world” is three. After 3 years you should have a steady job and moving forward towards your American Dream. And if your Dream is hit with an obstacle you can always move back with your parents again to try and get your head on straight. It is a must that you have goals and do not stay stagnant.

The American Dream isn’t all about money and cars, but more about happiness, even though money and cars make people happy. Strive for greatness and you shall achieve greatness.

by Antwain Jackson