Adult children staying at home longer
painting by Amandah Tayler Blackwell According to a recent study conducted in the UK, a record number of 20 to 34-year-olds are still living at home – a 20 per cent increase on the figure recorded in 1997. It's the same story here in Australia, with a quarter of 20-34 year olds in Sydney and Melbourne still living in the parental home. ( link ) Once upon-a-time adult children didn't move out of the family home until they were married. That was considered the norm and no one thought it was odd. However, as young people put off getting married so early, began earning higher incomes and were being encouraged to become more independent, they flew the nest long before they married. When it became more acceptable to live in defacto relationships, young people left home to set up their own homes -- marriage was no longer a requirement to leave home. However, as rentals increase and become more expensive (and not always very nice) and young people wanting to save for...