Are your adult kids living with you? by Suze Orman

We’re in the high season for graduations. Whether it’s high school, college or grad school, increasingly those educated kids are either not moving out, or moving back in with you. There are more adult children living at a parent’s home today than 30 or 40 years ago. If that’s happening in your home, I sure hope you won’t let your adult kid freeload. That’s not generous to you or to them.

Adults don’t freeload

Your kid will always be your kid. But they are also now an adult. And you can help them make that transition by finding appropriate ways for them to start paying some of their way, assuming they are working.

You can keep them on the family cell plan, but they can pay their share.

How much did your auto insurance go up when you first insured your kid? Might they now be able to cover all or part of that cost in monthly installments to you?

And I really want you to have an open mind about charging some form of rent. Doesn’t have to be a lot. But it should be something. And it should be direct deposited to you every month on the same date. That’s a huge financial skill you’re teaching right there. If you want, you can tuck that money away and when the time is right you can return it to your kid to be used for the security deposit on a rental, or to help boost their growing emergency fund.

This is a form of love, not punishment

I know many of you are uncomfortable with everything I have just recommended. I get it. But you are missing the big win that’s yours (and theirs): It opens a discussion into all the costs of running a household. That’s important learning to master before your kid moves out and is responsible for managing their own household finances.

And it naturally encourages kids to right-size their spending from an early adult age. When you are held accountable for certain expenses when you are living at home, it forces you to be more careful about your spending, so you have the money each month to cover your expected costs.

How is that not a loving lesson? You can teach your adult kid the lessons right now that will help them avoid financial trouble when they launch into their own households.

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Suze Orman is the author of 10 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, a two-time Emmy award winner, and your go-to for honest answers on everything finance. She is the most recognized personal finance expert in America today and host of the Women & Money (and Everyone Smart Enough to Listen) podcast. Suze is excited to be a contributor for Money Mentor. Suze and Alliant teamed up to help Alliant members make the most of their life by teaching them to make the most of their money. New Alliant members are also eligible for The Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account.