Share a place with relatives?

[boefixepa]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

I think the PricePlus is right, and much of it has to do with the cost of housing. It can be tough, espcially for young couples with children. Without carefule planning, plus all the 'life' stuff that just happens, housing becomes a major expense and issue.

[LuxLiving]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

My father in law lived with us before he passed away and it was okay on my end, and he didn't seem to mind.

When we sold our old house and before the closing here we had a month of being 'homeless'. The Hubster went and stayed at his dad's which was close to his work and the boys and I visited the relatives around the state a week at a time. That way no one was greatly inconvenienced. It wasn't too awful for the short term - but I bought groceries, cooked and cleaned and made my kids behave so it was all right. The other is that we often had visited in the past for a weekend so no great big adjustment was needed as we are comfortable in their homes and they with having us there. Would I want to stay longer than a week? NO!

[rduell]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

Done it. Wouldn't do it again if I had a choice!

[sakigt]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

Moved out of Moms when I was 18, moved in with dad when I was 20...

But I bought my own place at 23 with the money I saved in rent

[Elgin526]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

How many would share a house with relatives in order to save money? Under what circumstances would you do it and why or why not?

I'd only live with family if my only other option was a homeless shelter. And I'd still have to think about it before I moved in with them. And I like my family!

Push came to shove, if some horible financial disaster happend, we could sell the house and find a $650 a month studio apartment to live in. Even if DH and I could only find minimum wage jobs, we'd be able to work enough to pay the rent. I own my car out right, so no car payment, and I know how to eat super cheap (it's not the best food health wise, but we wouldn't starve). It would be hell, but we could do it.

[Broken Arrow]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

I admit it. I am shameless, and if given the chance, would gladly bunk with a fellow kin for the sake of saving money.

Ideally, I'd rather have a place of my own though.

[jodi]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

Doing it and loving it. It started out in 2003 when we sold our house in a city to move back to the country - I was a few months pregnant. We moved home with my parents (great big farmhouse, we pretty much own the upstairs), supposedly temporarily while we looked for a place. Well, we never found the place. My parents swore up and down that they would tell us when it was time to move on, as we didn't want to intrude on their golden years. However, the few times we did go look at places, my dad would ask us "What's wrong? Why do you want to leave?". They love having the grandkids around everyday (my brother built a house next door and my newly-married other brother is looking to build down the street next year). The whole set-up is not extremely uncommon in this rural, farming community. It works out great for us - DH would never have been able to return to school last year if we had a house payment. He would have had to find another so-so job just to make ends meet. Instead, he will have his teaching degree next month and a much more secure future
My parents have never had a mortgage and we contribute to the utilities, phone, and satellite bills. We each buy groceries on a regular basis, although we don't keep track of who buys what. I would never want to be a burden to them and if I felt that we were, we would move. Period. But since they are still welcoming us here, and we really enjoy living here, here we will stay.
One more point - I will be inheriting this house (but not hopefully for a long, long time), so that does factor in a little. Although my father is in excellent health, he is 72 (my mom is only 58). I know neither of them would want to live alone, so I think that may be one of the reasons they want us to stay as well.

[titi]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

Ilived with my parents for quite a long time but there was a moment when I was jobless and my mother was pressing me to start any job in order not to stay at home and also to earn some money (for the family budget, of course). I didn't want to start any job, I prefered to wait a little till I managed to find something decent. But my mother was really nasty and she terrorized me all the time, so actually it became impossible for me to stay home and not long after I managed to find a not-so-bad job I left. She took it very personally, became very insulted but actually I didn't give a damn about that. Now I am visiting once a week and things are certainly much better. She is still playing tricks and is attempting to have me back but I still don't care about her acting skills. Probably it is not fun for her to live alone but sometimes she can get so nasty, that I really wonder why my father had not kicked her.

[Broken Arrow]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

Um, sounds like both you and your mother have some issues to work out, titi.

[PRICEPLUS]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

We have MIL with us. It works out okay. We had a babysitter and she has had us looking after her when she was ill a few times. Living alone is not healthy. MAybe the best thing is to have extended family! The support network appears to be important in todays world!

[Ima saver]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

I am unlucky that I don't have family, but in some ways, that makes me lucky. I don't think I could ever live with anyone else. I don't even like company to stay with me. We built a garage apt. so people could stay there, but they all want to stay in the upstairs bedroom.It is annoying because the upstairs bathroom is right over our bedroom, so you can hear the water running and the toilet flushing.[Automated by GetSmile]

[homein2007]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

My sister (27 years old) has lived in my parents' basement since coming back from college. It has seemed to work well for all of them. She has a solid job with the town and helps with the bills, though I think now that my dad is retired the primary value she provides to the household is more emotional than monetary. So, contrary to a lot of the stories here, it can work.

[Broken Arrow]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

Why, I'll be happy to stay in your garage apt., Imaaaa!

[PRICEPLUS]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

It has got to be better than Tina's garden apartment!

[Broken Arrow]

Re: Share a place with relatives?

Haha, I've seen abandoned crack houses that look better than Tina's garden shack.