A 26-Year-Old Has A Message For Parents: ‘Moving Out At 18 Doesn’t Work Anymore.’ Those Extra Years Of Support Could Make All The Difference
- Personal Finance
ThePostMaster- 0
- 6 minutes read
A 26-year-old recently posted a simple chart on Reddit that showed the last three years of their bank account: a steady upward climb while living at home, two sharp drops for a car down payment and a house down payment, and then a long, stubborn plateau once full adult life kicked in.
The message behind the chart was straightforward. The poster said they were careful with money and avoided unnecessary spending. But once they took on a mortgage, insurance, utilities, and the constant risk that comes with being fully on your own, saving became dramatically harder. As they put it, “Once you’re out on your own, it’s all on you.”
Don’t Miss:
A Reality Check For Parents And Young Adults
The advice to 18- to 25-year-olds was straightforward: if your parents are willing to let you stay at home, take advantage of it and respect them for it. Build savings. Get set up so your income results in a net gain instead of a constant scramble to cover bills.
“Take the ‘uncool’ path,” they said. “Stay at home if you’re able, and set yourself up right in life.”
The post got comments from people across generations who said the same thing in different ways: the math simply does not work like it used to.
Trending: Designed for investors with strong market convictions, REX Shares builds ETFs for income, leverage, and tactical positioning — explore the lineup.
Why The Old Timeline No Longer Works
“I’m 35 years old and I approve this message,” one commenter said. “Inflation wiped out 12 years of real wage increases overnight.” Another added, “Don’t compare yourself with past generations. Moving out in your late 20s is becoming the norm.”
At the same time, many comments illustrated that this advice comes with a giant asterisk: not everyone has the option to stay home. Many described abusive households, unstable parents, or being kicked out at 18.
Still, even many of those who did not have the option agreed with the core point. If staying at home is safe and supportive, it can change the entire trajectory of a young person’s life. Free or low-cost housing allows people to build emergency funds, invest early, and absorb setbacks that would otherwise be devastating.
The thread also pushed back on the old idea that independence at 18 builds character. Many parents chimed in to say they fully expect their kids to stay home into their 20s. “I expect our kids to stay longer as long as they can put up with us parents,” one wrote, “It is brutal out there and we know it. It sucks and if you can live at home, but save, save, save.”
See Also: Motley Fool’s analysts have built a new lineup of passive ETFs — explore which “Foolish” strategy fits your investment goals.
The original poster acknowledged they are not thriving. Their chart ends in a plateau, not a victory lap. They admitted their mortgage currently eats up an entire paycheck each month, and that one bad break could put them in trouble. That was exactly their point. Even someone who did everything “right” feels how thin the margin has become.
For young adults who are able to save during those years, some commenters stressed the importance of actually putting that money to work. Beyond basic savings, investing early can matter just as much as where you live.
For investors who want pre-IPO exposure to transformative technologies like AI, Fundrise offers a way to get in earlier without needing institutional-level wealth. Check out their venture portfolio today. Start investing in minutes and with as little as $10.
Read Next: This Real Estate Fund Pays 10x More Than the Average Savings Account – Invest From Just $100
Image: Imagn
