I went into the military when I got out of high school and after my four years, I lived in an apartment. It was tough going for several years. Lived mostly on Kraft Mac & Cheese (5 boxes for $1) and had minimal belongings. However, it motivated me to get ahead in my job - which at the time was seen as a "dead-end" job that so many people today are afraid to take. After several promotions, I got into management and now have a Regional VP role today making well into six figures. No college education either.
I am confident I would not be where I am today had I gone back to live with my parents. I would have paid rent to my parents but it wouldn't be "market" rate and I'd get too used to having extra money to go to restaurants, get stereo equipment and get a new car. Which I could not do living alone because I would have gone hungry!
I know it's not easy being on your own when you are a young adult but I feel it is beneficial in the long run. Even today, I worry about losing my job and I'm always motivated to go higher up the ladder to secure my hard-won economic status.
My brother lived with our parents until he was 30 when he purchased his home with a 50% cash down payment. He was a NYC cop at the time. He is now 51, retired from NYPD (line of duty injury)owns 6 apartment buildings, several bars and doesn't have to work another day in his life, yet works 5 nights a week and every weekend and holiday so his partners and employees with families can spend time with them.
So much for no motivation or life skills by living at home.............
The problem with living with your parents as an adult is that you never really develop the life skills or the motivation necessary to get yourself into a prosperous situation. You get into a comfort zone and don’t want to decrease your standard of living by setting out on your own.
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Lots of “kids” in our neighborhood are still living with mommy and daddy. In most cases, the parents are enablers and, not surprisingly, the kids lack any motivation to become independent. They are too “busy” enjoying a freewheeling life in (as you so aptly put it) their comfort zone.
Naturally, they and their parents can’t see the long term consequences of this prolonged dependency on their development and what impact this lack of responsibility will have on their future relationships.
We are raising a generation of underachievers. Just the way the Left wants it.