My family of 5 moved in with my parents. It's saved us thousands, and not just in rent.
A family of five shares their experience of moving in with grandparents to combat rising cost-of-living pressures. The arrangement has provided significant financial relief through shared expenses, reduced waste, and the elimination of redundant household costs.
Why it matters
Multigenerational living is increasingly viewed as a practical economic strategy for families facing inflation and housing affordability crises.
The author and her family have saved money since they started living with her parents. Courtesy of Melissa Noble We've been living in my parents' house since January, and it's saved us so much money. They don't let us pay rent, but it's more than that. We've canceled streaming services, there's less food waste, and we don't pay for babysitting. When we moved to the Gold Coast, Australia, in January, my folks offered us the downstairs of their house. Given the current cost-of-living pressures , we jumped at the proposal. My parents declined our offer to pay rent, but they have let us pay for water and electricity. Luckily for us, they have solar panels, so the highest bill has only been AU$90 (about $63) for a month. The water bill has also been manageable, at about AU$150 a quarter.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in