This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nadeshiko Zhang, a 25-year-old graduate student from Baldwin Park, California, about living at home with her parents who are helping to pay her bills. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
I’m 25 years old, and my parents still pay my bills and rent, which is a big help because I’m in graduate school.
I moved back home to Baldwin Park, California, to live with my parents and younger brother to save money as the housing and rental market is not ideal. I’m glad I made the decision — my mental health has improved vastly, and I’m less stressed.
My parents cover my bills because I’m still in school
I graduated from Chapman University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2023. I’m attending The Chicago School’s Anaheim campus for my master’s in applied psychology. Once I’m done in July 2025, I’ll pursue my doctorate in forensic psychology.
My parents still pay most of my bills because I’m a student. From their perspective, they don’t want me to worry about money so I can focus on my education and get a good job.
Besides rent, they’ve also helped to pay for my car insurance, health insurance, and tuition.
My car insurance costs between $3,000 and $4,000 a year. My parents no longer pay for my tuition and health insurance as of this year. My current income makes me eligible for free Medi-Cal, and my scholarships, grants, and loans cover my graduate-school tuition.
I plan to return the favor when I land a good job
My father is a contractor and construction worker, and my mom runs a day-care center at home. Another goal is to help them pay off their mortgage so they have one less bill to worry about.
Once I get a good job, I plan on reciprocating by supporting my parents. I plan on helping them retire, but I’m not sure when they’ll be ready to do so because they enjoy keeping busy. My dad would probably retire in the next five to eight years.
My dad helped pay my tuition on a monthly payment plan. Because Chapman is a private school, my grants, scholarships, and financial aid didn’t cover everything. I still had to pay between $10,000 to $15,000 out of pocket, including loans.
Living at home with my parents is great
While attending Chapman, I lived independently for three years, renting a room in a house. One of the main reasons I had to move out of my parent’s house was that I didn’t want to commute from Los Angeles to Orange County daily during undergrad.
Living alone was sometimes great, but I probably wouldn’t want to do it again. After a stressful day, I don’t want to return to an empty house. It feels lonely.
Since moving back in with my parents, I look forward to going home after class instead of dreading it.
The one major con is that there’s minimal privacy at my parents’ home, which can affect busy study times and school work. But I’m saving over $2,000 a month by moving back home.
I still help out with monthly bills even though I don’t have to
For extra cash, I work about 40 hours a month as a private tutor for kids. I’ve used some of that money to build up my savings and buy a new Tesla for my commute. My previous car was a 2021 Honda Civic hatchback sport, and I decided to go electric for the longer commute.
A lot of my friends think I’ve made a really smart choice considering rent prices these days.
Once I get my master’s degree, I want to teach at a community college while working on my doctorate. I eventually plan on moving in with some friends and buying a house closer to my work, so it’s an easier commute.
After I complete my degrees I want to focus on retiring my parents early
I ultimately want to apply for the FBI Academy and experience field training. I aim to become a forensic psychologist partnering with the FBI’s Behavior Analysis Unit. Women, especially women of color, comprise only a small fraction of any federal agency. I want to be part of that change.
I’m confident I’ll make enough money to take care of my parents. Forensic psychologists make six figures with a salary bump from degrees, certifications, and references. The starting salary for the position I want is about $150,000 a year.
I also can’t wait to be able to help my parents retire early because they’ve worked so hard and long.
Since my brother is starting college soon, I agreed to pay for his tuition, and he’ll be helping me support my parents after he starts his career.
If you have a unique living or money arrangement with your family and want to share your story, email Manseen Logan at [email protected].
