People in their 20s are living with their parents to save money. They don’t realise how much it’s costing them

May 20, 2026 — 7:00pm

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Back in 1997 I was living in a regional city, and my portion of the rent was $70 a week. I was 19 years old, working full-time and taking home a salary of $292 in a cash envelope after taxes.

By all accounts, it was a meagre income, but I justified that by knowing I was out on my own, starting my journey into adulthood. I had nothing left over for luxuries once I paid my expenses. My flatmate and I negotiated fridge space and mealtimes, the shared bathroom and how to split the bills. Back then, credit cards were not part of my vernacular.

It was a slice of independence that gave me control over my own space. I learnt to put boundaries in place when friends still living with their parents wanted to call in after work.

Over the years, I moved between cities as I chased career opportunities, living with half-a-dozen flatmates – one in advertising, two fellow cadet journalists, an early-career veterinarian and a graphic designer.

In one move to a regional town, I moved into a tiny house by myself. After work, I’d take long walks and spend evenings relaxing with a book, grateful not to be making small talk with a flatmate at the end of the day.

I feel lucky to have had the experience. These days, young adults are living under their parents’ roof for longer because........

© The Sydney Morning Herald