What Age Should You Move Out Of Your Parent’s House?

There is no set age at which you should move out of your parent’s house. Some teens feel that their parent’s house is the best place to live, while others cannot wait to move out on their own. 

There usually comes a time when moving out is necessary for several reasons. This is often due to moving to college, getting a new job, starting a serious relationship, or needing more freedom. 

However, there are many factors you need to consider to know the right time and age to leave your parent’s house. This article details everything about this topic. Want to know more? Read On.

What Age Should You Move Out Of Your Parent’s House?

Although you can legally move out of your parent’s house at 18, you might want to continue living with them until you’re a bit older and financially independent. Many people feel that living with your parents is an excellent way to save money and that 25 or 26 is an appropriate age to move out. A recent study suggested that unless you’re looking after your parents, you should move out no later than 28. 

Average Age To Move Out Of Parent’s House 2022

Considering the numerous factors involved, the average age for people to move out of their parent’s house is usually 24. Logically, this is an ideal age because it is generally when people have either completed a degree, are getting married, or are generally starting a new phase of life. 

What Age Can You Move Out In The USA?

Once you’ve turned 18 in the USA, you can consider moving out of your parent’s house. At 18 you’ve reached the age of majority. You would most likely have completed high school and possibly gotten a job that can help care for your basic needs. However, people in college still tend to live with their parents if the school is close to their home.

🤓 You might also enjoy reading: Questions To Ask Potential College Roommates

What Age Can You Move Out In Canada?

According to Canadian law, you can leave your parent’s house once you are 16 or older. You do not need legal permission to do this. However, if you voluntarily leave your home (i.e., in the absence of conflict, neglect, or abuse), your parents are not obligated to give you any form of financial support.

What Age Can You Move Out In The UK?

Once you’re 17 years of age or older in the UK, you can move out of your parent’s house. However, your parents are legally responsible for your care, welfare, and overall wellbeing, and you might need their support until you turn eighteen.

How Do I Know If I’m Ready To Move Out?

It is best to move out when you know that you’re capable of taking care of yourself, can provide the necessities, and can pay the necessary bills such as water bills and electricity bills. This often happens, though, when you have a job or a legal, steady source of income to sustain you.

Top 10 Signs You Need To Move Out

Your Relationship With Your Parents

At some point, your and your parents’ differences may become more evident while living with them. You might find you’re always picking a quarrel or fighting with them over petty or mundane stuff. At this point, it’s probably starting to affect the relationship you have with them, and it may be time for you to consider moving out of your parent’s house and begin to live on your own.

When your attitude and actions start to sever the relationship you have with your parents, it might just be the green light you need to move out of your parent’s house.

Your Commute To College Or Work

We spend a significant amount of time commuting, and there is often a need to reduce the amount of time spent on the road. Apart from prioritizing rest and leisure for our health, it is important for productivity.

If you realize that you are spending too much time commuting to either work or college, it might make more sense to move closer. Apart from saving time, it will also help you save some of the money you spend on transportation.

Although you will save on transportation, you will have the added expenditure on rent, utilities, food, etc. 

While weighing your options, remember to consider not just the money but your level of comfort and ability to look after yourself, like cooking meals and doing your laundry. 

You Need More Privacy

At times, there is a need for you to keep certain parts of your life private. This can be very difficult if your parents do not respect your privacy, especially if you have younger siblings who have access to your room or don’t understand your need for a private space. 

If you’re still living with your parents and siblings, it can be tough to have any private time or space.

Inviting older friends or socializing at home will also be challenging while living with your family. 

If you live with your parents and family and feel like your privacy is constantly invaded, moving out of their house to your own space can help end this problem.

You Feel Limited Or Cramped

Living at home can feel cramped, especially if you have to share with a sibling or family member. 

With time, you can start to feel like you’re limited and cramped and do not have enough space to do the things you want. If you are beginning to feel like this, the best solution might be to get your own place. 

You can get a larger space, and even though the room you get for yourself is small, you know you have it all to yourself. 

You Spend More Time At Friends’ Apartment

One of the best parts of growing up is choosing who you want to spend your free time with. But if you live with your parents or family members, it might be difficult maintaining adult friendships, especially if you feel uncomfortable inviting your friends to hang out with you in your parents’ house. This is often the case if they are work buddies and not high school or college friends.

As a result, you tend to spend more time at their place instead because it’s more comfortable and fun to hang out there, away from your parents.

If you realize that you are spending most of your time at your friend’s house, maybe sleeping there most nights, it’s time to get your own place. You can then also invite your friend over to your home.

You Dislike Having A Curfew

Even though you might be a late teen or young adult, your parents can still have some influence on your going out and coming in because it’s their house!

This can feel restricting, especially if you have a very outgoing social life and love to spend the night out with your friends. Having to follow a strict curfew rules at home as an adult living with your parents can be really difficult. 

Trying to keep your parents happy while managing your social life and relationships can be stressful and strain your relationships.

If you feel like you constantly have to keep to your parent’s curfew rules and it’s hindering your own schedule, then maybe it’s time to consider moving out of your parent’s house and getting yourself your own space.

You Don’t Want To Do Your Parents’ Errands

One of the disadvantages of living at home is that they might expect you to run their errands and sometimes even babysit your younger siblings.

Of course, this is not necessarily bad, especially as your parents have been taking care of you, and they deserve some help as well. However, it can be frustrating if you automatically become their go-to person when they need to pick anything at the grocery shop, order take-out, buy medications from the pharmacy, look after younger siblings, or even become their chauffeur. 

This can be tasking if it affects your own schedule or takes up most of your rest or leisure time. If you feel tired of running errands for everyone, then moving out of your parent’s house is the best solution. Of course, you still get to run errands, but they’ll be your own.

You’re Financially Stable

Being financially stable is an important deciding factor when it comes to moving out of your parent’s house and starting to live an independent life.

If you make your own money, do not rely on anybody to take care of your expenses, are not living paycheck to paycheck, or have difficulty making ends meet, then you can consider moving out of your parent’s house to your own home.

Once you’re financially stable, you get to decide where you want to live, the type of apartment you would love, and how you want to decorate your space. 

Being independent is a wonderful feeling, and having the financial stability to do so comfortably is very important. 

You’re Craving Independence

Sometimes, you crave independence and know you can only get it when you move out of your parent’s house to be on your own.

Staying with your parents can sometimes make it impossible to be who you want to be because there is always someone to tell you what to do and watch every move you make. 

By moving out of your parent’s house, you’ll be able to carry out whatever activity you feel like in your own place, invite who you like, and make the decisions you want without anybody judging your actions.

Not only that, but you also understand that you are solely responsible for all the choices you make, and you will have to live with the consequences of your actions. Learning from your mistakes is a good way to accept responsibility and become a mature adult. 

You Feel Ready To Move Out

If you’re moving out of your parent’s house for the first time, you can feel a lot of uncertainty. You may realize that although you want to leave the house, you don’t want to leave them because you still love them. You might even begin to question your original intention of moving out. This feeling is common, and you’re not alone.

While moving out can be scary and uncertain, the benefits are endless. Soon you will realize that you did well for yourself and your personal growth by moving out. Although your parents may miss you, they get to appreciate your adulthood and independence.

If you already take care of most of your own bills and make enough income to take care of yourself and afford rent, or you have emergency savings or an emergency fund that can sustain you for about five to six months, you are ready to move out. 

If, however, you know you cannot handle any of these, then you should discuss with your parents about staying a little longer while you find the means to make some money for yourself. By saving gradually and continuously, you can soon move out to your own apartment.

Questions About Age To Move Out

Can I Move Out At 17?

If you live in the UK or Canada, you can move out at 17. However, if you live in the USA, you cannot move out at 17 because the legal age to move out is 18. Although, there are exceptional cases where a 17-year-old can move out by undergoing a legal process known as emancipation. 

Is 20 Too Old To Live With Parents?

Although some people might feel this way, there is no maximum age to live with your parents or compulsorily move out of their house under the law. Some older people live with their parents for different reasons. They may not yet be financially stable, or they might need to care for their parents.

What Percentage Of 25 Year Olds Live With Their Parents?

According to a report by Pew Research Center, it is estimated that 17.8% of adults at the age of 25 and almost half of the people between the ages of 18 and 29 live with their parents. This was discovered based on the monthly current population survey carried out in the US.

At What Age Is It Embarrassing To Live With Your Parents?

According to a new study published by Business Wire, a survey carried out on over three thousand respondents (15 years and older), the age at which people start to get embarrassed about still living with their parents is 28. 

Is It Financially Smart To Live With Your Parents?

Yes, it is financially wise to live with your parents. A major benefit of living with your parents is that you get to save money. You’ll save a lot on rent, utility bills, groceries, and maintenance. And although you might be contributing to the family expenses, you tend to spend less when compared to staying on your own.

What Do I Do If I Can’t Afford To Move Out?

There are several reasons you might not be able to afford to move out of your parent’s house. The primary reason is, however, finances. If you find yourself in this situation, it is best to get a job and try saving part of the money for some time until you have saved enough. Also, avoid getting into debt.

You could possibly look into a coliving space with other like-minded young adults. In this way you can share rent, electricity and water costs.

If you’re contributing towards rent at your parent’s house, you can try to arrange a space just for you and your friends to hang out. You might have a basement or loft area that you could transform into an amazing hangout space. This will give you the privacy you need until you can move into your own home.

Can You Move Out With No Money?

Moving out with no money is not recommended unless you have someone that will pay for your living expenses. Nonetheless, it might be possible if you have a friend you can stay with for some time until you have saved up some money.

The monthly cost of living an adult life includes monthly rent, food costs, and various basic living expenses. You probably won’t be aware of all the variable costs that come into play. If you have any student loan debt, it’s also a good idea to make monthly payments to pay off your debt first, before incurring any further costs.

You should work out a monthly budget that will cover all your monthly expenses and understand your spending habits, before moving out of the home.

Conclusion

There’s no right age as to when it’s best to move out of home and ultimately it’s up to you to decide whether moving out is right for you or not.

Every situation has pros and cons, and many factors will influence your decision, such as your family relationship and your financial situation.

Hope my post helped you and gave you some insight into whether it is the right time for you to move out.

If you’re still not sure, perhaps you would like to read my post on how to move out of your parent’s house, in which I discuss everything you need to know before moving out.