Happy Crowded Nest Day! I Used To Live In My Parent’s Basement. Did You?

June 12th is Crowded Nest Awareness Day. It's a day we bring to the attention of those who are old enough to live on their own, but decided to live under their parents roof as long as possible because paying bills sucks. I'm not one to talk, I lived with my parents until I was 25 or so.

The above picture is my actual bedroom sometime in 1997, I'm guessing. Pretty basic. 19 inch TV, assorted toys on top of it, a few posters, a Voltron towel, VCR, a stereo, Playstation, Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64, a keyboard. Basically, a bunch of crap that didn't get me anywhere. Especially the creature from 'Critters' wearing a fun jester hat smoking a cigarette, especially not that. Why did I have all of this crap? Because I was working and living with my parents at the time so I didn't have to worry about paying bills. I could, and would, turn any cash I earned from my job into toys to supply my boredom fund.

I look back on these times as extremely fond times. Definitely much more care free, but there's no way in hell I'd ever want to move back in with my parents. Even if it meant not paying bills. It's not worth it. First of all, my wife and 3 kids wouldn't be able to fit in my old 10x10 bedroom. Also, everything else.

If I could go back in time of course I would've saved my money. I didn't have a clue back then about what happens when you need something but can't afford it. Or want to spend time with your family and go on a little road trip and can't even fund that. Have I have known I could have had a nice little nest egg saved for a down payment on a house. Instead, I just chatted on AOL, played video games and watched anime all the time.

So, moms and dads, I'm proud that you like having your kids with you, and some can and do move on and appreciate you letting them stay a little longer after high school, but take it from me, the sooner they get out in the real world, the better. If they do want to live with you, at least charge them rent. It doesn't have to be much, even $100 a month, but something to get them in that habit of a monthly payment. One of the first lessons I learned was the money you earn isn't necessarily the money you get to spend.

Happy Crowded Nest Day, y'all!