Gen Y's living circumstances
September 28th 2007 09:20
If you've watched any current affairs program in the last year, there is a very good change you caught a story about how offspring are moving out at later ages and how some leave only to return (boomerang kids). In a special focus group that used only the youngest siblings of Gen Y, this blogger set out to find out how today's young people are living from the youngest of the young.
The statistics of my never thorough research showed that the majority live with only their parents (older siblings having moved out or never existed), then they live with parents and siblings, after this a small percent (don't ask me how small) live in some sort of communal gathering and then finally a miniscule minority are braving the elements on their own.
Okay certainly this is logical as quite a few of these kids are still in school and quite possibly don't have the finances to fly the coop, it makes sense that they're shacked up at home, but they are leaving.
See the majority of these young ones are still lodging in the nest but have older affiliates that have departed. What percentage of these will be boomerang kids? No clue, this isn't an on going study, but suffice to day that they have at least taken the first step and moved out of the family home.
Now going back to the financial aspect of the matter, it certainly makes sense that if you can find a bearable person to live with, you do that and watch the old family rules go out the window. Living with peers means everyone chips in, but also a different ambience as you can bring up pretty much any pop culture issue and have everyone know what you're on about. So, that's two birds with one stone really.
Now, for the antisocial -and I sense that quite a few of you are looking at me- or those that will not swap one invasion of privacy for another, there is the more difficult but ascertainable alternative of moving out on one's own. This could be a factor of the housing crisis we're in but stuffed if I and others like me care. Living on your own means you can do what you want when you want. You're in control of all the finances and there are no awkward moments when bringing someone home. Okay, yes there is the potential for things to go south rapidly because there is no one to remind you to pay the bills, be considerate of the neighbours etc, but I figure if you're responsible you'll be okay. And if it does get too much for you, you can always move in with friends or turn up on the parents door step.
But is this how living circumstances are destined to be? Well last year’s census showed that 25% of the aggregate population live on their own, more people are divorced or never marry at all and 4 in 10 of us do not think we will ever own our own house. What does this suggest? Well, to me it looks like an increase of both single living and communal living, but at what age this is meant to take place is up to you.
The statistics of my never thorough research showed that the majority live with only their parents (older siblings having moved out or never existed), then they live with parents and siblings, after this a small percent (don't ask me how small) live in some sort of communal gathering and then finally a miniscule minority are braving the elements on their own.
Okay certainly this is logical as quite a few of these kids are still in school and quite possibly don't have the finances to fly the coop, it makes sense that they're shacked up at home, but they are leaving.
See the majority of these young ones are still lodging in the nest but have older affiliates that have departed. What percentage of these will be boomerang kids? No clue, this isn't an on going study, but suffice to day that they have at least taken the first step and moved out of the family home.
Now going back to the financial aspect of the matter, it certainly makes sense that if you can find a bearable person to live with, you do that and watch the old family rules go out the window. Living with peers means everyone chips in, but also a different ambience as you can bring up pretty much any pop culture issue and have everyone know what you're on about. So, that's two birds with one stone really.
Now, for the antisocial -and I sense that quite a few of you are looking at me- or those that will not swap one invasion of privacy for another, there is the more difficult but ascertainable alternative of moving out on one's own. This could be a factor of the housing crisis we're in but stuffed if I and others like me care. Living on your own means you can do what you want when you want. You're in control of all the finances and there are no awkward moments when bringing someone home. Okay, yes there is the potential for things to go south rapidly because there is no one to remind you to pay the bills, be considerate of the neighbours etc, but I figure if you're responsible you'll be okay. And if it does get too much for you, you can always move in with friends or turn up on the parents door step.
But is this how living circumstances are destined to be? Well last year’s census showed that 25% of the aggregate population live on their own, more people are divorced or never marry at all and 4 in 10 of us do not think we will ever own our own house. What does this suggest? Well, to me it looks like an increase of both single living and communal living, but at what age this is meant to take place is up to you.
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