Though she has her own space, Eller said she and her parents still see each other daily in some capacity. Still, she likes that she feels more ownership over the apartment.
“I do feel more responsibility,” she said. “I was kind of spoiled. My dad did my dishes for me, so now I have to do my own dishes. It gives me something to do. It feels like I’m contributing to the household.”
Eller also gives her parents $300 each month in rent and utilities, and she said the arrangement is already helping her save money.
“I’m on track to hopefully pay off all my student debt within a year,” Eller said. “Then I can start saving and investing more and really start building up my finances.”
“I’m pretty much negative net worth right now,” she added. “I know that living here is definitely going to help.”
Eller said she had some concerns about what people might think of her living with her parents as a single mom when she first moved in with them in 2020, a feeling that’s faded as she’s seen the benefits of multigenerational living.
“It kind of was embarrassing, I guess you could say, from societal standards,” she said. “I feel like living with your parents is kind of frowned upon.”
“But this time around, I feel like I’m embracing it more, and I feel more confident in myself,” she continued. “Honestly, I’m just really happy and fortunate that my parents gave us that place and that we’re able to renovate it. I’m just proud of it now.”
