New Jersey is number one for millennials living at home, but what are the rules?

The number is staggering. Almost half of 18 to 34 year olds in New Jersey are living with their parents. Nearly 47 percent, according to Time. Another shocking way to put it: More people in that age group are living with their parents than are living with a spouse or partner, or living on their own. If you're 29 and married and living with your spouse, you're the oddball not the other way around. New Jersey is the number one state for this. A testament in my opinion to how hard it is to afford this place.

I wonder for those in this situation what rules exist? For example, if indeed harsh economic realities are behind many of these cases, do millennials contribute anything towards rent, utilities, food? Or have their parents given them a pass? I'm not saying this in any judgmental way. I'm simply curious what occurs. Then there's the social aspect. What does a 25 year old woman living at home do about dating? Are most 25 year olds in this situation allowed to have overnight guests with a potentially awkward breakfast scene in the morning? Or are most parents treating their still at home millennials like they are 16? Again, no right or wrong answer. But these things have to get worked out one way or the other.

I was out of the house when I was about to turn 19 and I once had tom for economic reasonsm return to live with my father for about a year when I was 26. Don't get me wrong; I was very grateful he let me. But it was a miserable situation for those months. No extra bedroom for me meant I had to sleep on the couch in the living room, so no privacy. I paid him one third of his total rent and bought my own food during that time. But beggars can't be choosers. I made sure it was as short term as possible and I thanked him profusely every chance I had. As much as I appreciated his kindness it was good to move on.

-Jeff Deminski

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