People in their twenties and thirties have been hit hard by the economic downturn, suffering a fall in wages and employment. Many are struggling to take the first step on to the property ladder. Thirty-year-old Phillippa Stewart has just moved back in with her parents via university, a stint in the Far East and a year-long, 10,000-mile cycle ride from Malaysia to Britain.
"Turning 30 is depressing enough. Moving back in with your sixtysomething parents really takes the biscuit. Or rather, it’s me pilfering the biscuits and Mum berating me for it.” Read Phillippa's story in The Telegraph. If you think your adult offspring are finally independent, think again. Here are eight signs that they're back to stay:
1. Their favourite cereal is back in the cupboard.
2. You find your fridge has been rearranged.
3. Your dining room, living room and kitchen have all become prime “office space”.
4. You’ve been persuaded to upgrade your computer because the old one is “too slow”.
5. They’re back on the car insurance — and the car’s gone.
6. Your house is becoming a crash pad for their friends looking for a weekend escape.
7. Your romantic breaks for two for the year are marked in their calendar.
8. They’ve asked whether or not you’re expecting rent.
