Be sympathetic but honest with your boomerang offspring

If you're a parent wondering whether your grown-up child will ever manage to fly the nest, you're not alone.

Try to see your childs return home in a positive light. Picture: PA

It’s estimated more than a quarter of 20 to 34-year-olds in the UK still live with their parents – with men being more likely to do so than women. There may be all sorts of reasons for this – perhaps a relationship has broken down, renting is too costly or they’re trying to raise a deposit for a home of their own.

And while it may be great to be living as one big happy family, new research sheds light on the financial pressures the “boomerang” generation of young adults is putting on their parents.

Seven in 10 (72 per cent) of parents of boomerang children say their household spending has increased – although less than half (41 per cent) charge any form of “rent” for their children to live back at home.

The research, from Skipton Building Society, found finishing university and reaching 30 were often trigger points for moving back in with parents.

Some were using the family home as a base from which to search for jobs, and others were nursing a broken heart following a relationship breakdown.

Among parents who were taking contributions from their adult children for household running costs, the average amount was just £123 per month.

While some parents spent the extra cash on food and groceries, others were sensibly putting the money away for a rainy day.

To help parents consider ways to ease the strain on their wallet, Skipton has teamed up with parent blogger Becky Wiggins, aka @EnglishMum, who offers her tips for managing finances:

◆ See your child’s return home as a positive. In this financial climate, it’s something that a lot of young people have to do, so there’s really no stigma attached.

◆ Whether they’re job hunting or starting their first job, your boomerang child may already be saddled with quite a large amount of debt. Be empathetic to their situation and acknowledge how they’re feeling.

◆ Being completely open about money suits everyone best. If the kids are worried about money, it’s easiest to get everything written down and chat about a plan for managing the debt.

◆ Agree a contribution figure that suits everyone. Skipton found that the average boomerang kid increases household outgoings by £86 a month, or £1,032 a year, so it makes sense that they contribute to the household purse. Regular payments are also good practice for managing bills when they finally move out into their own place.

◆ If you’re already in a great financial situation, you could consider having your child home as a great way to help them build up a cash pot, such as a deposit for a house.

◆ Don’t feel bad for asking. Now you’re all adults, they understand that you have your own finances to think about and that it’s unrealistic for you to provide everything for them.

◆ Don’t ignore your own finances. Having adult children is a big step for you too. It’s a great time to have a look at your own finances, and take stock of savings, pensions, the mortgage and plans for retirement.