We've all seen the movies with college graduates who came back to their hometowns.
Hollywood uses them readily: Matthew McConaughey's character in "Dazed and Confused" comes to mind and his remark, "That's what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age."
We made fun of those guys, both the ones on film and the ones we knew.
Now, our generation of graduates is heading back to the stomping grounds of its youth instead of into the great unknown.
We've become the people in the movies, only there are valid economic concerns behind it.
Various reasons cause us to move back - for starters the giant pile of loans we have to pay back is an unwanted graduation present most of us will receive.
No matter what your reasons, however, moving back in with your parents requires establishing rules from the beginning.
Whether the rules are written in a formal agreement or just talked about before you move in, the conversation needs to happen.
The graduates and parents need to establish rules related to overnight guests, rent, utilities and groceries, to list a few.
Hopefully, your parents won't try to put your old curfew into effect. If they do, however, it might be time to gauge whether or not this is the best idea or if you are setting yourself up for a miserable existence.
If this arrangement is going to work, your parents need to understand that you are an adult and have functioned on your own for a few years.
However, you also need to respect them. Your parents are opening their doors to you when you need them, so a mutual respect is required.
After the new house rules are established, you need to take a hard look at yourself. Decide how long you want to stay home, how much you can afford to pay on your loans and how to limit the potential hostility that could arise with your living situation.
While you're at home, don't give up the search for your dream job. The job market continually fluctuates, and timing is everything.
However, generate good working relationships with you co-workers while living at home. Dream job or not, that could be your career. If all else fails, you can always marry rich.
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