There was a post that came out in 2012 from The New York Times entitled In Defense of Boomerang Kids. It was rather refreshing considering Gen Y gets reamed by NYT every once in a while (does anyone remember What Is It With 20-Somethings?), but boomerang kids still get a lot of flack in the press.
Although I was a boomerang kid, it’s not something I’ve touched on too much on this blog. Why? I’m not sure. Although I probably felt embarrassed that I had to move back home after being away for so long. However, now I’m realizing that being a boomerang kid isn’t all that bad. I’ve been in your shoes, and understand what it’s like to be a boomerang kid, and I’ve learned a lot along the way.
The truth is when I graduated from college I was broke. And I mean really broke. I had quit my job during my last semester because writing my thesis, my health issues at the time, and graduating became my priorities. Whatever money I had saved up before then was long gone before I graduated.
(Sound familiar yet?)
So when graduation day finally came I had no money, no job, and a diploma I couldn’t even read because it was written in Latin. To top it off I was living in Florida, which was hit very hard by The Great Recession, so it would take me a while to find a job anyway.
The result? I moved back to my parents’ house.
Fortunately, I grew up in the middle of Miami, so it’s not like it was a total bust, but it’s still weird to move into your parent’s house when you’ve been gone for a while. It’s also weird to feel like a stranger in your own hometown – which I did for a long time.
It’s easy to get down in the dumps during this kind of situation. We were taught that after college we land a job and go out on our own. We were supposed to just keep going without looking back to embark on the rest of our lives. Obviously, this isn’t happening for most of us anymore.
So what happens? We get kind of depressed and anxious. We feel like we’re not on the “right path”, or feel like we’re so far behind from where we should be.
Real talk? This is utter bullshit people! Think about it – how many of you would rather be in debt up to your eyeballs instead of having the ability to put money away in the bank? How many of you would rather struggle, and I mean really struggle, during a Recession rather than taking it easy and trying to do things the smart way?
Quite frankly, if “the right path” involves being stupid with my money then I don’t want to take it.
What I’ve Accomplished As A Boomerang Kid
Invest My Money
I was able to invest a lot of my money, and have built up quite a bit of net worth. I’m still working on this (of course), but I’m happy with where I’m at.
Invest In My Business & Myself
I believe in an abundance mindset, investing in yourself, and education in your field. For me, that means paying for courses and mentors, going to events, and receiving the education that benefits me in my business. It also helps me grow as a person and work on my own personal development.
Live In My Dream Condo
After living with my parents for a few years, I decided to move out and I was able to move into my dream condo. Did I buy it? Nope, and I wouldn’t in this Miami economy. But, I got everything that I wanted, and I don’t have to worry about fixing anything if it goes wrong. I consider that a huge win!
Being a boomerang kid isn’t all bad, and honestly, it can save you a lot of money and hassle in the long run.
