I don’t know about the rest of you, but whenever I try to get advice from my parents on doing anything remotely risky (in a positive way), they try to talk me out of it and tell me to stay home until I’m financially secure.

I was expected to sacrifice my own autonomy in order to provide for my parents’. I’m not the only person who has lived in this way.

I graduated from university in the UK with a mountain of debt (nothing compared to my sister who will graduate with continent of it with the tuition fee price hikes lately). I escaped the UK to do some volunteer work in India where I’ve been for the past three years after I couldn’t get a job at home. I’ve decided it’s time to move on and I’m returning back home in four months time where I’m starting a new, well-paid job. Unfortunately, it’s still not well paid enough to pay rent and everything else (paying off my debt). I’m moving back in with my parents and this has provided some good advice.

Dad was very happy when I approached him on Skype the other day and said I wanted to draw up a contract. I’m paying rent and, until I get my own car, have agreed a usage schedule. My mum, dad and I are going to cook two nights a week each and the remaining night will be my youngest sister (still at school). I will have to contribute to the internet plan and what have you.

After three years (plus three years of being at university) I’m an independent person already. Whilst I want my own place I still want to return to university to complete my masters degree. This job is to save up for that.

Commenter ‘Jeff’ has somewhat ired me. Whilst my upbringing wasn’t abusive at all I resent the idea that I am not being responsible. I am a qualified science teacher but couldn’t get a job as a teacher after qualifying. What was I left with? McDonalds? I don’t think it’s below me – my mum flipped burgers when I was growing up and she’s got a degree. However, I wouldn’t have got anywhere doing it. Instead, I took the opportunity to do some volunteer teaching in rural India, which I have loved, and I am now going back because the jobs market has recovered.

If I moved to a much cheaper area of the country I could scrape by and survive on my starting teachers salary, but for what purpose? I’d barely be paying off any of my debt and I wouldn’t be saving to do my masters degree. I’ve got the opportunity, why not?

My grandfather is an Eastender who earned a number of scholarships to go to university from his very poor background. Unfortunately, those scholarships don’t exist anymore.

I’m not shirking responsibility. I’ll be more autonomous when I can finance it.

“It also provided my grandparents with much-needed stimulation to keep their bodies and minds sharp from simply associating regularly with a younger person.”

I’d love to here the grandparent’s take on it.