Boomerang adults ‘add £2,700 to parents’ household costs during lockdown’

Young adults who have returned to live with parents during the coronavirus lockdown have added around £2,700 on average to the household’s costs, a survey has found.

Subscription services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and meal delivery boxes have contributed to higher expenditure, as have extra food and alcohol shopping, as well as energy bills, Barclays found.

Nearly three in 10 (29%) of parents whose children had returned said it was worth the additional costs to have their offspring back.

More than a third (38%) said the additional time at home has made their relationship stronger.

Only one in 10 (10%) parents surveyed said they had charged their so-called boomerang children rent.

The research suggested the majority of adult children were contributing to their parents’ costs in some way, and more than nine in 10 (91%) were helping out with household chores.

Cooking was the most popular way to help out, followed by washing-up and cleaning.

Barclays has a Money Mentors service which offers customers and non-customers free guidance on spending or saving money.

Jo Harris, head of Barclays Money Mentors, said: “As someone who has moved in with their parents during lockdown, I know first-hand how much of an adjustment it can be and how uncomfortable approaching the topic of money can feel.

“Like many, I’ve been very fortunate that my parents haven’t charged me rent but I think it’s really important to keep communication as open and honest as possible, so we did have a frank chat about how I would contribute during my time back at home.”

– Some 1,000 parents with adult children who have returned home during the lockdown were surveyed.