I moved back into my childhood home in my 30s. I never planned to stay long, but now I'm finding it hard to leave.

Moving back into my childhood home to live with my parents in my 30s isn't the setback I thought it would be.

Meredith Schneider Four years ago, my cat and I moved into my childhood home with my parents out of necessity.

It's been nice to save money and bond more with my family during this stage of life.

This arrangement lasted longer than expected, and moving out feels like it's going to be tough.

The day after Thanksgiving, I learned I'd have to move out of my beloved century-old, two-bedroom apartment in Kansas City.

My building had been taken over by a management company in another state.

Unfortunately, this wasn't the beginning of a Hallmark movie in which the protagonist unites with her neighbors to successfully push back against a corporate takeover (all while finding love along the way).

Instead, I found myself panicking about my next move while grieving the comfortable life I'd been so proud to have built over the seven years I'd rented that space.

A few weeks later, my parents suggested that my cat and I move back into my childhood home in the suburbs nearby.

As much as living with mom and dad in my 30s felt like it could be embarrassing or a huge step back, it felt like the best choice.

So, I did.

I planned to stay for just a few months, but it's now been four years — and leaving feels more difficult than I ever anticipated.

Financially, this setup has been a blessing Living with my parents has been going pretty well.

Meredith Schneider My parents live in a home that they have been paying a mortgage on for nearly 30 years.