Simply do whatever is most practical. You are going to move out eventually, and if it makes sense to do so now, then do it. However, if you would be better off waiting a bit more, then wait. That is how I see it and what I would tell my parents.
Same here... it was like they thought I'd never come back home.
I chide them about it every now and then.
Are you the only child in the family? The most important question you need to ask yourself is: How are you getting along with your parents? (Are you arguing with your parents all the time? Do they still trying to control your life & your choices? )
Parents are the closest thing you will have (I put them on the same level as my children & spouse) in your life and most likely they will pass away from this world before you do. If you enjoy your time living with your parents and staying in their house means a lot to both of them, I dont see any problem with staying with them just to make them happy. I always do my best to make my parents happy because I know they love me and I can count on them in a lot of situations where my other friends will run away from me.
Living with your parent does not automatically makes you a loser. In fact, it can give you a huge head start (saves rent and eat a lot healthier.) I didnt move out my parents house until I saved 20% down payment to purchase my dream home (a nice, big house in a good neighborhood.) If I moved out my parents house at the age of 18, it probably will take me an additional 8 years to get into a house like this. (I wisely invested the money I saved and have enough down payment ready in a down housing market as a first time home buyer.)
Yes, I worked part time (meaning, like 30 hrs/week) during classes, plus my school was a 5 yr/3 6-month co-op school which involved full time paid internships, and I graduated with about 65k in loans.
I got scholarships and need based grants, maybe that takes away from your definition of "completely independent", but my parents were not paying for any of my expenses.
It's admirable to be self-propelled through college, but my point is that it's not something many people would (or should, if you ask me) choose to emulate. I'd also be willing to wager that even those 20-somethings in this thread who proudly claim to be 100% independent still have their family at least as a safety net. Relying on one's parents is not shameful and I think it's sad that it's treated so.
This is not to say that independence is not desirable. In the OP's case, it sounds like the world is calling and it's time to hit the road. I'm just saying that there is no hard age limit after which one should be considered a loser for living at home.
I'm already 24 and haven't made much money in life. My mother has paid for the bulk of my expenses as well (education, car, gas, insurance) yeah I suppose I've been sheltered to some degree. We live in a big (big enough) house, no close relatives, small family. My dad passed away some time ago so it's just me, my sister (never around really), and my mom. By the time I'm out of grad school (27) I'll likely buy an even bigger house so we could continue living together. She cooks really well, loves to clean and isn't really much of a nagger.
18-20 is college.
Not at all independent.
I've NEVER understood this. Only started running into it when I moved from Northern California to Southern California. I can't believe you've spent your entire adult life to this point at home. I feel like 18-20 are years when you should learn a lot about being independent and there's no way you can do that living at home.