I paid more in rent to my parents than I did for my first apartment (about the same as my later-mortgage but financially fine as I wasn’t paying for food), along with most of the cleaning and all of the cooking. They were not fun to live with but I’d never lived away… and they said they needed the money for my sister’s education. (They didn’t pay mine, but I have to take responsibility for being a complete pushover in general.)

Once she graduated, I left and they’ve been wanting me to return ever since —rent-free. Apparently the cooking and cleaning was missed. When my apartment flooded and my house wasn’t ready, I took them up on that offer. It was much more pleasant — they were hoping that I’d remain. However, living rent free for a few months did increase my down payment by a bit. And due to some recent health issues, I still go a few times a week to cook for them — but I don’t want to move back with them, rent free or not.