When my husband and I moved to Los Angeles in 2021, we thought we’d be there for the long haul. The city felt like the perfect place to advance our acting careers, grow closer as a couple, and meet other ambitious, creative people.
That all turned out to be true, but unfortunately, so did one glaring issue — living there was expensive.
We enjoyed spending time outdoors and hosting friends for game nights, but we couldn’t afford to truly take advantage of everything the city had to offer. After three fulfilling but money-strapped years, we were ready to move on.
We considered several options, but when we shared our desire to relocate, my husband’s parents generously offered to open their South Carolina home to us.
At first, we hesitated. As a married couple in our 30s, we felt like moving back in with family would mean we failed. Plus, although I love my in-laws, I worried what living together would do to our relationship.
However, the pros were too plentiful to ignore. So, at the start of 2024, we packed up our belongings and moved in with my in-laws.
It took us some time to adjust to our new living arrangement
As expected, the transition came with some bumps along the way.
Flying three cats across the country in economy is an experience we hope never to repeat. Said cats then expressed their displeasure by immediately scratching up my in-laws’ new couch.
Plus, luxuries we had taken for granted — like walking around in various states of undress and playing loud video games with friends into the wee hours — were not polite to our new roommates. We had to relearn how to share our space … and keep the cats from destroying it.
Living with other people was its own adjustment, but living with family presented an additional hurdle. We quickly realized we needed to figure out boundaries — how much time we’d spend together, how we’d divide household chores, and where my husband and I would go during a private argument.
Despite these initial challenges, most of the major “cons” we feared never came to fruition. The four of us quickly realized how much we enjoy spending time together, whether laughing at the dinner table, taking walks on nearby hiking trails, attending birthday parties, or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Each of us has expressed how refreshing it’s been to get to know each other on a deeper level.
Financial stability has improved nearly every area of our lives
Despite working multiple jobs in Los Angeles, we had to pull from our Roth IRA just to pay rent. Then, when the film industry went on strike, opportunities became even more scarce, and paying $2,450 a month for 900 square feet felt increasingly impossible.
Now that we live rent-free, though, a huge stress has been lifted from our shoulders. My husband even has the freedom to go back to school without needing to work full-time, and I’m able to put part of my paycheck into savings, a luxury we couldn’t afford in LA.
Most importantly, worrying less about money has meant more time to devote to ourselves. My husband has picked up old hobbies again, and I’ve had time to participate in local theatre, reconnecting with a part of myself I worried I’d left in LA.
Despite our initial fears, moving in with family to a smaller town has given us more opportunities, not fewer. Money may not buy happiness, but not having to worry about finances has created a truly life-changing sense of peace.
Overall, living with my in-laws is a massive privilege — and we aren’t taking it for granted.
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