Natalia Molina
- Natalia Molina moved back in with her parents at 28 after struggling to make ends meet in San Diego.
- Molina says the first few months at home were isolating, but leaning on family and community helped.
- Living at home has allowed her to pay off $27,000 in debt and focus on her health.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Natalia Molina, a 29-year-old marketing professional based in South Florida. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
I didn’t know if moving back in with my parents in Florida was the right decision, but it came to a point where it felt like the only one.
In 2023, I was living in San Diego when I burned out at my social media job and left without a backup plan — not realizing how difficult the job market had become. Over the next year, I accumulated $30,000 in credit card debt while struggling to find a full-time job.
The first two months of living with my parents were isolating, and I honestly felt like a failure. I felt like I had blown up my life and gone back to square one. But, a year later, I’m healthier than ever, and I’m on track to be debt-free by the end of the year. There are still some discomforts living at home, but it’s worth the sacrifices.
I lived in San Diego for 2 years, but struggled to make ends meet
I was born and raised in Florida. After graduating from college in 2022, I got hired for a fully remote social media manager job and saw it as the perfect opportunity to move to San Diego, a place I had always loved. I wasn’t sure if it would be my forever place, but I wanted to experience someplace new.
I loved everything about San Diego: the weather, the people. I really felt like I was building a life for myself out there, but my job wasn’t right for me. Within a year, I fully burned out and left the job. I kind of screwed myself because I assumed I’d be able to find a new job quickly.
I eventually found a part-time receptionist job, but in late 2024, I felt like I was drowning financially.
I was scared to move back home, but my parents were supportive
It was such a big deal for me to move to San Diego by myself, so I was scared of coming back and facing potential judgment from people in my hometown or on social media, seeing that I was back.
I spent a lot of time questioning my decision and doubting myself, but it felt like the only way to get back on my feet.
My parents were super supportive of my decision to move home, and I’m so grateful for them. Since moving back, they haven’t asked me to pay rent or groceries because they want me to put every penny toward paying off my debt. I have a husky who sheds a lot, so the only thing they asked of me is to make sure she’s groomed monthly and that I keep the house clean.
The first 2 months were rough, but I found a community to help me through it
Most of the people I knew in my hometown have moved away, so I felt very isolated when I first came back. I remember telling myself that it’s okay because “I’m just going to go ‘hermit-mode’ and focus on myself.” I quickly realized that mindset only made me feel lonelier.
When I lived in San Diego, I really had to put myself out there to make friends, so I decided to apply the same approach in Florida. I looked for social clubs online and found a women’s social club that hosts dinners all throughout South Florida.
I started consistently going to those dinners, and it was one of my best decisions ever. I’ve made some really great friends who I’m still friends with today. The dinners were kind of expensive, but I saw them as an investment in a new community.
I landed a great job, focused on my health, and paid off $27,000 in debt
When I first moved back, I wasn’t actively applying for full-time jobs, but a few months later, I came across a hybrid social media management job in my area. I applied and got hired. I love it. Since then, I’ve paid off over $27,000 in debt.
I’m also finally investing in my health. In San Diego, I was so focused on surviving that I didn’t have the energy or mental capacity to focus on my health. I was stressed, gaining weight, and emotionally eating, and it took a toll on me. I feel like moving home allowed me to hit the reset button.
Everything started feeling like it was working in a positive direction, and I finally felt like maybe I had made the right decision by coming home.
It can be chaotic, but it’s worth the discomfort
My dating life has taken a hit. It’s partially because I’ve been focusing on myself more, but also because living with my parents just makes it a little bit harder.
They try their best to respect my privacy, but it doesn’t help when a guy gives me flowers or something, and my parents ask, “Oh, who is that from?” When they ask, I might say, “I’m not ready to talk about it yet.” It just doesn’t feel like the right time to date.
I have my own room, but I don’t really have my own true space or independence. It can be chaotic here, and I don’t have a say over little things like how clean the house stays, but it’s worth the discomfort.
I’m making some sacrifices now to set myself up for the future
My biggest goal right now is to build financial independence. I’m on track to be debt-free by the end of the year, and my plan is to move to my own place in the area in early 2026.
Moving home has taught me the importance of allowing myself to be held by other people when I’m going through something difficult. I’ve let myself be held by my family financially and my friends emotionally. They’re the only reason I’ve been able to make it through this.
But this is also something I’ve done for myself. I picked up my entire life from what felt like rock bottom and transformed in so many ways. It makes me feel like I can overcome anything.
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