'We had to move in with parents to afford first home - it felt like we'd failed'

'We had to move in with parents to afford first home - it felt like we'd failed' Bec and Sam Bartley were renting a one-bedroom flat in Archway, North London, but were unable to save anything with their fluctuating wages while paying £1,100 a month in rent A couple returned to living with their parents, enabling them to stash away £37,500 over 18 months towards purchasing a property. Comedy content creators Bec, 36, and her husband Sam Bartley, 32, vacated their one-bedroom flat in Archway, North London, and relocated to Bec's parents' residence in Herne Bay, Kent, during 2023. The duo found themselves unable to put any money aside due to their variable income while paying £1,100 monthly rent in the capital. They established firm boundaries while residing with Bec's parents - chipping in towards household expenses and taking turns with meal preparation. The 18 months of queuing for the shower proved worthwhile as the pair managed to accumulate a £37,500 deposit for a £225,000 two-bedroom terraced property in Folkestone, Kent - securing a mortgage of approximately £185,000. As their comedy venture @bamcomedyuk flourished while living with their parents, they managed to save roughly £2,000 monthly - occasionally setting aside a few hundred pounds more. Bec said: "We always wanted to own a property but in London we felt trapped in the renting game. We tried to save but all our money went on rent and living costs. It got to the point where we had to ask ourselves if we really wanted to rent forever. "Moving in with my parents wasn't something either of us found easy to bring up. Asking your partner to move in with their in-laws is a massive ask." The pair's cramped one-bedroom London flat doubled as a lounge, workspace, studio and filming location when they set up a comedy content venture during the Covid pandemic. Bec said: "Our living room was our dining room, office and studio all in one. "We use green screens and do a lot of filming, so having more space was something we desperately wanted." Their earnings, which varied at modest levels while establishing their comedy enterprise, vanished on rent, transport and everyday expenses. Following several tough discussions, the duo decided to relocate to Bec's parents' spare bedroom with the goal of building up a deposit. Prior to the move, the family established firm ground rules. Bec's parents opted against charging rent, instead requesting the couple chip in towards utility bills. They purchased their own food and took turns with meal preparation. Bec said: "We had an honest conversation before we moved in and that was really important. If they'd wanted rent we would have paid it. We still would have saved compared to London." While appreciative of the setup, the pair acknowledge it wasn't always straightforward. Bec's mum worked part-time as a therapist from home, meaning they had to stay quiet during client sessions. There were queues for the shower, fewer opportunities to socialise and little privacy compared to living alone. Bec said: "You miss having time together as a couple. It can feel like living with flatmates. Even having a disagreement, you don't necessarily want an audience. "There were also lifestyle differences. My parents are always busy, whereas we might want to spend the day binge-watching Love Island and end up feeling guilty." The couple admit one of the toughest aspects was shaking off the sense that returning home meant taking a backward step. Yet figures from the Institute for Fiscal Studies reveal the share of 25 to 34-year-olds still residing with parents has jumped by a third over the past 20 years. Meanwhile, four in 10 renters would contemplate returning to the family home to build up savings for a house deposit. Bec said: "You do feel like you've failed at first. "Society tells us we should move out in our early 20s and have everything sorted. Going back after years of renting can feel embarrassing. But the average age of buying a first home keeps going up. It's a different world now." Now comfortably established in their own property, featuring a courtyard garden and a converted loft podcast studio, the pair insist they harbour no regrets. They even find themselves missing certain elements of family life. Bec said: "We got really close with my parents again and now we don't see them every day." The duo are urging others battling to save for a property to weigh up moving back with relatives if possible. Sam said: "I even miss Bec's mum settling our disagreements and honestly I miss having help with the washing. It was worth it. In London it literally costs you money to breathe. What is the point in that? . "We sacrificed our north London life, and for the sake of 18 months we managed to get ourselves on the property ladder. It may not feel worth it at the start, but once you get your own property you'll feel the reward of that sacrifice. ". "If you have supportive parents and the opportunity is there, don't worry about the stigma. Yes you will miss your freedom for a while but you'll be surprised how much you can save, and it could completely change your future."