5 Benefits Of Renting When You Have Kids

Today, I want to talk about the benefits of renting. And more specifically, the benefits of renting when you have kids… Because I feel like renting with children is something that’s been stigmatized and looked down on over the years. Despite the fact that it could be the perfect option for many families!

This is mostly due to the fact that many people assume kids will make too much noise, annoy the other tenants, or damage the property somehow. But these are all things that can be managed with good parenting. Thus, they aren’t valid reasons to make parents feel inferior for renting with their kids.

So, I want to shine a positive light on this topic. To show just how normal (and sometimes beneficial) it is to rent as a family.

1. It’s Usually Cheaper

The most obvious benefit of renting is that it’s almost always cheaper than buying a house yourself, at least on a monthly basis. Plus, if you’re living in a place where the utilities are combined with your monthly rent payment, it can be even more affordable! (Not to mention straightforward.)

And not only can this decrease in your living expenses help you save money for financial security and a future home (if you want one)… But it can also allow you to give your children more experiences in the moment. You may be able to afford more trips, classes that your kids want to take, etc. All because you have more money freed up in the short term!

So as you can see, the benefit of spending less money on your housing can go so much further than just extra savings!

2. You Aren’t Tied Down To A Specific Location

Next, when you rent you have the ability to move with minimal hassle. Whereas when you own a home, you’d usually have to worry about selling it before you could buy a new one somewhere else. Now, this might not be an issue for everyone…

For instance, maybe you’ve purchased a home in an area that you love and you’re more than happy to raise your family in it. In that case, owning a home might not feel like it’s tying you down at all.

But perhaps you’ve purchased a home in an area that you’ve grown out of in some way. For example… parents in particular, have a lot to think about in terms of where they live. So it’s not uncommon to hear of parents regretting their living situation because of the local school system, or lack of opportunity for their kids once they grow up.

When you rent, you leave yourself the opportunity to move to a different area if your current one proves to be unsuitable.

3. It Can Help Your Children Become Flexible Adults

Another potential benefit of being able to easily move locations with your family, is actually related to how flexible your children turn out as adults!

You see, when a child has grown up while only living in one home, one town, etc… It can sometimes leave them with a fear of the unknown. Which is why so many people end up settling down in the same area they grew up in. (Or very close by.) This isn’t always the case of course, but it is certainly something to think about.

Because imagine that you move your family several times throughout your children’s upbringing instead. This could leave your kids with the knowledge that no matter where they are, they’re safe and loved. It could even help them grow an appreciation for exploration and discovering new places. And these things would serve them well in their adult lives.

Showing your child that you can make a home out of any place is an important lesson.

4. It Helps Teach Kids Responsibility

One of the most overlooked benefits of renting with kids is the lesson of responsibility it can teach them. After all, it’s an entirely different thing to live in a home that someone else technically “owns”. You have to keep the house or apartment up to a certain standard, and you have to deal with the consequences if you don’t.

A great example of how this could play out is if your landlord is coming for an inspection. You could enlist the help of your kids to tidy up! And another learning opportunity could be if you notice any destructive behavior, you could gently remind your kids of the lease agreement and the rules they need to abide by.

Obviously, if you own your house then you could teach your children many of the same lessons. But there’s no denying that it might hold a different amount of weight if your kids knew that their parents had to answer to someone else as well!

5. It May Reduce Stress Throughout The Entire Family

Lastly, some of the benefits of renting are actually linked to less stress on you! And we all know that the less stressed a parent is, the less stressed the children are.

The main reason as to why renting lowers stress is obviously the lower housing costs. But not having to worry about making repairs yourself can be a huge load off as well. And additionally, knowing that you’re free to move anytime can also ease many people’s anxiety.

Whatever the case, the entire family will benefit from a more stress free environment.

Conclusion

Whether or not you decide to rent will come down to your own specific circumstances. But this article was meant to illustrate that, just as buying a house comes with its own set of benefits, renting does as well!

I hope you enjoyed reading, and if you’d like to hear more parenting tips, home management advice, etc… then please consider checking out some of my other posts! Such as this post about non-toy gifts for kids.