‘Empty nesters’ is a term often used to describe the parents of children who have all left home, with the last one having left in the previous five years, often for work or for University. Usually 45 to 65 years old, they make up around 8-10% of the UK population, although the effects of high house prices, the need for increasingly large deposits on mortgages, high rents and squeezed standards of living may change this.
Sometimes the empty nest is an illusion. Despite the heartache (or relief!) at the offspring leaving home, many parents note a ‘boomerang effect’: those who live close by may enjoy their independence but come home for meals and washed clothes; if at university they may soon return for holidays and study breaks.
Nonetheless, the switch to an empty nest can be daunting at first, and there is all kinds of help available online to direct those who find themselves affected emotionally to cope with the sadness, create new opportunities and find support. It’s time for parents to forge a new life for themselves as their parenting role has now reduced, to a greater or lesser degree, to a part time one.
There’s an old adage in the self-storage industry that people need storage when faced with the three ‘D’s: death, divorce and disasters such as flooding or fire. Sadly, empty nesting also comes with a proviso. The big change reflects in the divorce rate among empty nesters. It has soared from 1-in-10 to 1-in-4 in the US, with UK figures harder to track for the last decade, although the ONS has found that while divorce in virtually all age groups had decreased there was an increase in the over-50s, and the 40 to 44 age bracket seeing the most divorces.
Fortunately, we’re no longer only there for those tough moments, and today people store for happier reasons like round the World trips, weddings and even just to make the most of the space in their homes. Today’s Lifestyle Storer carefully uses storage to ensure a better quality of life and make the most of their space.
As with most life changes, whilst there may be sadness and time needed to adapt to change. Becoming an ‘empty nester’ also offers the opportunity to perhaps take on some new challenges or lifestyle changes, perhaps taking up exercise or learning a new skill like sailing. Maybe it’s a good time to start that business.
Just a few of the ways that easyStorage can support whatever changes you make include:
· Taking that round the world trip
easyStorage is here to support you with storage at every stage of the way as your new life emerges. And we do, of course, hope that, despite any potential sadness, becoming an empty nester will bring you fulfilling new opportunities, new happiness and the opportunity to embrace life to the full.
An online quote for storage is available 24/7 (there’s even a useful space calculator) or speak to one of our helpful storage specialists up until 7pm most days on 0800 061 4091.
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