Are you working, living with your parents — and paying all the housing costs too? You're far from alone these days.

Multigenerational living has become increasingly common, and for many working adults, the arrangement comes with a financial weight that is easy to underestimate and harder to unwind once it takes hold. MarketWatch explored the topic in depth in March 2026, asking five financial experts how workers can manage shared housing costs, support aging parents, and still protect their own financial health. Family Credit Management President and Founder Michael McAuliffe was among those contributing guidance.

His advice was grounded in two ideas that apply whether a family is just beginning to navigate this situation or already deep in it. The first is to get organized early. Understanding what accounts exist, how bills are being paid, and where critical documents like insurance policies, tax returns, and passwords are stored is foundational. The families who handle multigenerational finances well are almost always the ones who have a clear picture of the full situation before a crisis forces the issue.

The second idea is about boundaries, not in a cold sense, but in a practical one. McAuliffe pointed out that stepping in to cover financial gaps without a plan is one of the most common ways short-term generosity becomes long-term financial strain. Clear expectations, shared documentation of who pays what, and a deliberate approach to shared expenses protect everyone involved, including the parents being supported.

The piece also covers a range of additional guidance from other experts, including the value of maintaining separate budgets for each household, creating a durable power of attorney, and knowing when to bring in a financial professional to help sort through the complexity. For any family navigating this kind of arrangement, it is a genuinely useful read.

Read the full article at MarketWatch.