I want my mother-in-law to move in with us. Multigenerational households are great for the family budget, and we love having her around.

• My wife and I are considering asking my mother-in-law to move in with us.
• There are plenty of benefits to multigenerational households.
• We have room in our home for her, it's good for our budget, and we love spending time with her.

My mother-in-law was recently widowed. Although she is independent, in good health, and has her own home, my wife and I are considering having her move in with us. This way of living, with multiple generations of a family under one roof, is known as "intergenerational households." And it can offer some valuable benefits.

I'm in favor of intergenerational households for many reasons — and why my family might try this at home.

Many countries do it

Intergenerational households are common in many other countries. Research from the UN shows that as of 2019, in 67 out of 100 countries that had data available, older people tend to live with their extended families instead of alone. When I lived in Japan, I remember seeing how common it was for young adults to keep living at home with their parents well into their 30s or beyond.

Living with multiple generations under one roof is a great way for families to stay connected and for young people to save on rent while starting their careers. This way of living is not so rare in America, either. Pew Research shows that as of 2021, about 18% of the US population resided in multigenerational households.

It's not always easy to share a home with a grandparent or your parents; sometimes, people want to get out from under their parents' roof or have more privacy. But sometimes, sharing living space with older family members is the best way to make ends meet and keep your family connected and strong.

It's good for the family budget

A few years ago, my wife, kids, and I moved to a new house that is bigger than our former home. Sometimes, this house feels a little "too big." We have an extra bedroom, multiple bathrooms, and more than enough space for one more person. And my mother-in-law is no freeloader; if she moves in with us, she has offered to help contribute to our monthly household expenses.

I'm not going to charge steep rent to my wife's mother, but it would be great to have another adult in the house to help pay the mortgage and utilities. Splitting the bills seems to be a good strategy for many intergenerational households; Pew Research from 2022 has found that families who live this way are less likely to fall into poverty. When you have more people to share the costs of maintaining a household, the whole family can feel a little more financially comfortable.

We love my wife's mom, and she's easy to have around

Even though she's enjoying retirement, is in good health, and doesn't "need" to move in with us, my wife, kids, and I like the idea of having my mother-in-law live with us. Our kids are teenagers and don't have many years left of living at home before leaving for college and starting careers. It would be fun for our kids to spend more time with their grandmother during this special time.

What else are families for besides helping each other through life and spending time together? No one knows how much time we have, so we might as well spend it with the people we love most. My family is still discussing the possibility of having my wife's mother move in. But if we can find a way to make it work, we might do it. Becoming an intergenerational household could help our family make happy everyday memories and feel a little closer and better connected.