By CASSANDRA CHEW

Ms Jenny Chan always wanted to trade the comforts of living with her parents for the freedom of living on her own.

But the financial crisis has made her put that dream on hold.

The 25-year-old advertising account executive lives with her family in a Marymount condominium but, after working for more than nine months, thought about moving out.

'I've always liked the idea of living on my own, where I can make my own decisions and be responsible for what I do,' she explains.

She started exploring the idea of sharing an apartment, but after doing her sums, decided now is not a good time to increase her monthly expenditure.

'I realised that it was more sensible to stay home with my parents,' says the Singapore Management University graduate.

Aside from curbing a rise in her expenditure on food and rent by staying put, she is also shopping less and taking fewer taxi rides.

'I think it makes more sense to buy my own place instead of giving my money away through rent,' she says. 'Hopefully, I will have my own place before I turn 30.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Oct 18, 2008.