My adult kids live at home. Space is tighter and costs are higher, but it might be the best way for them to save enough money to buy a house.

• Alex Gonzalez, 56, had two of his adult children move back home after they graduated from college.
• He doesn't charge them rent, but asks that they use that money to save for a down payment on a home.
• He'd like more elbow room and his costs have increased, but he enjoys the extra time with his kids.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Alex Gonzalez, 56, a financial advisor for money-advice platform Thrivent in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.