Growing up, I was taught pretty early on about the value of a dollar. I started working during the tenth grade and I understood how to save up money for things I wanted.
I began paying half of my monthly tuition for dance classes, I filled up my parents gas tank if I emptied it going out with friends, and I always made sure to put some of each week's paycheck into savings.
I'm not claiming I was a financially independent 16 year old. My parents were paying for my phone bill, helping me out if I was short on cash a certain month, and on top of that, paying all the adult bills (internet, insurance, food, heat, etc.) Mine were relatively small financial responsibilities, but they were crucial in how they prepared me for my time in college.
During my freshman year, I applied for a credit card. Never once did it cross my mind to have my parents pay my bill. I had a job and earned money, they already helped with my on-campus housing payments, and these were my own expenses.
When I hear that other kids my age aren't paying their own bills or are expecting their parents to pay for their purchases, I can't help but be confused. Unless you absolutely can not work (CAN not, not WILL not) there is no excuse to be relying on your parents' money.
Maybe this is coming of as judgmental, but I was raised with the mindset that you earn the things you want. If you are responsible for your purchases, you should be responsible for the payment as well.
I'm not unreasonable - my parents will send me money for food once in a while, especially if work has been scarce that month. I understand having your parents help out with, or completely cover the cost of, necessities. After all, you're still not completely independent of them, and college is a transitional period where you probably need that financial safety net.
What I have trouble wrapping my head around is students who spend their parent's money without regard for it's value and on luxuries. If you want to go see your favorite artists in concert that's great - but that's not something your parents should be paying for, unless it's as a gift.
I see friends and classmates, especially at a higher-tuition university like Fordham, who spend their parents money without even considering the fact that they could be earning their own.
I understand that some families have the means and the desire to financially support their children, and that is going to vary by situation. There’s nothing inherently wrong with living off your parents’ money, it’s just a choice I don’t personally understand.
If you have the ability to start supporting yourself financially, don’t you want the practice and experience?
