I just moved to a new city, so I'm not getting any financial aid from my parents yet.... And I don't plan to. But I know if a scary financial situation comes up, I have my parents to turn to. I had an excellent job for someone who's still in school (I just moved, but I'll get another excellent one soon, I hope!), I have more than a month's expenses saved up... I have student debt, but no credit cards of any sort. I feel like I'm doing pretty well financially, for someone who's 23.

Tuesday, my cat was sick. He had a lump on his jaw. If that had been cancer, like I feared, it could have been thousands to treat him. I don't have thousands, I have a month's expenses and no job. I could either get a high interest credit card to pay for it, or a loan from my parents which I could pay back over a few months, interest free. Frankly, given that my parents have the resources to help, I'd much rather borrow from them than from VISA!

Hmmm.

I don't really have anyone in a position to help me out that way, and I'm very happy that I don't really need that help, but I can't say I'd refuse a bit of a leg up if I did have a family member willing and able to give a hand.

well i think that you have to put things into perspective too. i'm in my 20s and although i'm 99% financially independent - sometimes there are large bills or what not that come along that i can't cover on my own. (i.e. the part of my medical nonsense that my health insurance doesn't cover). that's when i go to my mom and bat my eye lashes and ask for help. i can understand why some people rely more on their families than others. i have 2 brothers that still live at home, and are all older than me. one pays rent and contributes to the household yet the other does not. he worked as a car salesperson and now he's w/o a job - so he's never been much of a help. he seems to be happy relying on my mom to do everything for him - and at this point in his life i think that if she kicked him out, he'd be at a loss for what to do. he wouldn't know how to pay bills for utilities and he would be living on the street in no time fast.

Unfortunately, I'm not financially independent yet, and I will be 26 next month. But I recently built up to having 3 part-time jobs and hopefully I'll be on my way to take care of myself.

ilanac13, it's definitely those medical things and the emergencies that do make me sometimes wish I had some sort of "safety net."

UrbanBohemian, wow! I've got a lot of respect for you

being financially independent is the only solution for me. my parents paid for 3 years of college and i paid for 1. they did not contribute to my rent or other bills because they wanted me to stay at home but i wanted to be on my own. i work hard & pay for everything myself. it's the only way to be. i have a friend who depends on her parents for everything, and she works 2 jobs & is having a baby in 2 months! i could not live with myself if i was asking my parents for money all the time.

I'm 27 and I couldn't find a job after college. I moved back in with my parents and still live here rent free 3 years later. I eventually found a part time job, but it pays next to nothing. I take night classes to get a certification that will hopefully open up more job prospects.

I have no health insurance and use county and state programs to get very minimal medical treatment, but I still pay out of pocket for most things.

My car died over a year ago, so I borrow my mom's for work. I'm saving up to buy a used car, but I am still a long ways away.

I've deferred my $20,000 worth of student loan payments because I don't make enough to even cover one payment by itself each month.

If it wasn't for my parent's help I would be sleeping on a friend's couch (mooching off them) or much worse off. My parents don't have a lot to give, but because I have food and shelter, I have no credit card debt because I only purchase what I can afford.

I'm going to go with LAZY as the appropriate stereotype for 20 & 30 somethings still living at home.

There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to be hanging out in your parents basement in your twenties, let alone older.

I am currently paying my way through university -- NO STUDENT LOANS, no parental help. I've been living on my own for the past FOUR years, and plan to stay that way.
I'm absolutely baffled by my friends, especially the ones who work the same job(s) that I do, that insist they must rely on their parents & banks to pay for everything. I don't at all, so clearly the fault is their own poor money-management skills.

I find it unnerving how many individuals are so comfortable being free-loading bums. I would find few situations more humiliating than being over 25, unemployed (or employed in an entry-level job), and relying on mommy & daddy to carry me through the month. It's disgusting.

I've been financially independent since I was kicked out of home at 17... and funnily enough now my dad owes me $5000!! for over 2 years!! I do hope he pays me back soon as that money would really help.

These people mooching off their folks really need a wake up call. I've got a friend who rents(for cheap) his dads spare home, his mum still does his washing, cooks him a fry up for breakfast, his girlfriend pays all their bills, cooks and cleans and he spends his money on motorbikes and pot. Its really really sad.

I would be ashamed to have to ask my father for money, and I'm only 23. Although I understand some peoples requirement, when your down on your luck or emergency situations

Wow gemsera me too! Well I wasn't kicked out so much as I left at 17 to go to college, but I've been financially independent every since. I had to be...my mom lives pay check to pay check and my 'sperm donor' padre is a deadbeat who owed back pay of about $18K in child support that we'll never see a penny of.

Sad part is that I'm doing so well financially (and I'm only 22!) that I've surpassed my mom, live very well, fully set up with a retirement fund, savings, investment fund, brand new car that's fully paid and I'm about to buy my dream house that's a gorgeous historic victorian mansion! Now I just get to worry about paying back those student loans after grad school:)

I don't think it's fair to say that all 20 somethings who need financial help from their parents are lazy! I just recently graduated with my degree and it took awhile for me to find a job. I'm financially independent now but it wasn't always the case! Also, not everybody can work and do school at the same time...no person is the same!! I'm not suprised by these stats and to be honest I'm suprised that ppl are shocked by this I mean if you think about it when you're in college nobody helps prepare you for what happens after graduation! Not everybody can get a job straight out, and not everyone can get a job stable enough to support themselves without additional help be it by loans or through parents. Granted and true, some people are just THAT lazy....

I'd say I'm 95% independent. I've put myself through college (still attending at 26, change of major). I'm paying back student loans as I can. I don't have health insurance/make too much to be eligible for assistance. When I get sick and can't cover the cost of medication/doctor visits I do have to go 'half-sies' or borrow from my parents. I always try to pay them back or at the very least take them out for dinner/movie a few times when they give me the 'don't worry about it' line. I don't like doing it, but I'm lucky to have them there when it's of dire need. I refuse to ask them for help otherwise, I just feel I'm flat out too old for that. Then again I know people that were handed their college education, racked up credit card debt throughout college, never worked while going and are living at home at my age struggling to even find work so...it goes both ways with our generation.

Savvy Sugar, I think there's a fallacy in these two sentences:

"According to a recent Pew survey, 68 percent of baby boomers are supporting at least one of their adult children financially. It's hard to believe that only a third of 20- and 30-somethings are financially independent."

This stat is not saying that 68 percent of 20- and 30-somethings are not financially independent. It's saying 68 percent of baby boomers report supporting at least one child.

For example, among that 68 percent of baby boomers, say 20 percent are supporting two kids. So in reality, the actual number of 20- and 30-year olds receiving financial support could be higher than what would make up 68 percent of the total population.

In addition, another thing that makes those two statements together false is that those parents could have varying definitions of "support" and that support could be to varying degrees. "Support" could be their kids living at home or "support" could be helping their child with big, one-time expenses, like medical bills, etc. Maybe even some parents consider birthday gifts and dinners out to be "support" even though their kids are otherwise financially independent. Or maybe they consider helping to watch their grandchildren to be "financial support" because the parents then don't have to pay for a babysitter.

So I don't think we can take that stat to mean that 1/3 of young adults are financially independent.

I think a lot has to do with the job market. You don't get out of college any more and start working for the company you will be at for the rest of your life. It took me three years until I finally got a job with benefits, and I had a Master's. My parents pay for my student loans from grad school and I do live with them, but I pay part of the utilities and for my own food. I had lived on my own for three years and moved back in after a bad breakup. My fiance is pretty much the same way.

Yupp I guess I an one of those thirds too!

I pay for all my stuff, I don't think I have the balls to ask my parents for money to pay my bills because I didn't budget correctly or spent my money shopping!

i think it all depends on where you live- i live in an area of the country where it is hard to find an apartment to rent that is less than 1000 bucks a month.. and that is even if you are splitting with a roommate (its 1000 a piece!). that and its a tought job market- i have a fulltime job- it just doesn't pay all that well. i was on my own for a while but moved back in with my parents for a few years to square myself away. i plan on moving back out soon.. but its just hard to do! i don't see myself as lazy- i work full time and go to grad school too... i'm trying to improve my job options so i can be 100% self sufficent!

I've been financially independent since I was 16. The sad thing is I have also been taking care of my family moreso lately my mom up until last year. I actually don't have anyone to count on but me, when I lost my job, I was almost homeless, I just worked 2 pt jobs until I could find a ft that paid decently and then I worked ft and pt. I don't know what to do and I have no options to just work or depend on someone. It's great if you can, it kinda helps you get on your feet but when you don't have that option its like you're always grasping for straws.

You can tell half the people on here are not from big cities. To pay rent in NYC is 1,200 bucks a month for a studio closet. Or more.. Then transportation, and over priced resturants and bars.. I have friends who are married and cant afford their own homes. Some moved back into their parents house.. some never left.. I have a friend who is married male at 37 lives with his wife and parents in the same home. Saving money. It isn't laziness.. Times are hard.

And those of you on your own.. do you have more than 40,000 in the bank??? If you don't I dont consider you in a good position. People I know think if you make less than 100k by the time your 35 your in big trouble..

So I think it depends where you live. Times are tough. Jobs are few. And people step all over you to steal your job. I know a girl whose 34 and moved back home with her parents after she divorced. She has a good job but just cant afford a house. and renting is a waste of money you'll never own anything if you rent all your life.

LA Chicky, even those who live on their own in big cities do not always have those that they can depend on. It's great your friends can move back home but everyone does not have that option.

LA Chicky, I definitely don't live in a city as big as New York or LA -- but those are hard to come by in Canada.

Nevertheless, the rent on the apartment I share with my boyfriend is still $1000/mo. So? We more than manage.
Also, renting is not a waste of money. I find only people running out of excuses for their own codependency like to say this. Renting is a great way to have a place to live for less than the cost of mortgage payments. AND best of all, if you move, you don't have to worry about selling, you just have to give a month's notice.
Know what's really stupid? Taking out a 25+ year mortgage and feeling so good about yourself for owning a home. Not only is the USA spiraling into a depression that comes in second only to that of the 1930's, the real-estate market is such a black hole, no one can possibly purchase a home right now and count it as a good idea. But, ironically, not a single American seems to be aware of this, and continues in their day-to-day existence of over-spending and taking out loans to pay for loans that they took out to buy who knows what, while half-finished houses sit empty on their lots because the 19yro that got two $500 000 25yr mortgages has - SURPRISE - failed to pay the bills.

I definitely don't have $40 000 in the bank, but I don't count that against me, and you shouldn't either. I don't think having 100k by the time I'm 35 is going to be a problem, since I'm planning to enter a career after graduation where that amount, if not more, will be my starting salary (and I won't blow out 35 candles on my cake for another decade and then some).

Anyone 37 years old living at home with their spouse should be embarrassed to exist. Tell your friend he's an adult, and it's time to grow up. By 37, not only should you be completely financially independent from your parents, you should have some substantial assets of your own (savings, investments, HOUSE) -- to have nothing to show for it means you got a big F on the report card of life.

Oh boohoo times are hard wah wah wah. f*cking move then.

I think everyone has their own unique financial situation that is really just their own business and no one should judge (*hithatsmybike*)!!!!

Everyone is just trying to do the best they can with whatever resources they have available!

I'm assuming that people on here who are so judgmental about people living off of their parents or school loans have no credit card debt whatsoever.

There are plenty of people who mooch off of their parents, but there are plenty of people who receive help from their parents as they attend law school or medical school or whatever. If your parents want to pay it forward so that you can receive the schooling you need to make a better life for yourself, I don't see a problem with that as long as you are willing to pay it forward to the next generation when your time comes.

Hrmm...my parents paid for my college education, but I always held some sort of job to save up a little money and pay for any personal expenses. I graduated in three years and then took this past year off to work and live at home, so I had a lot of support from my parents, but of course, you can't earn all that much money to sustain yourself for long.

In less than two weeks, I'll be starting law school and moving across the country to do so. I could take out loans for school, but my parents are more into the idea of them paying for the costs now and then me paying it back somehow in the future. Since I won't have time to work, except for summers, during law school, I'll end up being a lot more dependent on my parents for the next few years than I even was during college.

I definitely don't think that I am being selfish or "lazy" in any way because my parents are supporting me and helping me in increasing my human capital. However, I do realize that I am very very blessed to have them be fully behind my educational endeavors.

My DH and I have been financially independent for a while, but his brother and my sister both have received heaping amounts of financial assistance from our parents.

I think it depends on the child and whether they have enough initiative and/or ability to care to strike out on their own and make it. Plus, if the parents are willing to provide that assistance, then that's their decision.

I think the people who are judging those who live at home (myself included, sorry for generalising) are in part quite peed off at how easy some people are taking life. As though they never want to better themselves, they are happy to live life through someone elses rules and money.

If you had a hard time growing up etc, you DONT have any options but to work yourself to the bone, so sorry, i'm not going to give you a break cause you have your cooking and washing done, and bills paid.

That said, everyone is different, and some people just dont care what they amount to, and thats fine. I live my life the way I want and hope you all do the same!

My parents always help me if I need it and I'm 25 now. I broke my ankles and leg bones two years ago and couldn't work for six months. If I didn't have the support of them, I would have been evicted and my car would have been re-poed! I've started my own business about a year and a half ago and am just now started to reap the benefits of it but they supported me the entire way through. I

"I am currently paying my way through university -- NO STUDENT LOANS, no parental help." ... I am 100% baffled by this -- HOW?! How much is your tutition?

Wow, some of the people on here have gotten CRAZY judgmental pretty quickly! I can't imagine being that pi$$ed at something that *doesn't affect me personally IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER*! Frankly, those who have been financially independent since they were 14/16/17 should be proud of themselves, but not everyone is so unlucky, so why b!tch at them for having better luck than you?

Hey, hithatsmybike! I'm going to graduate college at ~24, after taking a year off to build up savings/work. So if I'm working at an entry level position a year later, I should be ashamed? That simply doesn't make sense. And "more than manag[ing]" when you're responsible for $500/month isn't something I'd be too proud of. Try ~$900/month, each. That's a little more difficult than $500.

Yeah, I wish I was "subsidized," which is what my friends and I called our fellow college students whose parents paid for nearly everything they have. I've been independent since 16. Yeah, I have student loans and other debt, but at least I'm not mooching off my parents. My parents and relatives don't have the means to lend me and my brothers money even if asked. I moved out of my parents house when I was 16 and no matter how hard it gets, I'm not moving back. My parents dumped me off their health and dental insurance when I was 14. What was I supposed to do, emancipate myself and sue them? Also beyond my means.

That said, if my parents had the means to help me out, I'd probably take their help. I just try to not get bitter about it. Being angry about someone else's finances isn't going to put more money in your bank account.

For what it's worth, I do live in a major metropolitan city.

I think the main reason for this is the fact that living expenses have soared in the last 20 years, especially in large cities, while entry-level salaries have remained low.

I'm 27 and have supported myself from the age of 20, except for the year I did my MSc where my parents helped out with living expenses (EUR 400 a month) since I had no time for a part-time job. It's been difficult and I still have EUR 5000 in student debt to pay back. I didn't ask my parents for anything because they don't earn much money themselves and have my autistic younger brother to support.

I'm earning an OK salary now as a web developer, but since I live in a very expensive city, I don't manage to save much. I don't have a lavish lifestyle - I live in studio apartment, rarely go to restaurants, my wardrobe is mostly H&M and Zara, etc. - but the heavy taxation and high cost of living eat up most of my salary. Also, jobs like mine aren't readily available in smaller cities, so moving is not an option.

If my parents were affluent and offered to help me out a little, I certainly wouldn't say no.

Wow. We've got some strong opinions/judgments here.

A big note- Not all jobs are equal paying. Therefore, 5 different people can all take the same track and not end up with the same finances. My sister (an engineer) had a starting salary of $60k with quick advancements to $80k within 5 years. I (in a creative field) was lucky to get a job with a starting salary of $32K... and that's in LA. In my field you have to start at entry level. Glad you have such a charmed job field, hithatsmybike, but I do what I love and if my starting salary has to be $70k under what you make, I still love it and work hard at it.

LA is really expensive to live in (holy cow expensive), but it offers the best advancement in my field... that's why I moved here. I live within my means for the most part, but my parents have had to help with some medical expenses that were unexpected. I have not yet been able to start truly saving, but I am financially knowledgeable about what needs to happen in the next year or so.

The only reason I pity people who still live at home is just because of the experiences and growth you miss by doing so. However, if you live at home and pay rent/some utilities and do your own laundry/dishes/etc, you are on a much different track than a moocher who's mom still does everything for them.

Don't judge people. You don't know their life circumstances and what got them to the point they are at. No one has a right to tell someone they should be embarrassed by their circumstances.

runningesq, my tuition amounts to roughly $6000/yr + an additional $800 or so for textbooks. I pay for it by working. Someone who takes out students loans for the same amount -- or less -- should give it a try sometime.

Hi, I'm 26 and I have a fear of debt! I have never had any sort of debt, but I don't judge people who do. Everyone has their own way of making things meet, and if it works for them, then good for them!

A couple things....

1) That is amazingly cheap tuition!!! My undergrad alone was more than double that annually minus room/board, books, registration & student fees (Note: I did not attend private school, but a Top 5 public university)! I agree that you can make it work, but it depends where you go (and if you have in-state residency, etc.).

2) I was very fortunate to get through my BA & MS degrees without debt or loans - scholarships & grants are what got me through, although I did work through college. I moved to New York City by the time I was 22 to get my MS and had a full-time job lined up. The initial moving expenses (I moved from Michigan) wiped out all of my savings - renting, security deposits, broker fees (although it wasn't too extreme) furniture, transportation - and I'm someone who has always been very financially responsible, only purchased what I needed... My parents offered to help me if I needed it in my first couple months or so (I had to move here for training in June but my job wouldn't start until the end of August, so I was needed some aid by August), and I promised them I would pay it back as soon as I got my finances under control. It wasn't a lot, but I knew once I started working I would be fine. Luckily, there are a lot of free things to do in NYC, and that's how I filled my days. It took a lot of discipline!

My full-time job started in the mid-40s so I was able to make ends meet, I was able to pay off what I owed my parents quickly, and I was still able to go to school, but I would say that I got lucky. I was able to save that year so that I could financially protect myself.

Medical expenses seem to be a common problem, though. I was off insurance for one month waiting for my new job to start and EVERYTHING went wrong. I spent almost $1,000 in a week that I had to pay out-of-pocket. As I mentioned, I was lucky that I had saved and could afford it - that's definitely more than a classic emergency fund!

The state of the economy is unfortunate, but I've always lived by the rule that I don't buy what I can't pay back in full unless it's absolutely necessary (food, shelter, clothing). My boyfriend is looking at law school next year and we're already saving and looking at how we're going to get through the next 3 years. Our goal is to walk away from it with no debt, and I think we can accomplish it. He's saved enough to take out minimal loans, I'm going to play breadwinner, and in the summer he'll take jobs to pay off said-loans. We also know that we want to postpone the idea of marriage until this is under control and we are able to pay for it (and also not end up in massive debt).

What we're aiming on doing is hard to do, but I think if you do a lot of planning and keep yourself updated on what's going on, you can make smart investments, you can scrimp and save where you need to, and hopefully make it by!

I don't know where you guys are going to school, but I know you definitely have a choice.. I did my first year in the USA where my tuition was HALF what it is now, and I had been looking at going to another school in the state where the tuition matches that of where I am now. I've seen the price tags on Ivy Leagues and I don't know why anyone chooses that unless their parents are wildly loaded.

As mentioned, I paid for my schooling through scholarships and grants, but more importantly, when a school is ranked in the top 10 for its program in the country, it's definitely going to give you a one-up in certain careers. My university had an amazing program, amazing atmosphere, top academics, and I couldn't see myself anywhere else. For my 2nd degree, I wasn't as particular because it was just to get an add'l salary increase...and again, I found grants to pay for it, so it ultimately didn't cost me anything.

In other news, my parents aren't *wildly loaded,* and my brother went to an Ivy League School. The majority of Ivy Leagues will tell you that you need to worry about getting in, not paying for it (as they can pick about 3 eligible groups of students for their freshman class but can only select one). They definitely help you find the financial support, and for a degree that, with all expenses, cost about $40,000 annually, my brother only owed about $5,000 when he was done (my parents hardly contributed)...so I wouldn't knock it unless you have the details.

I don't understand why people are so judgemental. Good for you, hithatsmybike, that your tuition costs are so low and that you are going to earn a nice salary with your first job. It is not that easy to just give up everything and move. Ever thought about relocation costs? Time and energy spent trying to find a new job? What is wrong with moving back home for a few months to save up some money so that you can afford the deposit and rent for your own place? Seriously...putting one month's deposit on an apartment and then paying that month's rent as well, do you know how tough that can be if you're working an entry-level job that pays about 35K? Don't forget the furniture you need to purchase as well. So, in that view, there is NOTHING wrong with saving up for a few months while living with your parents.

I went to a private school and yes, my parents paid for my $45,000/year tuition. They also gave me a hefty allowance every month. They also paid for my apartment. So hate me! Still, I took a part-time tutoring job and saved up what I earned from that. I guess I am lucky enough to have parents who care and who want me to succeed with their help. After all, they want the best for me. It is sad to hear about those people who are kicked out at such an early age and have to fend for themselves. I admire all you guys, don't get me wrong. But DON'T get bitter about the fact that others have more. Good for you that you can handle your own finances, but don't get all high and mighty about it, and put other people down.

cvandoorn--that was beautifully put!

hithatsmybike -- I'm curious, what school in the USA did you go? I'm assuming that you are not living in the US now, so were you an international student at that time? The cheapest prices for tuition I've seen are for state schools and for residents of that state. So, for instance, according to US New's database, the cheapest tuition in the country right now is $2048 for Dalton State College (GA) for residents and $7840 for out-of-state.

Whether or not it's possible to choose a college with a lower cost doesn't always matter in the end. If you go the value school and it doesn't have the right program for you, or if you are miserable while you are there, or if it doesn't have any sort of job placement/alumni connection, then does the money matter? Ivy League and related schools have amazing job/internship programs, often with opportunities in a wide variety of fields. An unknown public school or brand new private may not have the same resources.

Working while you are in school is not always an option, either. Some programs are incredibly rigorous and require a lot of time. Other programs require a full-time class schedule with a full-time clinical experience -- meaning you're already working and going to school. Most colleges forbid first-years from having cars or living off-campus. Some campuses aren't located in a city. Some campuses aren't located in cities with good job opportunities for students. And sometimes, the money you do make isn't enough to fix anything. Minimum wage doesn't always go that far, even if you budget all of your paycheck to the college and do not spend money anywhere else.

I am not saying that people should just pick the most expensive college and let Mom and Dad foot the bill, nor am I suggesting that someone should get mired in debt and chill at home with the folks for the next two or three decades. I just find it incredibly narrow-minded to say that because you were able to work, most if not all students should do the same. People who take out student loans aren't lazy good-for-nothings.

this is a comment for "sunny"... i think it's funny you talk about initiative for your siblings who aren't married.. the key word in your comment was "DH", and when you have a DH you typically have 2 incomes.. i think if you're married you're not in the category of people who aren't , so hold off on the judgement.

I have no shame at all living at home for as long as possible [until I want kids]. I have plenty of freedom as I come and go. I don't see the point to the rush to get more debt.

hithatsmybike, don't you think you're a little bit hypocritical to be all high and mighty about your lack of student loans when, according to your blogs, you have credit card debt and lines of credit from your bank? I think the people who have school loans are much smarter than people who have credit card debt because typically the loans can be deferred during schooling, are tax deductible, and have a much lower interest rate.

It's not a competition, everyone gets there their own way. Everyone has different situations and needs to be met, and no matter how a person gets there, props to them for making it regardless of student loans, parental aid... or the obvious lack of compassion and understanding one might fail to pick up in college.

brista, I atteded BYU in Provo, UT when I lived in the USA.

I was not an international student (my dad remarried when I was a teenager to my stepmom, who is from Utah and that's how I got state residency for school).
But even if I wasn't a resident, I think tuition is the same for all students at BYU because it's a private school heavily funded by the LDS church..

In any case, now I attend a school in Canada (I don't want to mention which one because, well, this is the internet and I don't wish to share that; I won't even mention the province I live in), that has an excellent reputation in science and medicine, specifically my program.
Canada doesn't really do the Ivy League thing though, and my tuition is definitely one of the more expensive ones in the country (no, seriously, don't laugh!).

facin8me, I have a line of credit from the bank. You want to know what that pays for? BRACES.
NOT SCHOOL.
I pay monthly, so each month my CREDIT CARD is debited a charge which I then pay off or TRANSFER to my LINE OF CREDIT (because of the lower interest rate).
I can hardly justify taking out a student loan to pay for my vanity, so next time you wish to accuse me of being "hypocritical", maybe you should do some more reading of my blog.

And while you tout the amazing benefits of student loans, their pretty easy to get screwed by as well. I don't know what country you live in, but here, if you reduce your courseload any semester while on a student loan, you have to start paying them back right away -- regardless of what your next semester or year looks like.
A friend of mine took 2 or 3 courses one semester, and then 5 the next, but she received a letter saying she must start repaying her loans immediately because she had "interrupted her studies". Nevermind that she wasn't finished her degree. She's now entering her last year and making monthly payments on those wonderful student loans of hers. Not exactly a position I wish to find myself in.

I didn't realize that orthodontists in Canada take department store credit cards to pay off braces.

Regardless, a school loan is still a lower interest rate than anything you receive from a typical bank. And unless you have plans to become a part-time student, you don't have to worry about your loans coming out of deferment. If you have a loan from the government, your loan can be deferred again if you resume your studies to go to graduate school or professional school.

It is hypocritical of you to chastise people for having school debt when you have your own debt financed by credit cards and other commercial means. Furthermore, it is hypocritical of you to rail against others for taking handouts when you have attended two universities subsidized by a government (which most Canadian universities are, and that's why your tuition is so cheap) and a religious organization. You haven't done it on your own- you've done it with the help of the Canadian government and the Mormons. So essentially you're not so different from those you complain about.

Damn, I had a good comment typed up and clicked the wrong thing!

hithatsmybike - Oh, I have so much to say. So very much. $6,000 is REALLY FREAKING LOW compared to most tuition. EXTREMELY LOW. A $1000/month rent shared between two people is EXTREMELY LOW, as well. You clearly have extremely low living costs, so how dare you get all high and mighty and judgmental towards everyone else?
Secondly, your friend is an idiot if she got screwed like that. Personal story time! I took a year off of school to work, get my mind wrapped around what I want to do when I "grow up," and such. So the Department of Education started sending me bills in August of 07, when it was clear I wasn't going to be a student in the fall. Right now, I'm back at school to finish up. So I'm no longer paying those. I sent a nice little letter to the Department of Ed, saying "Hey, I'm going back to school, may I defer my payments?" They sent back a nice little letter saying "Of course!" Also, your friend BROKE THE TERMS of her loan agreement. When you take a student loan, you agree to be a full time student. The standard US definition of that is 12 credit hours per semester. The standard credit hour per course is 3 credit hours. She took "2 or 3" classes one semester, meaning she took 6-9 credit hours. That's totally her own fault. It's also her own fault for not letting the Department of Ed know if she had a good reason for not doing a full schedule that semester! I did 6 credit hours one semester because I was in a bad car accident, and couldn't handle a full load - I wrote a letter to the DofE letting them know, they never billed me. And hey, at least I get to take any interest I pay on my student loans out of my taxes! So that's a nice boost, it's like not even paying them!

And I'm with facin8me, you DIDN'T do it all on your own. By going to a church funded college, you're doing it with the help of the church. My former coworker's daughter is starting at BYU this fall. She didn't have awesome grades and didn't get scholarships - but it's cheaper than in-state tuition for her, because of the Mormon church. So you took aid. You no longer get to look down on anyone who takes aid, or you're a hypocrite.

Brista, does that only cover public colleges? BYU is $2,040 per semester for LDS students!

ok facin8me, I see you're still struggling with reading here so I'm going to type this as clearly as I can:

I had a department store card for a COMPUTER (as stated in my blog).
I transferred the remaining balance of $1000 to my LINE OF CREDIT.
That amount has since been PAID OFF.

Conclusion: you got nothin'. Keep fishing though.

Ok and blah blah blah school is funded by the government/the church/whatever. How does that explain the thousands of students at my current university institution that are receiving financial aid?
Why does the student's union make it a point to b*tch & hold protests demanding tuition be LOWERED if it's "so cheap"? They also like to whine endlessly about the housing costs, so maybe you can write to them and let them know how good we have it.
God knows someone else has to tell them.

Ok, I was born into a country with a better government & more affordable schools. This is not a crime. I am a citizen of this country and I am entitled to the benefits thereof. It is not my fault or my problem that you were born worse off. Condemn me all you like, I would pay double if it came down to it. I had the option of finishing my degree at a local college here that would be about 2K cheaper a year, but I chose the more expensive institution for its prestige & reputation instead. I can still afford it, with room in my bank account to spare. It's only mid-way through August and I've already cleared $3000 this month. If I can do that, anyone can. People are lazy and they want a free ride, end of story. I work as hard as I need to for the things that I want, and would do so regardless of the price. If people have less, it's not my problem, it's theirs.

From what I remember, UofU where I was thinking of transferring before deciding on Canada, had tution of approximately $2500/term, which is less that I'm paying now. So if these US universities exist, what's the complaint?
Living in Utah is CHEAPER than where I am now, and EVERYTHING in the USA costs pennies compared to Canada. Granted, the difference is shrinking daily since your dollar is failing, but when I first moved back here, it cost twice as much to eat out or purchase any books & clothing.

I'm not struggling with your writing Bridget. You are struggling with the concept that while you are condemning people for taking out students loans, you use other credit means to finance your lifestyle and that this makes you a hypocrite. If you have paid off some of your debt, then good for you! But you're no different from people who take out school loans and pay them off. You are struggling with that fact that you have a subsidized education that allows you to finance the rest of your education with odd jobs.

Nobody cares about how good or bad you think you have it, just don't be a hypocrite.

Hithatsmybike - you seem to attribute your "good" financial situation to where you live and where you were born, while you call everybody else who seems to be in debt, living with their parents, or just generally struggling with their finances, lazy (and wanting a free ride). Not everybody receives the same benefits you do. Not everybody can just move to where you live and do the same as you did. Get off your high horse already and stop putting everybody else down. You even admitted in your blog about how jealous you are of a friend whose parents pay for everything. So even you would like a free ride! I don't care if you work hard for what you want - the majority of us do. Stop singing yourself praise and open your eyes. Clearly, you need to.

You're trying to invalidate my opinion with my citizenship, which isn't fair grounds for argument. I've lived, worked, and attended school in the USA, so I know exactly how hard done by americans are -- and no surprise, its next to impossible to drum up sympathy for their plight.

I don't think having a line of credit to finance my orthodontic treatment is hypocritical by any stretch of the imagination. The article was about 20-somethings seeking parental aid -- a category I am not a part of. It mentioned the average college debt for a graduate is $20 000 -- mine will be $0. I worked & paid for my school, and the things I purchase outside of it are a luxury. By having a line of credit, not only do I get a perfect smile through my graduation photos, I've also built up a strong credit history by meeting my payments and not overspending. This will be especially valuable considering the amount I'll be asking for to fund my professional education post-grad.
Since I'm nowhere near finished the post-secondary education I wish to obtain, taking out any loans at this point of time would be nothing short of stupid and probably just encourage me to work less because everything would already be "paid".
Maybe that's part of the problem with people that got up to their eyeballs in student debt: they just got used to paying their bills with someone else's money, and didn't really understand how much $20 000 actually was.

Neverthless, I'm not opposed to student loans, or any sort of loans -- a fact you seem to be blatantly ignoring because hey, if you acknowledged this, what would you have left to attack me with? -- sometimes they're a good investment towards your education/home/self/whatever. What I am opposed to is people that don't work, move home with mom & dad, complain that they can't find a job because 4yrs ago they took out 30K to get some bullsh*t fine arts degree and are now royally screwed. I don't have sympathy for adults that need to revert to being teenagers under their parents roof again. They're lazy and incompetent, period.