I have raised two sons without financial help from their father and recently put the oldest through college. He is now 23 and is working a minimum-wage job.
He finds it tedious, but he’s stuck with it while he looks for better opportunities. He lives at home, and I don’t charge him for anything, even though his food, cellphone, car insurance and car-maintenance expenses all add up to substantial sums.
I figure he needs to save up funds so that he can eventually become independent and move into his own apartment. (He pays for his gas, work lunches and outings with friends.) His younger brother will start college in two months, so I am preparing for another four years of significant expenses.
These costs will strain my budget; although I work full time, I will add weekend hours to my schedule. We live in Los Angeles and frequently witness the sad plight of destitute people living in tents throughout our neighborhood.