<p>So this semester has been in full swing and my parents just told me that they won’t be supporting me anymore. I have tuition and housing covered for the rest of the semester cause I’m on a full ride but I’m now worried that I won’t have enough for food. They said if I want money I have to visit them one weekend every month but I simply can’t. I work 2 jobs and my school load/ecs are heavy so i simply don’t have the time to drive 3 hours back to Houston. Spring break is coming up and its probably the only time I’ll have to truly enjoy myself so I wanted to stay here in austin and do traveling on the gulf with friends and they just told me that if I don’t go back to Houston they will take my car away. My parents are psychoooooooo, what do I do?</p>
<p>It looks like they want to maintain some sort of control over you. And as long as you are dependent on them for money, that will be the case. Did they say they won’t be supporting you - or they won’t support you if you don’t visit? There’s a big difference.</p>
<p>If you are going to rely on their financial support, you have to live by their rules. Your best bet is to go home for break, and start planning. Will you be able to earn enough over the summer that you can cover your expenses with those earnings plus student loans? Will they expect you to pay rent over the summer if you live at home (I wouldn’t ask them directly, because they might realize doing so keeps you dependent on them through the next year).</p>
<p>If you can support yourself next year between working part time and student loans, you have the option to cut them off, rather than waiting for them to cut you off. Only you can decide if “freedom” is worth the necessary debt. You do have one thing to hold over their heads - if you end up supporting yourself, they can no longer claim you on their tax return. Unfortunately it might not be that big of a deal since your scholarships means you don’t qualify for the American Opportunity Credit (that’s OK - a full scholarship is a better deal, it just means claiming you isn’t as big of a benefit to them).</p>
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<p>You have a full ride and 2 jobs, and are freaking out because your parents won’t give you spending money?! Good god, what is the world coming to? If your jobs don’t provide you enough money for food, do the logical thing and, I dunno, take out loans… :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Your parents are no longer responsible for you as you are now over age 18. Anything they give you, under any circumstance or condition is totally up to them. You can’t accept their terms, don’t accept their money. If the time and money to stay at school is more than the cost to meet their terms, then that is that. You had better be thinking about next year to. If you want to declare independence, you have to be prepared to pay for it.</p>
<p>cptofthehouse: In my opinion, that would only make sense if parental financials were not associated with a student’s account during college. Even if you’re over 18, your financial aid changes based on what your parents make/own. So on some level I do think parents are still responsible.</p>
<p>That being said, I think the OP is overreacting in a major way.</p>
<p>Although tuition and dorm is covered for and it seems like all is well. There’s still items that are unaccounted for. Your meal plan (if you have one), your books, transportation costs. I’m in a similar situation as OP. I have tuition and dorm covered for. My books, meal plan, and fees are covered by my scholarship (luckily my mom is paying my car payments and insurance), but I still worry that it’s not enough to cover everything. </p>
<p>OP, I suggest getting a budget written up. And stick to it! You’re going to have to visit them if you want to keep your car. And while you’re up there visiting and doing whatever they wanted to do while spending time with you, discuss with them the experience that you had hope to get out of college. Ask them what they imagined. Then come up with a compromise.</p>
<p>@niquii thanks for the valuable advice. I come from a traditional Latino family and staying together is emphasized in the culture. Theyddon’t understand that I want to make the most of my education because I’m a transfer student so I have already missed out. I really want to emphasize it.</p>
<p>How do you not have enough money for food when you have 2 jobs? Do you eat at steakhouses every day?</p>
<p>I don’t know about you but spending 2 days out of 31 to get financial support seems like a no brainier to me, but you look like your in the position to go the independent route, however I don’t suggest it.</p>
<p>I would think you’re a ■■■■■, but to my extreme dismay, you’re not.</p>
<p>You have two options: you can take their money and live by their rules, or you can become financially independent to get the experience you think you ‘deserve.’ Your parents don’t have to pay for anything, and the fact that you seem to want to continue taking their support without spending any time with them is ludicrous.</p>
<p>Ohmygawd just see your parents. </p>
<p>You’re being mean. T_T</p>
<p>what in the world are your jobs??? cleaning your dorm and doing your homework???</p>
<p>:( </p>
<p>Sent from my HTC One X using CC</p>
<p>Seriously, wth? How do you not have money? Time to grow up, honey.</p>
<p>I can understand how OP doesn’t have “enough” money…wouldn’t say they don’t have any money, though.</p>