Just to stop you right there; Personally; I had a job as a sous chef at the age of 17 and worked 40 hours a week. I had bought everything I owned and by the end of senior year, I moved across the country to live with a friend. Moved up to manager within 6 months at my new job before they closed to renovate. I'm more successful than most middle aged adults and I'm currently saving for the college my parents refuse to help pay for. Definitely not an ingreat as I have given my parents over 1 grand to keep them and my siblings in a house Edit: btw, I've been on my own for nearly a year and a half. Dont underestimate us Edit 2: and my step father tried the "kick your ass for disrespect" line when I told him to cut his alcohol intake before he became an alcoholic. Ended with me nearly throwing him off a deck and helping my mother to bed.