<p>I paid my own freight in grad school as well, with student loans, some research traineeship funding, and low level jobs at the VA as part of the training program. I paid all my basic expenses (apt, utilities, auto maintenance, etc) but my parents still helped with airline tickets home for the holidays, and assistance when I needed to buy a new car. I believe I paid them back for the $$ they contributed to the car. They had some stock in my name that we sold to help pay for the car, and I was given a nice, unexpected surprise. The'd had a bunch of Federal Savings Bonds in my name that they gave to me at graduation to help set up my new life whe I entered the professional world. I still remember how I felt when they pulled those out 25 yrs ago. Just like Dig did when his parents gave him $500. It is a nice experience.</p>