<p>Very interesting thread!
I bet as much depends on the parent style as well. I’m scattered and unplanned, and thus have no idea what we spend on College son #1, now a senior in college. He has not really worked during the school year (unlike my college years, spoiled brat!) – on the other hand, he is getting a double degree in math and government and takes a pretty full load of challenging courses and for instance this semester is tutoring math in a local public school. But he has worked each summer at Target nearly full time.
We pay his car insurance and as he lives not to far away, he’ll often come home when his tank needs filling up and then ask us to take him for a grocery shop.</p>
<p>He’s been going out with the same young woman since high school, and I adore her, so I’ll often help fund her birthday and holiday gifts, and even their anniversary meals… I figure it’s all the same money, if I don’t, he’ll take it from his savings, and I’ll pay more towards something else.</p>
<p>He actually asked me to pay for booze to stock a basic bar in his apartment when he turned 21. I politely declined! (We, at home, are not real drinkers and don’t keep a stocked bar! He was probably just yanking my chain.)</p>