<p>I like it, now that the discussion is turning into my favorite topic - frugal life style. If there is an olympics for being frugal, I think our family could probably win an event or two. </p>
<p>We are a typical low to middle class family and we save every 1/2 penny whereever and whenever we could. We have a relatively small mortgage ~ 1/4 of monthly take home. We purchased used cars with cash so not car payments. We used only creditcards that give cashback rewards. </p>
<p>Yep, we may have some saving, but we got there purely by living way below our means. I guess FA officers saw the life style from our income to saving ratio. Everyone I have talked to increased the grant to our DD.</p>
<p>Going back to the original topic. I went to a “teachers’” university in China and government took care of all my expenses. After working 3.5 years as a teacher, I came to US for my Ph.D. degree with $200 in my pocket. So, net- net, my parents actually made money from me because I gave them back everything I made during those 3.5 years</p>