<p>Sure, Sue.</p>
<p>First of all, I don’t know how much my parents make but its probably a combined income of 100,000+, each making around 50-60k. This is a middle class wage, in CA, with the very high costs of living.</p>
<p>Before this my parents were making barely any money (foreign, recent immigrants), the only savings we had were to be able to pay for a move here and a down payment on a home (so we can have a place to live).</p>
<p>I have two sisters, 8 and 12, who are attending school now, but they are still an expense. </p>
<p>There is the house payments, a car payment, plus the cost of gas, food, etc, and whatever else my parents need.</p>
<p>We are in a very tight financial situation and we can not afford any luxuries. We have one Honda Civic for the whole family, always buy food from Costco, etc. We’re not poor but my parents have absolutely no money to spend. Essentially my family lives from paycheck to paycheck.</p>
<p>There have been no savings for my college for obvious reasons. </p>
<p>No one in my family even expected that I would be going to a UC or the costs entailed, but needless to say I did work my butt off in high school and I know this is the right choice for me.</p>