dollar1.jpgI moved out of my parents’ house a couple weeks after I turned 18. For various reasons, the largest being financial, I scurried back home with my metaphorical tail between my legs a few months after that. This was one of those “I told you so” moments my parents will look fondly upon ten years from now.

But now that I am a commuting community college student living at home, my financial situation has changed a lot. I thought I’d give you the run-down of how my parents and I share financial responsibility for myself.

My parents pay for everything school-related, which is one of the biggest gifts they’ve given me, especially at this point in my life. Depending on how many units I’m carrying, a typical semester will cost about $300 in tuition and $300-$400 in books. They also pay for my monthly bus pass and my BART tickets (kind of like the NYC subway, for all you non-Bay Area-ns). I pay for the fare on the second bus that operates around my campus.

The issue of transportation fits in nicely here. I wasn’t allowed to get my license when I turned 16 (some kind of twisted punishment for thinking I was a badass at the time), and as of today, I still don’t drive. I did find my driving permit yesterday though, and I have to get my license before my birthday in August, so the Car Negotiations with my parents have begun. I will get to drive the 1989 Cressida my grandfather has tossed, err, bestowed, upon my sister and I. She’s 16, and she and I will have to share. My parents will likely pay for our insurance, and my sister and I will likely pay for the gas. Not having a car payment is gunna be a huge plus, and driving a car will be slightly more expensive than public transportation, but I will be saving valuable time to and from school.

I have a lot of pride, and I absolutely hate asking my parents for money. If I need bus fare, I wash all three cars for $30, and that covers my portion of the transportation costs for about a week. My mom has saved my overdraft-accruing butt on numerous occasions, and I fully intend to pay her back. She says that she is more than happy to pay for anything related to school, as long as I don’t ask her to pay for fun things for myself, like sex books and lesbian magazines. (Joke.)

Since I border on anti-social”a more friendly way to put it would be, “I don’t get out much””I don’t require a lot of spending money for wild nights out on the town. I bring my lunch to school like a savvy little budgeter so I don’t have to spend all my money on food. To use another euphemism, “I’m Between Jobs,” as it were, and don’t have a ton of disposable income. I do have an editing gig which gives me about 5 hours a week at $10 an hour. It’s enough. I’m also being interviewed for a tutoring position within walking distance from my home, so hopefully that will all fall into place. I would get to save a large portion of that paycheck.

I have my own bank account with only my name on it. I am included in my family’s cell phone plan and my sister and I share about 1000 minutes a month (which I am perpetually exceeding). My mom works from home and her employer pays for our internet service; I help around the house all the time which entitles me to eat the food in the pantry.

I’m stuck between being too mature and experienced to be getting minimum wage, but not old enough for a “real job.” Parents always save the day.