There are a couple of factors in my semi-independence from home.

First of all, I live in a big city. The rents here are pretty high, I remember reading third-most crazy after New York and Paris. So, trying to go to university full-time and having a place here would be completely horrendous.

Also, as I go to a university an hour and a half away for up to 8 months of the year (depends on whether I'm working for 2 terms or 1), I don't really find the need to have a place of my own. I'll talk about the finances below. My parents have a house...it's empty when my sister and I go to university...we're a close family, ergo, I'll live at home.

As for independence, I've taken the transit system by myself since I was around 11 or so, y'know, a few times a year at first then whenever I need to. I have done my own laundry for the past 4 years or so (without throwing in a dark sock in the whites, mind you), I do some of my own cooking and I clean up the house. So in that aspect, I'm independent.

On the other hand, as I mentioned, my family is close-knit. I mean, I have 4 aunts and uncles and family within a 15 minute radius of my house. I have grandparents 5 minutes away. We get together often. We share food with each other when we make some. So in that aspect, my independence sort of declines.

My parents are over-protective...VERY over-protective, I should clarify, however, after talking and telling them about what my sister and I feel, they are starting to back off and give us our independence. However, I feel myself unready to completely sever ties and move out. I'll probably work elsewhere for one of my next work terms, but right now, I'm happy to be home.

As for finances, I make money when I do my internships, however my parents tell me to save it up. I want to go for a graduate degree after my undergrad, so we've made a deal. They pay for this one, I pay for the next, more costly one.

My day-to-day finances are handled by me, the mutual funds, stocks, etc handled by my dad, though he's teaching me them so I can take the reins when I feel ready.

The good thing is that my family treats me like an adult and not a child, so the advice they give is helpful and in great demand.

El_Di"Not fully independent, but getting there"ablo