At what age did you become "independent" from others?

I became independent when I was in my early twenty's and that's after I got a job. It was impossible for me to be independent at 18 because I was in college then. It's not part of our culture to be independent at 18. Our country is a bit clannish and there are many people here who stay with their parents even if they have a family of their own.

When we talk of being independent it usually hits at your being financially independent. This is really a crucial time between your being dependent and independent. In my case I became I became independent when I got selected the no. 1 in an interview for a post of college lecturer and joined my college. I still remember so vibrantly the day for the first time I took my salary and at that time I was 23.6 years old. It feels great and also brings a sense of responsibility as and when you become economically independent.

Oh I remember it well, like it was yesterday, I was 27 years of age when I moved out from my parents got my own little place and became financially independent and I loved every minute of it, even paying my own bills, the freedom and the independence was all mine! No one to tell me what to do or to fuss over me or to ask me when I was coming home, I could do what I please! I love living on my own, I will always cherish the first taste of independence. Maybe I was a late starter but I made sure I had enough savings to be able to get myself a nice place.

I was 18 when I moved out and become independent. I moved in with my then boyfriend who I went on to marry later. I was also 2 months pregnant with my eldest son when I moved out. So it was a very exciting time for us. I was the first of my group of friends to move out of home and I could not wait to have my own place. My eldest son will be 18 this year and I will not put any pressure on him to move out as I feel at the moment he would not be able to support himself due to the fact he is still in full time study.

I`m just like you. I`m at college, but i`m in another city than my parents. But financial, they still support me. I can`t do both. I tried, and i worked 3 months full time. I was so tired, because i was at work, in 3 shifts, and then, or before, i was at college. I had some days when i leaved my home at 05:40 and retunr at 17:00, or i was going at 8 at college and come back at 22:30 from work. Not to say when i was working in the night, that after all the night, i was going to school. I mst say that 3 months were so tiring..bu i loved both: college and work. At work, even from the first day i made some friends. We were almost young people there. There was quite fun.( can you imagine that?) . But, to answer at your questions, i must say that you`re right. You can`t be totally independent. But, to be honest, i try a lot to earn and keep some money, for "bad days". I try to spent less .I feel too that pressure. My parents aren`t telling me that i should work at least part-time, but i feel that i`m already too old and i don`t earn any money. It`s frustrating, you know.. In my country from the age of 18, but mostly from 20. I have 21 and i`m feeling strange..

in philippines, i think in other countries as well, as long as the child is being financed by their parents, they cant become independent. most especially, if the child cant finance his own schooling and is dependent to his parents, the parents wont let go of their kid. sad to say, parents tend to be more possessive about this. some say its their obligation and they really expect a lot from their children when they get their jobs. which should not be the case. well, for me age doesnt matter. as long as you can finance and support yourself all through out, then go be independent.^_^

OK, are you ready? I hope you're sitting down. I was 45 when me and my girlfriend bought our house. Until then, I lived with my mom. As far aqs financially independent, it depends what you mean. Both me and my girlfriend pay all the bills; we don't depend on parents help or anything like that. But neither one of us make enough money to be able to run this house ourselves. We are real frugal with money. I'm unemployed and looking very hard for a job but right now am being able to pay my half of everything with unemployment. But until I find a job I'm not buying anything for myswelf. No concerts, no restaurants, everything goes to the bills until I find something. unless I get real lucky with a job that pays $15.00 an hr or more, I don't think I'll be completly independent. So you ask what if something happens to her, what will I do? Don't know. Right now, we're both healthy.

On my 18th b-day I moved out and never really looked back. I would say that I should have stayed at home for abit longer, but it was what I wanted right then. The only problem I had was I turned 18 before my Senior year of high school, so I was still required to have my parents sign things and get my report cards. That really upset me since my parents weren't helping me out in the least bit.

I started living alone from the age of fifteen. That's not to say that I was financially independent though. I guess the housing office paid for my rent as I had very little income. The experience that I got from living alone though was invaluable. I think that it did me a lot of good. I've been living alone now for a long time and I cannot see another way of living! Having others living around me, this would just not fit! I lost my parents around that time too so this contributed to my living alone, I had no choice. There are lots of people that continue to live with their parents and there's nothing wrong with this but there is a danger that this will get comfortable and then there will be no incentive to leave home. Andrew

We're pressured to become independent-minded individuals, I'll tell you thhat much. The 'moving out' thing is quite dependent on what kind of household are you referring to. There are families here in the Philippines that buy their kids a condo unit for college for them to practice living on their own, but there are also others that don't mind if their child/ren still live with them--even if they're married and have kids of their own already. Here in our household, financial independence starts after college--at the age of twenty, more or less. I want to be that living exception though. I want to try buying even the little things out of my own money so that I have some piece of financial discipline inside my shallow mind. :))

I live in the US and am 33 years old today. I was 15, a couple months from turning 16, when I was out of the house and financially independent. My own fault. It was definately not easy and sometimes it felt IMPOSSIBLE, but I managed to make it and you will too. I always feel the need to defend myself because I wasn't the stereotypical 15 year old wild kid. I never did take public assistance, I lived in some places that I knew weren't even legally rentable due to their condition, I went to work and went to school and graduated with my class (with honors). Most of my days started around 5 a.m. and ended somewhere close to midnight. It's scary to be faced with losing the comforts that parents provide. Very much so. But the reality is that it's going to be scary whether you're 15, 18 or 25 years old. You'll still have to struggle and fight your way back to a comfort zone whether you start that fight at 17 or 27. School is a great start though even though sometimes even that feels pretty futile. You'll be a stronger person for it and you CAN make it. Good luck!

we do not have any age margin or any age limit to become independent .But what I feel that todays world has become so competetive wherein the means is less and wanting is more and as an when you grow up you just cannot rely on your parents to full fill our each and every small wants.I became independent and start earning at the age of 18 once i completed my higher school. i really don't feel pressured in our community i feel that if you don't wanna rely on your parents at every point of time that you really have to become independent

I am very happy to read all the response to this discussion. by the way,I'm a new comer to mylot and this is my first response. In China, it is very common for young people to be dependent on their parents after 18, especially for students in colleges or universities. Like me (27 years old) and most of my classmates as well, we can not still be totally independent when we are persuing our doctoral degree. I have no time for part-time work. In fact, we can't get much money even though we go for a part-time job. I feel shamed for it, but i have no choice. Even some young people still need financial support from family after graduating from university. Several days before I just brougnt money from my family pay tuition, which i owed before. Luckily, I will go to Germany to persue a new doctoral degree this fall. In that case, Chinese government will support me so much money as living expense there that i can surplus some every month, and then i can be independent.^_^ P.S. My email address is lianghuazou@gmail.com, I look forward to your emails anytime, my friends.

I have been independent since my first year in college and I was seventeen at that time. The university I attended is in another city so I moved in a dormitory near the university and I also got a college scholarship after passing the scholarship exam so the scholarship paid for my tuition fees and they also provided a monthly allowance so I was already partially financially independent. My father sends me money to pay for my dorm fees. I also worked part time as a tutor and resident assistant in our dormitory. After I graduated, I got hired after a month and that was the time I was fully independent because my family did not send money anymore. I was paying for my place, everything. It is not looked down upon if you're still dependent on your parents but being independent has its benefits. If you're dependent on your family, they have a say on whether to give you money or not. Being independent allows you the freedom to spend your money anyway you like, without asking for your parents' approval or something.

I am from the UK and I moved out when I was 21, it is expensive to get your own place now, so even when kids finish University, it is not uncommon for them to come home again afterwards. I didn't go to Uni, but a friend got his own place when I was 21, so I moved out and lodged with him. It was a harsh lesson in controlling cash-flow though. It took a while to be able to live within my means. People are marrying later and getting their own place later than they used to simply because property is so expensive over here.

Be employed and pay your bills. Don't depend on others.Move into your own place.

Hi, maezee. You shouldn't feel pressured by society. All families have priorities and obviously yours values education. I was 23 before being independant of my family because we too valued education and the idea of my being more stably independant of them. Society only has the power over us that we allow it to have. Good luck with school.

I got married when I was 19, my husband was 21. We became financially independent from our parents from day one. After the honeymoon, we moved into a furnished apartment. My husband had a job on the railroad with good insurance and good pay. I worked parttime, had finished a 2-yr degree in business, and built up a small savings account. Then when I was 29, we got divorced. I had a fulltime job at the time and 4 kids, and I became totally financially independent. I guess I wouldn't have it any other way. I kinda like making all the financial decisions and not sharing my money with a guy lol.

since i was in grade 3 or im 9 years old. yes when i was in grade 3 im already a working student, that time i feel like hating my mom, but ive realized that she has a reasons why and i will elaborate what are those please.. or else il make a drama here.. LOL

In my country (Denmark) you are considered an adult when you are 18. Many people move out of home when they are 18 or 19, but not all. It is often difficult to pay for rent and other things while you are still studying, so some Danes choose stay with their parents even though they are older than 18, but it is considered normal to move out when you are in your early 20's. I had my first apartment when I was 24 and at the same time I became financially independent. I had already been away from home before I turned 24, though. I had been staying and working abroad in different countries, so I was quite independent even though I didn't have my own apartment.