I was on my own and paying my own way at 22 with an education and a career, and had a wife that was doing the same. Now at 31, while neither of us are in a high paying career field, we have a beautiful new house on 13 acres of land, as well as a decent chunk in savings. IT'S REALLY NOT THAT HARD TO DO. I think our country would be well served to better teach young people to manage their money rather than how to qualify for free money.