My recommendation is if your parents are willing to help you pay for things without it taking too much from your life, accept the offer. In your case you will be building your life while you are away, so to have some of the financial burden shouldered while you find your feet is really important.

That sounds right. I never thought about it this way because the thought of being dependent on my parents for anything is abhorrent. I very much don't like feeling like their living doll that they can throw around and live a life for... which, I realize now, is probably the whole point. They want to live my life because they failed theirs: jobs they hate, family they'd rather be without, friends that suck... Shit, it makes sense now.

It seems like the saving money sentiment is very prominent in the US: it's the only thing I hear about personal finances and, in fact, the only "personal finances" thing I ever hear. In Russia, people don't care so much about money - at least, I've never met the communities that do, unlike in the US part of the Internet. Learning of importance of resources - time, work/effort, money, food etc. - comes from other places. I do have my binge-buying lapses, can't deny. It seems that this will require discipline.

Try to start up a conversation with anyone.

That, too, is what I hear about social interactions. Like swimming and cycling, the only way to learn is to do. And you know, if this conversation happened a few months ago, I'd tell you that I'm too terrified to even try, yet right now... I'm still terrified, but it's not such a bad idea to try.

Thanks for stopping by, and for reminding me of what's important. I appreciate it.