I should point out to you that it has only just occurred to me that I was never truly on my own until I was 44! At 17 I moved away from home to university for two years but it was a room mate situation. From there I went directly into a marriage (19) and from there into another. There was only months in between so I can't really count that as on my own (besides, that was a military quarters situation where one really isn't left alone to fend for themselves). This really only just now swept into my mind. But I stand by my previous advice. It stems from my current situation, that I expected of my children, and the manner in which they have come to fend for themselves.