How I Squandered My Inheritance at Age 18

How I Squandered My Inheritance at Age 18

This is a great article that I can really relate to. I'm sure I'm not alone in seeing this trend where well-meaning parents provide for their children's education, only to have those children squander the opportunity and take even more time than was necessary to finish up their degrees (if they do, at all).
It is so sad, but I suppose it comes from not having that survivalist's desire to better ourselves and taking a very laissez-faire attitude, because after-all our parents (or whoever) will always be there as a safety net. And yes, I include myself in this category of young adults that aren't serious enough about their education and have wasted time and money finding themselves/taking detours/failing classes/etc.
It's weird that having a sense of security can be kryptonite. Don't think I'm trying to deflect blame here, because that is not the case at all--I feel horrible for not taking advantage of my early college years, and spending up my parents money (especially now that they have become strapped for cash). But I think if I had had to figure out how I was going to pay my own way or had more financial stress at the time, I would have finished quicker and been more focused in my studies. That is hypothetical though. I can't think of any way I could have realistically avoided that time that was wasted.
Oh well. Now that I am older, eager to get this chapter of my life over with, and have had to pay for my own school (and can't afford to spend much more time there) I'm finally going to graduate. I'm not really sure how to avoid this problem because I only see it getting worse for future generations! For example, I see my little brother (a freshman in high school) and how he and his friends take a very entitled and ungrateful approach to money. It is scary. Kid's today think they are entitled to getting the latest video games, and having a fancy phone, and not having real consequences or punishments when they do something wrong. And it's a result of having a loving and sympathetic parent that has worked hard to give them anything they could ever want... it's all very ironic.
What this says to me, is that new models of behavior toward finance need to be implemented. Technology and lifestyles have changed, so parenting and the values that we teach our children need to be changed or altered as well.