When is allowance age and when does it end? Most of the 18-22 year olds I was in university with didn't understand why I needed a job because on the first of every month they got their $1500-2000 allowance from their parents, who they vehemently and openly "hated."

This is why I have issues with allowance. If at 18 you don't understand why people have to work or you hate your parents who are putting you through the $50K liberal arts program of your choice . . . there's a big problem. I remember grabbing a couple of things from the grocery store for my housemate once who was sick, and he didn't understand why he had to pay me back. It was just $20, which at the time was my weekly grocery budget in its entirety.

I think there's a right way and a wrong way to do allowance, and a lot of people don't think about the repercussions or how to transfer their children from childhood to adulthood. It can't be easy. I understand that, but something has got to give for all the reasons you outline here and so many more. And 22 year old "children" should not have their parents credit cards for all their "needs," nope, nope, nope.

Half my co-workers in university worked because their parents made them on the condition that they'd continue to give them money. I was working 30-40+ hours a week, and if I ever needed a shift covered, it was impossible. "I only work once a week or once a month," were common responses, i.e., I'm only here because I have to be to get that monthly $1500-200 paycheck from my parents. And yes, for the most part their parents paid for their rent and tuition separately. These co-workers were, needless to say, not being made into adults, or building work ethic.