$15

Shortly after I graduated from high school my parents started charging me $15 a week for room and board. The collections began around the first of July in 1965. I had a job, so they charged me what they thought was a reasonable fee.

My living conditions didn’t change. I still had my own room, Mom did my laundry, and I ate what I wanted whenever I wanted. The payments stopped when I went off to college but resumed each summer when I came back home. It was my first lesson on being independent. The gravy train stopped. I had to pay my own way.

I don’t know if my sisters shared the same experience, but paying my fair share was part of my deal. I also had to pay my car insurance and gas for my parent’s cars. I didn’t have my own until just prior to my junior year of college.

Brady’s mom and dad have been more generous. He’s got his own car. They cover most, if not all, of the associated expenses, and he wants for very little. He’s had an extra bacon and guacamole appetite but a McDonald’s Value meal personal income stream. That’s all about to change.

To be fair, he’s had a job the last few summers. This year he’s working at a marina, and as I understand it, doing quite well. This year though, he’s learning to save. He’ll have expenses in college with no concrete income stream.

I shared my first college apartment with three other guys. I lived with Gary and Jim for two years. Dan, Don (AKA Fuzzy), Ash, and Jeff rotated through as our fourth. We chipped in $15.00 a week for food and common supplies like toilet paper, cleaning compounds, and dish detergent. We learned to live on a budget. We ate well while being cost conscious. We supplied our own personal needs but shared our common expenses.

If Brady and I chipped in $15.00 a week for food, we’d starve. A loaf of bread cost twenty cents when I was in college. We could get three pounds of hamburger for less than a dollar. We ate pot pies once a week. We each had two and they cost about twenty-three cents a piece.

If we choose to live on a similar budget, we’ll have to pay $135 each. I’m living on a fixed income, but I can handle it. I’m not sure Brady can.

I think David and Lindsay would allow us to do our laundry at their house. It’s only about a half hour from campus. If we timed it right, we’d probably get a free lunch or dinner out of the deal. We might even be able to cob a roll, or two, of toilet paper. That would save us a few dollars, and they might enjoy the visit.

But in the long run, you’ve got to pay “the man”. Responsible people pay their own way. It’s not easy, and it’s certainly not fun, but independence comes with a cost. If he does a good job, as I know he will, Brady will have the opportunity to provide for his own family one day. He’s just getting started.

If we decide not to become roommates, I’m sure he’ll find another. He’s a handsome young man with a magnetic personality. That will open a lot of doors for him, but in the end, it’s hard work that will ensure his success. Should he stumble, I can toss him a few bucks, and Nana will always have his back.