When I was in college and shortly after everything was taken care of for me. There was money set aside for school which included rent/books/money for food for the month. If there was something "extra" that I might want to do then I'd probably ask my parents and I'd either have to dip into the fund that was set aside for me or they would substitute a trip or plane ticket for a birthday or Christmas gift. The same was done for my brother.

I think it's more common then you realize. Could I have busted my butt working two jobs and going to school? If I had to I would have, but it was never in the cards for me. I did have an internship and worked toward the end of college in a job that I really loved and would lead to my first job out of college.

I'm debt free and not paying off student loans with a good chunk of money invested and set aside which never would have happened had my parents not helped me out.