Why? Because the majority of them received some sort of financial assistance from their parents and few say they want to change anything about the way they live. One 25-year-old friend whose parents pay for more than half her rent as well as give her pocket money denied the idea of compromising her lifestyle for financial independence. Another a 22-year-old who gets a portion of her rent paid by Mom and Dad, admitted she would be willing to cut back on "superfluous spending," but was reluctant to move out of Manhattan and into a more affordable borough like Brooklyn or queens.

Higher rents and the need for deeper pockets are an accepted fact of city living. Urban pricing aside. It is possible to live in any city regardless of your age or income, for it just takes a little budgeting and prioritizing. Surrendering to lifestyle flexibility may be unwelcome, but sometimes it's necessary. Anyway, it's easy to "keep up with the joneses" when financial responsibility is someone else's problem. The fact is, my peers who flood out of designer stores, arms adorned with shopping bags, wouldn't be able to afford their purchases without bringing up a massive credit card debt. By continuing to provide for their grown up kids, parents hinder their children's ability to be financially responsible.

It's not just Manhattan where I've noticed this phenomenon. A Chicago acquaintance was promised an apartment as a graduation gift; a Boston friend receives a handsome sum of monthly subsidy. The stakes are high in a city, which is why many young people feel the need to compete with each other. But when parental financial aids are not only offered but expected, what is our generation learning about living on its own?