I have a full time job and have since i was fresh out of high school. I have had a few different jobs, but always full time. I love having the money to be independent and not be a burden on my folks. I first moved out because I wanted to have freedom. If I could do it again, I'd have lived by my old mans rules for a while longer and gone backpacking. Now I just got the coin to ride around over-seas finally. Hard to save when you have bills to pay.
The best part about living independently is earning the respect of your folks. For a slacker stoner like me who was always in trouble, the nicest thing I can do for them is to show them I'm responsible and well adjusted. At least pretend for a while in front of their friends.
You can blame the economy, and yeah, it's a crazy system, but there is work. Go get some safety tickets and drill for oil. It's morally repugnant, but so is existing in modern North America. Hand out resumes at places you think you'd like. Move somewhere that is booming even if it's lame.
Our parents generation had it handed to them on a silver platter. Only gen X had it easier. Our grandparents are looking at all of us thinking what little bitches we are because they lived through the dirty 30's, a fu<king WORLD WAR, and still built the most powerful economies in the world. Our parents told us it would be easy, but our grandparents know otherwise. Winter is coming! Get some paper and use it to make a change. Supplement that income with a clandestine garden in your independent living quarters and you'll be loving it.