Hi, I am living at home and the majority of my expenses are paid for by my parents. How do I calculate "Cash, Merchandise or Expenses Paid by Others"?

[sarahgrose97]

Do I just choose like a blanket number that I think it is? Because there's no way I could add up and account for every expense they take care of...insurance, groceries, heat, electricity, water, etc...

[MiriamF]

If you are going through the worksheet to determine whether you are self-supporting, stop. You already said that your parents pay the majority of your expenses. Why torture yourself? If you are under 23 and a full-time student for at least one semester, then file as a dependent.

If you need this for filling out a scholarship form, think about how often you go out with friends and what it costs per month. Do you have a hobby, like collecting stamps, that you spend money on? A serious relationship with iTunes or Amazon? Don't sweat this. Make a reasonable estimate and move on.