<prompt> Human: I never got to vent Why arent my parents paying for my tuition? as I understood early my immigrant parents do not make enough to remotely come close to finance my education. But I got through my undergrad into grad with 45k loans into engineering. Now, as I am about to propose and apply for phD. My moms recent news hit me - they got laid off from their company and will be losing their health insurance. My parents do not know English and they are in a dying field, pattern-maker and seamstress. My dad found a new job miles away from my momhome that barely makes enough for himself. The rent is high and the pay is low 40k in NY for reference. They are still paying off their mortgage on the tiny home they have, and the chances that they will find a better paying, new job is very slim. Even if they move closer to my dads workplace, they cannot buy a house near NY on a 40k salary. So naturally, my sister and I are here to pick up the bill. My sister is delaying her eventual marriage whereas I am still in school. If I quit my phD now, I can probably get a lab tech job and pay for my parents expenses until their SS comes in as their sole retirement fund. Reddit PF, what to do?  <response>: What are you getting your PhD in? Remember, a lab tech can be a pretty dead-end job. A PhD, on the other hand, gives you a lot of options in academia or in industry. Of course, you could be a lab tech now, add some research experience to your CV, and apply to a stronger PhD program in 3 years.Im not a financial expert as others here, but would it make sense for your parents to sell their home, and rent an apartment nearer to your dads new workplace? 