My daughter came to The Wife and I for some financial advice about two months ago. Her husband really wanted to look at purchasing a house. The Wife and I advised caution: looking is one thing, but they still needed to come up with a way to make the downpayment. The Daughter went quiet, and then said, "We have already saved it".
WTF?
They have been together two years, have one child, she is a waitress, he is an apprentice glazer. They were renting a house. They made a $12,000 down-payment without any assistance from family. They used a financial instrument called a "Savings Account".
If my 22 year-old daughter can keep her financial house in order, I have no patience for most of the people around me in financial straights. Trips to Cuba, boats, bikes, tatoos, booze, furniture... you had your fun with your money, now leave me and mine to enjoy ours.
Now, as 'empty nesters' in an apartment - we no longer need a four bedroom home on acreage - we can enjoy our trips to Cuba, Aruba, Panama, Columbia (and Italy/Greece/France in 2013) without guilt.
CONGRATS to you as parents for teaching your daughter the skills and tenacity to save. CONGRATS to her and her husband for taking the big step.