I didn't have the money to at age 18. I mean, I had less than $500 in my bank account usually because rent and gas and food ate up my minimum wage earnings so quickly.

It's what I've done now that I have access to independent student level of stafford loans. I got a 35-60 hour/week job for 2 years before I moved which helped too. (Full time jobs are very hard to find due to the economy, where I'm from.)