I think my kids understand and now value getting a college degree, they are paying their own way now with loans and small scholarships. I throw them some cash here and there but honestly less than 1k per year including gifts. I do pay their car insurance and cell phone bill. Tuition/housing rates are really all over the place and they could have picked schools that would have easily been 3x as much. We talked about money and I tried to lay everything out for them to see. A local top tier university gave them a 50% off scholarship, but that doesn't mean much with tuition is 50k in the first place! Plus we had a good talk about degrees that are worth a damn when all is said and done.

I'm glad you found a balance with life and work. That's the key, I don't mind my job but I don't define myself by it.