it's possible, but LW really dwells on the money issue, in a way that seems pretty repugnant to me. My mother and I have been having endless conversations where she talks about making sure she saves some money for me and every time I tell her to spend it all, for goodness' sake, it's hers.

Also, not every cultural group in America values college and devalues blue collar work (some of which can be financially much more stable than some degree-requiring jobs). That's one of the reasons I wonder if the letter came from the husband -- it almost seems like that's an outsider looking at a different kind of family (large, blue collar, non-college) and just seeing neglect.