FlayinSpanner,
Everybody would love to start their ATPL when they are an 18-year-old walking spermbank, but unfortunately this is only possible for those who have affluent parents, or for those talented types who set up businesses when they are in their teens. As I fell into neither category I was faced with two options:
1. Secure a loan on my mother's house, or 2: earn my own money to pay for my dream.
Option 1. was never a starter for me as no matter how much I wanted to fly, it was never enough to justify the prospect of having to watch some bailiff escort my mother from her home.
Option 2. was the only choice then, so I went out into the big, bad world and became an aircraft technician to pay my way. It took a hell of a lot longer to save than I thought it would but you've no idea how costly adult life is until you experience it. I still had to get a loan - just got it from the HSBC today actually, unsecured- to allow me to complete my studies, but it is a totally manageable one now, as opposed to a £60,000+ one.
Okay, I'll admit that I do look enviously at the 18-year-olds in my flight-school and wonder whether they actually know how lucky and privileged they are to be able to complete this course and enjoy the life experiences that this affords them whilst they are in their prime. The chances are they probably don't because they haven't experienced the humdrum and expense of normal working life, or because growing up with wealth they are accustomed to it. Another factor is the majority of the students' parents being wealthy, the chances are that the growth in the value of their houses over the last decade will have paid for their courses alone.
If your parents really can afford to risk their home to finance your dream then surely they are in a position to finance your course outright? If not then I would argue that you may want to consider whether they really can.
Remember, it's easy to pull the wool over you and your parents' eyes and be convinced that there is a guaranteed well-paid jet job awaiting you out there the second that licence hits your door mat. This is because you know how hard you'll study to obtain outstanding groundschool marks, how you'll take to each aircraft as if you were its test pilot, what a can-do-will-do attitude you have, not to mention your multitude of attributes that will stand you out from the rest. As for your parents....well, they won't believe you wouldn't present the complete picture to them, not their blue-eyed boy.
I recommend you do what I did. You may be older, but if you research properly you'll realise that plenty of airlines appreciate the maturity and life skills that an older person offers, and that many Chief pilots are aware that, for many, this is their only option into flying. Also, in the future, many more will be forced to follow my lead as the costs of obtaining an ATPL rise, especially if -as I expect will happen, but do not agree with- airlines insist on applicants having attended a full-time Integrated course.
Just think of the self pride to know that you got there -like a man- on your own, and that you won't be putting your parents through years of worry until you've paid that final penny back to the bank. And, trust me, you have no idea how many pennies extra the interest rate create on every extra penny borrowed -the less you can borrow the much cheaper and easier in the long-run.
Some are born into money, others, like you and me, are not. C'est la vie! Getting to where you want to get to may take longer, but get there you can.
Finally, when I get my first flying job, regardless of the nature, I promise I will get greater satisfaction and enjoyment from doing so than any silver-spooned 18-year-old, for, like Sinatra, "I did it my way!".
VC10 Rib22
p.s. Good luck! However, from your replies to those kind enough to respond to your post, I think I know which route you'll be choosing........and it won't be the hard one. Also, why don't you encourage your parents to peruse the experiences of those who have gone before you by directing them to pprune? Are your morals high enough to do this? Or perhaps, apart from risking their home for you, that's where you think their involvement should end. Methinks they may not be quite so willing to 'invest' once the true picture is available.