College kids & spending $

[kathy387]

My daughter will be attending college 5 states away so I can't just give her a few bucks on the weekend. How much money per month would you say college kids absolutely need? Her room and meal plan will be included so it will just be for laundry, pizzas, movies etc...is there an "average" that would be reasonable? Also, do I send cash, visa Buxx or what? I know all kids are different but I need to have some idea.

 

[Kath2003]

After food? $40/week? Pizza, drinks, sodas, a movie, books, DVDs, laundry plus things like shampoo....

 

[C.Ann]

$40 would probably do it - and if not, I'm sure the phone call with come, "Mom? I need more money.." LOL

 

[CEDmom]

Honestly, I didn't get any spending $ for college. I had summer jobs to make money. My mom would send me care packages at school and take me shopping for stuff when home on breaks but that was it. I guess if I really needed $ I could have asked but I didn't. Plenty of kids were in the same position as me although some others did get allowances.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

DH and I covered our 2 kids' room, board, tuition, and books. Any spending money they had to make for themselves at their summer job. DD bugets herself $100/month. I think DS spends a lot less. I just asked him on AIM and he said ~$50-60 per month. They both have checking accounts at college and use a debit card. I can send them a check if they run out but so far that hasn't happened. I think it is important for them to learn to budget.

ETA, I do send care packages and buy them things at home, just like what CEDmom said.

 

[Mary Anne]

Open a checking account in both your names. This way you can put the cash in on your end and she can use the bank card to take it out on the other. That is what we did. We were lucky to be able to use a bank that had a branch close to my son's school so there is no "cost" for using the bank card. My son worked all last summer and saved quite a bit. My husband pretty much puts about $25 per week in his account. This was the "allowance" he recieved while he was in high school that he used for his school lunch, we just continued it once he went away to school. He uses this money for soaps, shampoo, transportation home, laundry and "junk" food. The bank system worked out well. It also teaches them how to do their own banking and budgeting.

 

[shirleyb]

Honestly, I didn't get any spending $ for college. I had summer jobs to make money. My mom would send me care packages at school and take me shopping for stuff when home on breaks but that was it. I guess if I really needed $ I could have asked but I didn't. Plenty of kids were in the same position as me although some others did get allowances.

Exactly. Dad paid my tuition and room and board, but I bought my books and took care of all spending money with summer jobs and a part time job during the school year, and still maintained a good GPA. I think college students should be able to cover some of their expenses, and spending money would be one of them.

 

[kathy387]

What a relief! I've been putting away $200 a month and wondered if that would be enough I'm so glad to hear that I may not be going broke! She wants to work her freshman year too but I've heard that that's not a good idea for freshmen because it's going to be a big adjustment as it is? Any thoughts on that? She does work part time now but that will probably go towards her tuition. As long as her grades stay up I have no problem helping her out but sending her 5 states away is a big enough "splurge" as it is!

 

[shirleyb]

What a relief! I've been putting away $200 a month and wondered if that would be enough I'm so glad to hear that I may not be going broke! She wants to work her freshman year too but I've heard that that's not a good idea for freshmen because it's going to be a big adjustment as it is? Any thoughts on that? She does work part time now but that will probably go towards her tuition. As long as her grades stay up I have no problem helping her out but sending her 5 states away is a big enough "splurge" as it is!

Kathy,
If you both can swing it, I'd recommend not working freshman year, or at least first semester, until she gets comfortable with her workload etc. Good luck, it'll be an exciting time for both of you!

 

[ilovejack02]

My parents gave me 25.00 a week for fun. They put into my bank account.
It was more than enough 10 yrs ago. We had 5.00 wed nite specials at the local bar

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I think college students should be able to cover some of their expenses, and spending money would be one of them.

I totally agree. With 2 in college right now I have enough debt.

She wants to work her freshman year too but I've heard that that's not a good idea for freshmen because it's going to be a big adjustment as it is? Any thoughts on that?

I think it would be better to wait until after at leat one semester to get used to college. DD is a junior and DS a freshman. They both worked summer jobs and used that money all through the next year. Neither have gotten jobs at school.

 

[Kath2003]

What a relief! I've been putting away $200 a month and wondered if that would be enough I'm so glad to hear that I may not be going broke! She wants to work her freshman year too but I've heard that that's not a good idea for freshmen because it's going to be a big adjustment as it is? Any thoughts on that? She does work part time now but that will probably go towards her tuition. As long as her grades stay up I have no problem helping her out but sending her 5 states away is a big enough "splurge" as it is!

I've worked since I was 15 and college was no exception to this rule. She'll cope with having a job. Thousands of kids do it at every college.

If you have enough $$, give her spending money; if you don't, don't. Sure I'd love to have the $200 a week some of my friends get from their folks (on top of tuition and housing) but I'm not in that situation. You make the best of what you got

ETA: just realized why people can live on $25/week after housing/food - no alcohol as a college student...VEEEERRRY different to over here in the UK where it's legal to drink at 18.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We had 5.00 wed nite specials at the local bar

When I asked DS he said he didn't spend as much as some of his friends because he didn't drink. I wasn't sure that was what the OP would want to hear when sending her DD away to college.

 

[bluesaturn]

You should definitely get her a checking account and debit card. I would also include a savings account (if she doesn't have one) and an emergency credit card (I believe you can give her one with her own name on it but you pay the bill etc.) You can deposit money directly into her checking, and she will be responsible for spending only what she has/not overdrawing. It really teaches one about the banking system. The credit card is good for emergencies. There are situations when one really needs money and cannot go home to get it (ex. when you find out you need a book one month into the semester). I agree that about $30 to $40 per week would be sufficient, but that's just my opinion.

 

[angel_bright05]

Honestly, I didn't get any spending $ for college. I had summer jobs to make money. My mom would send me care packages at school and take me shopping for stuff when home on breaks but that was it. I guess if I really needed $ I could have asked but I didn't. Plenty of kids were in the same position as me although some others did get allowances.

Same. They paid for me to live in a dorm and meal plan and that's it. I paid tuition, books, entertainment, etc. I think college students really need to learn how to budget their money.

My parents did send me money every once in a while just to make sure I was getting by...but other than that...I budgeted everything. If I wanted to party and waste away all my money...well that was my money and my parents weren't going to give me more money.

 

[ilovejack02]

When I asked DS he said he didn't spend as much as some of his friends because he didn't drink. I wasn't sure that was what the OP would want to hear when sending her DD away to college.

Well i just wanted her to know what the deal was lol. Not all kiddies drink, and i didnt really do that either. Just on Weds lol.

 

[Mom21]

Wow don't feel so guilty anymore. My husband pays $1000 in child support every month. His son is 14. We have prepaid tuition and was wondering if in 4 years if the $1000 deposited to his son's account would be enough. Sounds like we could cut that in half and still be in line with what most others pay. I want to be fair to his son but hubby wants to retire in 6 years.

 

[kathy387]

Breezy-Carol That's totally what I want to hear! She's not a partier now {and yes I know that can change when she hits college!} so I'm hoping that she won't be into that scene too much. She's going to Nevada and I think she's more interested in the skiing than going out drinking. She'd live at the ski resort if it were possible. I'm not crazy about her working either and would like to see her use the first semester to adjust instead. One other thing, and please forgive my stupidity here but this is our first one, since she is going to be so far away, when summer rolls around will they let her keep all of her stuff out there or are we going to have to go out there and schlep it all back home again? Between moving her back and forth and flying her home at Christmas...it's going to be quite an experience. My husbands still hoping that she'll want to attend somewhere in state. So about the $$$$ issue...thanks for the help! Do any of you have any experience with Visa Buxx? I'd like to have her have a card with enough $ money on it for emergencys like having to fly home {not because the keg is empty!} just incase.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I'm in college now. Spending money is my responsibility. I work during the summer (and other school breaks) and that covers it. And I spend very little, outside of books. I think laundry runs somewhere between 6 and 8 dollars a month for me. There's the occasional (rare) shopping spree, but I tend to end up with a lot of gift cards over the course of the year, so don't spend much out of pocket. I don't drink, so that's not an issue at all. Snacks I buy with the dining dollars included in my meal plan or I just go shopping with mom when I'm home. There's also the occasional $2 movie in the student union building on campus or an inexpensive ticket to some other event. I would say the average month probably doesn't cost me more than $40 (books not included), although that figure is probably high. I'm definitely the exception in the spending department though. Most of my friends spend A LOT more than I do. But I'm sort of low maintenance

 

[4nana]

Altho it's been a few yrs ago, with 4 kids we had several in college at the same time and they had to help all they could. All held summer jobs since they were 15 and did college work/study to help buy any extras. Thankfully they were all good students who earned scholarships, so had to maintain their GPA.

If you're in the situation you can send her spending change that's really wonderful! Be sure to allow for monthly care packages and flights/travel home often and your visits too, as they tend to add up. Her education is the best money you'll ever spend!! Sending my best for your DD.

ETD: Yes, ours had to move everything completely out of the dorm during summer while not attending. Some may differ.