College kids & spending $

[leighe]

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's what my parents did for me as well. I think I got $200 every two weeks.

 

[singingpixie]

I didn't really get spending money either at college. My parents, scholarships and loans covered tuition, room, board and books. I worked part time during the school year and overtime during the summers after I turned 16, so that covered expenses my first year. After that I continued working a ton over the summers, was an RA for a year, and had several part-time jobs (up to four at a time) through my remaining college years. It taught me to budget money AND time- my only 4.0 GPA was the semester w/ the four jobs. But that's just me- I work best under pressure when I don't have time to mess around. My parents did send care packages, but those were treats, not anything I would plan on living off of.

 

[ChibiJones]

I used to work for a university. We had plenty of freshman work-study students. It should be very manageable for her to work and go to school. Many work-study jobs also let you study while working so they are pretty low impact, like checking ID's at the library.

BTW, if her financial aid package includes work-study it is expected that she will work throughout the school year. She could risk losing her work-study if she fails to use it all. If I remember correctly, freshman work-study recipients were assigned to an office. She could, of course, change jobs once she got on campus.

They also had a short-term job board for when the students needed a little extra money, things like babysitting, servers for catering jobs, and stuffing envelopes. Not exciting, but usually pretty easy.

Also look into shipping her stuff home. That's what I did. It will take some number crunching to see which option is cheaper, storage or shipping. It will depend on how much stuff she has.

 

[mickeyboat]

I thought of an option for storing her stuff. Could she and a couple of friends rent a storage space for the summer to keep all the stuff they don't want the shlep home? Where I went to school, there were a ton of them.

Denae

 

[ilovejack02]

I would prefer my child be able to concentrate on their schoolwork, not have to be distracted by having a job while in college other than in the summertime. I don't think giving them a few hundred a month is a terrible thing.

I agree with that! I will say that there was no way i needed a few hundred a month. I only lived an hour away from home so I got haircuts on the weekends with mom, I think OP said DD will live pretty far from home, so I would take that into account. Also I had the ability to charge clothes at a local department store so when I needed something( not just a new sat night outfit LOL) I could charge it and they sent dad the bill. I got a hundred a month 12 yrs ago, so I bet she could get by on 200.00 a month.

 

[kathy387]

I was thinking of $200 a month so I think I'll start with that and see what happens....it will not be more than that tho. It would go towards personal stuff, ink cartridges, ect and not just splurge buying. As for the storage, I'm not sure if they have storage garages there or not. It would definately be an option because then we could just fly her home instead of driving all the way out there. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to respond and sharing your experiences! This is all so new to us & it's not like she'll be able to just pop home for the weekend and pick up whatever or just to visit!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

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.

this was me as well

 

[Kath2003]

I didn't get spending money for college but if the OP has the financial ability to do that for her daughter and is happy to do so, then why not?
There's nothing to stop her daughter earning her own money as well.

Just because I and others lived on a pittance throughout college doesn't mean it's the "way to do things".

 

[Snowysmom]

My older DS works full time during the summer and that is his spending money. He also pays for his books. We do pay for school supplies, laundry supplies, medicines, printer paper, printer cartridges, snack foods, and similar items. He mainly pays for eating out or going to the movies and gas money. We expect younger DS to do the same next year.

 

[kathy387]

Maybe I should clear something up. My daughter is paying for her education by the way of a merit award from the school, cash, and a loan. We decided that if she wanted to go that far away other than to an instate school that she'd have to majorly help out. We're not rich by any sense of the word but I'd be more comfortable if she had some money. She's always been an excellent student and more responsible than most adults I know so I know that she wouldn't misuse the money. She actually told me that she wouldn't need that much. But like I said, it would make me more comfortable and if she had a decent amount left over from the month before then I wouldn't send the whole amount the following month. I can appreciate the fact that some of you worked liked dogs through college and scrimped on some things. I expect she may have to do the same. She knows that this isn't a 9 month vacation and is actually talking about getting a second job this summer. I basically asked because I have no idea of what kind of expenses college kids have. Thanks tho for all of the different views. They've all been helpful.

 

[Kitty 34]

My son is paying for his education thru scholarships and some loans so we allow him to spend up to $40 a month on a CC. It's easier that way. He doesn't have a bank close to his school and I don't like to send cash.

 

[christineann]

Both of my kids work during the summer and part-time during the school year at jobs that do not interfere with their school work (both are able to maintain honors grades without being too stressed). There are a lot of jobs available for college students - tutoring, resident hall assistants, work study, office positions, etc. One of my kids is doing work study - the first wishes he had done that, too. She works in her major department and has gotten to know the professors. She has been offered a job teaching a lab next year (her 3rd semester). The money is very good, and she is excited about having this on her transcript. Work study is a fantastic program.

I can't figure out why they would need hundreds of dollars more per month if they are on a meal plan and live in a dorm (maybe they drive home every weekend?). And, yes, I was once a college student, too.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Any money I use towards entertainment (of which there is not much because I am busy enough with school) is earned with a summer job. My parents pay for the necessities...like food. I have a food allergy so I have to order special food from Canada and buy expensive brand name foods at Walmart. I can't live on Ramen noodles and fast food.

 

[MrsPete]

I have a question for those who are giving college students $50-100/week in spending money:

How much do you yourself have available for spending money? I mean just plain "fun money" -- going out to lunch with a friend, buying a pretty bracelet, I'd like to read that magazine, fun money?

I know that I don't spend $50-100 in disposable income per week, so there's no way I'd give that much to a college student!

 

[MrsPete]

My parents pay for the necessities...like food. I have a food allergy so I have to order special food from Canada and buy expensive brand name foods at Walmart. I can't live on Ramen noodles and fast food.

If my daughters had this need, I'd absolutely pay for their "special" foods -- that's a need.

 

[Feralpeg]

DD spends about $30 a month on "extras". That includes snacks for her room, toiletries, an occasional dinner off campus. She is on the food plan. The majority of time, she eats at the dining hall or uses "flex bucks" from the food plan to eat at one of the fast food places on campus. She attends free movie night at the student union. They bowl at the campus bowling alley or play pool. She makes a trip to the mall to walk around with her friends and window shop about once a month, but most of her social activity is on campus and costs very little.

In response to Mrs. Pete's question regarding available spending money for myself. I saved for many years to ensure that the money would be available for DD's college expenses. However, I've spent very little. DD received scholarships that have covered her tuition, housing and food plan. The first semester, I paid for her books. Last semester, the university picked up the cost of her books because she made the Dean's List the first semester. At this point, I am so far ahead of where I thought I'd be, I feel I can afford to shell out a little spending money to DD each month. In my mind, she more than earned it by earning the scholarship money. She worked very hard in high school to be a straight A student.

As far as working, I really don't want her to take on anything else at this point, although that is her decision. She does volunteer work after school at a local boy's and girl's club. No, she's not earning anything, but she is working. I'm happy with the way things are going.

OP, if you are comfortable with sending a little spending money, that is all that matters.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

we do $100.00 a week
I think that is fair and should cover most things that we dont already pay for .
He Wrestles and there is not time for work between school and wrestling .

But I think all parents should only give what they can afford , and no one should ever feel bad about any amount because anything is better then nothing : ) If we had to cut back for any reason I am sure the kids would understand .

 

[MrsPete]

At this point, I am so far ahead of where I thought I'd be, I feel I can afford to shell out a little spending money to DD each month.

I am also financially far ahead of my own expectations -- frugal living, you can't beat it! I'd argue that anyone who isn't doing well financially really should forgo spending money for college students; that's above and beyond the basic needs, and we are talking about adult children.

But I've always been cautious about giving my daughters too much spending money for fear they'd become "spoiled" by having excessive disposable income. My fear is that once they're out on their own for the first time, they'll have built up spending habits they won't be able to afford.

Where's the line? I don't know. Right now, my husband and I are planning to pay the basics (tuition and fees, dorm room and meal plan) and expect our daughters to pay their own books and spending money. When they reach college, circumstances may arise that'll make us question that plan. If, like your daughter, our daughter were to earn full scholarships -- thus saving us thousands -- we probably would give her a moderate allowance and consider that she'd "earned" that money. Or we might put aside a good amount for her to have towards a first house downpayment. Or we might throw her a really big wedding. It'd depend upon the details.