Planning ahead for college expenses

[linnylu]

My ds is a senior in high school this year and I am trying to budget this year for his freshman year of college expenses. Mainly I am thinking about weekly spending money and semester book money.

For those who have a child in college, can you estimate about how much your child spends on extras in a week? I know this varies. My ds will live in the dorms and have the food plan.

Also, can you estimate how much your child spends on books per semester?

Any other extras I should be planning for?

 

[msmayor]

I may not be able to provide good hard estimates, because our agreement with our daughter is that all expenses for books/supplies and extra spending money is her responsibility. We pay only tuition, room, board and any standard fees.

Book costs will vary widely depending on the student's major. My daughter is a Graphics Design major at an art school, and for her books are a smaller expense than her supplies. First quarter she spent $275 on books; second about the same and third only $90. Her supply expenses, however, ran close to $800 for the year.

She was on a meal plan but still spent money on snacks and items to keep in her fridge/freezer.

Overall, during her freshman year, she spent $2,000 on books, supplies and other...including any 'fun' things (one was a weekend trip to the beach).

 

[luvmy3jewels]

In regards to your question about textbooks, the cost can vary significantly and I would think the range would be anywhere between $400 - $800 a semester. Buying used books (when they are available) can save a lot of $$ and there are several on-line used textbook sellers out there. There can be a lot of variables for book cost, depending on how many classes he/she will be taking and the types of courses.

You may want to see if the college your child is attending has a book rental policy which allows students to rent books instead of buying them. My dh's college lets you rent your textbooks for around $300 a semester, but you have to be really careful and turn them in by the due date at the end or they will charge you the full cost for them.

As far as spending money goes, I would think that $75 a week would be enough to cover gas and other expenses.

 

[Green Tea]

Books have actually become pretty inexpensive on Amazon Marketplace. No longer an expense to be feared. There are also textbook rental websites.

 

[Marionnette]

My son will be a freshman this fall. Most schools are very good at estimating the cost of books and extras. They include this with the estimate of college costs. He will attend a state school. Books are estimated at $900 per semester. He is hoping to rent books. Or download them to his ipad. Or share some with his room mate. I told him how to look for used books too. We are giving him $100 per week for food and misc expenses. But he is living off campus and does not have the meal plan.

 

[Hannathy]

Books have actually become pretty inexpensive on Amazon Marketplace. No longer an expense to be feared. There are also textbook rental websites.

Oh I disagree very strongly with this. Fear the book costs! Yes SOME books have gotten cheaper but many many aren't and just when they get cheaper the Prof changes the book or goes to a new edition. Yes you can usually get away with an older edition for some classes but not all.

One of my DD's book this semester is $192 plus she needs other books for that class. Even Statistics the book is $90. (used)

She will be spending at least -even ordering on line and getting used when available-$600 this semester.

Be careful with the books on the computer, my DD says she hates these. Depends on how your child studies and learns. She had some for High School and found them hard to use for her.

I am surprised at the spending money some are thinking about. We are planning more in the $100 -$150 a month range! She has a meal plan and the spending money is what she earned this summer.

 

[Tink9295]

My ds's books for the fall semester are about $500.00. These are almost all used books. Don't forget about the cost of outfitting a dorm room. This is expensive. Even with roommates plan on spending from $300.00 to $500.00. That includes splitting the big items. We had to buy a microwave and a few other items to share and it was still expensive.

Next year won't be as bad because he will have most of what he needs.

 

[MrsPete]

My ds is a senior in high school this year and I am trying to budget this year for his freshman year of college expenses. Mainly I am thinking about weekly spending money and semester book money.

For those who have a child in college, can you estimate about how much your child spends on extras in a week? I know this varies. My ds will live in the dorms and have the food plan.

Also, can you estimate how much your child spends on books per semester?

Any other extras I should be planning for?

Thinking back to my own freshman year, I didn't spend much at all. I lived in a dorm, so I didn't have utilities or groceries to pay. Eating out was a rarity. I did have to pay for laundry, the occasional haircut, and toiletry items.

I think the new college student should expect to spend a little to set up the dorm room for the first time: Sheets, refrigerator, lamps. I wouldn't spend a great deal on this though: My daughter already owns blankets, etc. here at home, and although subsequent semesters might require a new this-or-that, this really should only be a big expense the first year.

Books are a scary topic. I'm hoping that my daughter chooses one particular school on her list that charges a textbook fee (as part of tuition), and then lends books to the students.

My husband and I plan to pay tuition/fees, dorm, and meal plan for our daughter . . . and she'll be responsible for books and spending money. She should be able to buy books with her summer job money, and then work 2-3 days a week for spending money.

 

[prncess674]

We are giving him $100 per week for food and misc expenses.

Does your son not have a meal plan? $100 a week is very generous.

I am surprised at the spending money some are thinking about. We are planning more in the $100 -$150 a month range! She has a meal plan and the spending money is what she earned this summer.

$100 - $150 sounds much more reasonable to me. These "kids" are over age 18 and working a little part time job to pay for itunes, snacks, bar nights and movies should be acceptable.

 

[Darcy03231]

My 3rd is starting college in a couple of weeks.

Books - Plan on $500-$1,000 per semester. Depending on the major books can get really expensive.

Since your son will have a meal plan, I would say $30/wk for incidentals.

My children have all provided their own spending money.

Keep in mind that if he's going away to school you'll have the expense of outfitting the dorm room (sheets, mattress pad, comforter, towels, toiletries, laundrey detergent, refrigerators, etc. .......).

 

[erincon23]

Does your son not have a meal plan? $100 a week is very generous.

The poster said her son is living off campus.

My son is budgeting $20/week for incidentals -- I have to tell you, though, that I don't expect him to spend this much unless he pays to get into concerts and other events -- he's quite cheap. (he'll to to Steak n Shake with his friends and order water and 1 99cent slider ) He's responsible for all of that. We originally thought that we'd pick up the majority of his dorm stuff, but finances are really tight, and he got a scholarship he hadn't expected, so the dorm stuff is on him -- we spent about $400 over all, but the school provides a microwave/freezer/fridge in every room, and his roommate is bringing the TV.

 

[Marionnette]

We are giving him $100 per week for food and misc expenses.

Does your son not have a meal plan? $100 a week is very generous.

Hes living off campus. No meal plan. We figured $70 for food and $30 for other expenses. That leaves about $120 per month for his share of cable and electric. Plus haircuts, clothing, personal care items and entertainment.

 

[linnylu]

For any of you who might have a son and a daughter in school, do you think your daughter spends more than you son? I have a dd who will be a junior in high school this year. I know she spends more in hs than my son does. He and his friends are happy to go to someone's house and play guitar hero. The girls go to movies, shopping, out to eat, etc. I am hoping she spends less in college!

I was thinking of saving $100 per week for incidental expenses- assuming a semester is 15 weeks that would be $3000 for the school year. But maybe he won't need that much? What do kids do at college for fun?

I am trying to plan ahead because dh is self-employed. His business is strong now but that doesn't mean it will be in 18 months. Yes, ds will work next summer if he can find a job, but I am preparing for any scenario.

 

[Hannathy]

For any of you who might have a son and a daughter in school, do you think your daughter spends more than you son? I have a dd who will be a junior in high school this year. I know she spends more in hs than my son does. He and his friends are happy to go to someone's house and play guitar hero. The girls go to movies, shopping, out to eat, etc. I am hoping she spends less in college!

I was thinking of saving $100 per week for incidental expenses- assuming a semester is 15 weeks that would be $3000 for the school year. But maybe he won't need that much? What do kids do at college for fun?

I am trying to plan ahead because dh is self-employed. His business is strong now but that doesn't mean it will be in 18 months. Yes, ds will work next summer if he can find a job, but I am preparing for any scenario.

I can't imagine a kid going thru 100 a week in college unless that is for food and transportation! To spend that much when would they be studying?
My DD is leaving next Wed and as I said earlier she earned her "incidental" money this summer and isn't budgeting more than 100 a month for incidentals. Now I may drop a 10 or a 20 in the mail occasionally but 100 a month should be enough for the occasional movie, pizza or night out. Most colleges have a lot of activities on campus that are free or a couple of dollars.
Do I think girls spend more, depends on what you are including in that money. If clothes, make-up, personal products then yeah that would be true, just entertainment then not really. Probably depends on the kid more than the sex.

 

[eliza61]

My ds is a senior in high school this year and I am trying to budget this year for his freshman year of college expenses. Mainly I am thinking about weekly spending money and semester book money.

For those who have a child in college, can you estimate about how much your child spends on extras in a week? I know this varies. My ds will live in the dorms and have the food plan.

Also, can you estimate how much your child spends on books per semester?

Any other extras I should be planning for?

What ever you plan for, take that amount and double it. .

I admire guys who can live off of $20 a week. It cost more than that when I was in college 20 years ago. My son is away at college and last year, his freshman year he spent about $100 bucks a month. I don't think he's a big spender but I did want the kid to be able to go to a movie once or twice a month (and movies are $10 bucks for admission) or maybe spring for a pizza twice a month.


Hannathy,
I'm not sure where you're at but most of the colleges around here do not have free activities. I went to the University of Pittsburgh and heck, even the fraternity and sorority parties charged a cover fee of $5 or 10 bucks to get into. If you were a student you did get football tickets cheaply but drink and food you had to pay for.

Also if you're kid is on campus, they have to buy toiletries and personal items like detergent etc. Heck a bottle of tide runs 18.00 bucks. then he has to pay to actually use the washer and dryer.

My son is a very slow learner with learning disabilities so I did not want him to work during his freshmen year.
Books cost us anywhere between $200-400 bucks. This summer we discovered chegg so we are renting a lot of his books this september which should cut the cost.

 

[Green Tea]

This is a post about text book buying: http://lifehacker.com/5613591/the-complete-guide-to-getting-cheap-textbooks?skyline=true&s=i