Average Monthly College Allowance

Parents Forum
101

<p>We give each kid @100 a month. Sorry, but I think if your food and room is paid for, 25 bucks a week should be just fine. If not then they need to use their money that they have earned.</p>

<p>I will say this though, my Mom sends them weekly goodie boxes filled with crap…anything from candy to clothes. They never know what will be in the box. </p>

<p>I am also the Mom, that when we move them in, I buy everything top to bottom. Enough pens not only for them, but for everyone in the dorm. Enough gum, that they could chew it non-stop for the first semester. Cases of water, pop tarts, backups for shampoo, soap, etc. Their closets are a treasure trove for that midnight snack. I am the just in case Mom, to the point my kids get upset when I send them with a 6 pack of tp…they eventually ask me to send tp in their boxes. I even make sure that I figure out how much it will cost for them to do laundry (on avg 2 loads a week) and a jar filled with about $50 in quarters…if they want to wear dirty clothes and pay for lunch at Chipotle, oh well, and that is a story like the rest of us who lived through college where they will look back and laugh hysterically…I remember this one time…</p>

<p>Since we do all of this, I do not feel guilty about the small amount of money we send our kids. Again, as an adult, I know the cost of a pizza being delivered and shared with 3 other kids. Plus, most schools now have the school bucks that are with their food program. For both of our kids, their meal plan allowed them to use the $$$ for snacks at FB or BB games, or at the student union for national chain restaurants.</p>

<p>I also agree with gloworm, needs are different than wants.</p>

102

<p>I agree that needs are different than wants. Our daughter uses public transportation in the city, no car, no insurance, whatnot, but we do want her to have enough money in order to be able to take a cab or get around in a “situation.”</p>

<p>I “need” this in order to be able to sleep. :p</p>

<p>She would love a job, but is not on workstudy…can’t force them to let you work.</p>

103

<p>psych: D took the big NM merit scholarship and yes, that does factor into our “allowance” equation. We told her to postpone getting an on-campus job till her 2nd semester; she had saved a nice chunk from graduation money, and pt job savings. She will work over winter break at her prior job. I deposited $100 in her school account that covers the laundry & vending machines, plus off campus food places & supply store purchases. I just deposited another $100 yesterday. I asked her if she needed more money in her ATM account but she really hasn’t spent anything. </p>

<p>I also do what bulletandpima does with regards to stocking them up before they go. I set up a whole OTC medicine kit that came in handy when she had a cold. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, tp, etc. I sent her with enough for at least two months since she doesn’t have a car. </p>

<p>She will email me asking her to ship her a book from Barnes & Noble every 2 weeks or so (non class related.) She’s a big reader and that’s part of the reason why she scored well enough on the PSATs to get her scholarship. I’m happy to order them especially since they usually start with “there’s this book on super clearance…” The last one she requested was $3.99 :)</p>

104

<p>I’m sure that most families support their children to the extent that they are financially able. My D received a large scholarship, but we still struggle to pay the remainder of her tuition and room and board. She works over the summer for her spending money and books. So far, her summer earnings seem to be holding up, but we’ve told her that if she runs out, she will have to get a job on campus. We’re not being mean - just realistic. Honestly, she has very few needs to cover outside of books (and her major doesn’t require many books). I did send her a CVS gift card a few weeks ago to cover toiletries. We’d love to help her more, especially because she lives in an expensive city with so many fun things to do, but financially we can’t. (Her dad told her to find a rich boyfriend! lol)</p>

105

<p>We gave our daughter a car in high school and we cover her insurance and gas. We also bought her stuff for her dorm that she can use all four years. She earned scholarships to cover everything else, including her sorority dues. She also plans to work this next summer to pad her savings account for grad school. We got off really lucky!</p>

106

<p>A student posting here, but I get nothing in actual cash.</p>

<p>I have a full scholarship. My parents pay for car insurance, health insurance, medication, and my parking permit. My scholarship covers most books, but my parents will sometimes fill the gap.</p>

<p>They paid me 200 dollars for tutoring both of my siblings almost 20 hours for their finals.<br>
I tried all of last summer to get a job, only got one interview and was rejected on the spot because I was leaving at the end of the summer.
Most of my friends have their parents pay for everything in addition to their tuition, room, and board. I am having trouble finding a roommate for next year because most of my female friend’s parents will only let them stay in on campus apartments, which I can’t afford with my room and board allowance.
Most (99% of) jobs on campus are only for work study, which I don’t qualify for. My school isn’t in a safe area, so there are very few off campus places where I could work and not be shot (not being over cautious there are routinely shootings).
It eventually falls to my parents, or aunt to give me money anyway because I cannot afford to either come home or get back to school. I wish they would just give me the money in amounts I could count on instead of giving me a twenty when I have less than 2 dollars in my bank account.
I’ve already basically cut off ties with one person because she was constantly talking about all her money, and once accused me of stealing from her because my parents are poor (they’re not for the record they just don’t give me 500 dollars a year like hers do)</p>

107

<p>MKM and others, we did it opposite of you. We give our son an allowance because he decided to pass on living in the dorm and go to a commuter college. This decision saved us thousands of dollars. In exchange, his ‘allowance’ goes into savings which will pay off any loans or other expenses we had not planned or budgeted for.</p>

<p>With this arrangement we still figure we’ll save at least 5k even with giving him free money on top of his room and board.</p>

108

<p>gina,</p>

<p>You remind me of my kids, but the 2 blended, because they each have had the same issues as you.</p>

<p>Our DS was just like you this past summer. He came home and spent 3 weeks applying everywhere, to never get a job. For the record, it was all over the news that it was the lowest hiring rate on record for college kids regarding summer jobs. It was the economy.</p>

<p>We actually pd our DS 25 a week to take and pick up our youngest DS from football practice…doesn’t seem horrible, but that meant he left at 6 a.m. every day, and was on call between 2-4 every afternoon.</p>

<p>My DD called me this weekend venting about her roommate. As I stated earlier, I send her with a boat load of stuff because I know that we can’t afford to send each kid with 500 a month. Her roommate who does receive 500 a month in spending, knows that she has all of this stuff and feels free to raid her supplies because it is easier to do that then go to the bookstore to replace her own. This includes personal products. AT first our DD had no problem, and told her if she needed anything, just go ahead and when she got the time just replace it. This weekend, was the last straw.</p>

<p>DD had asked her over and over again have you seen this one shirt?
Maybe, I think I did and washed it for you?
Where is it?
Didn’t I give it back?</p>

<p>The dorm only gives one full length mirror in one closet, DD opens the roommates closet and lo and behold her shirt is on a hangar in the closet.</p>

<p>She then goes to get a new bottle of shampoo and it is 1/2 empty.</p>

<p>The roommate had stated that she has to be tight with her money because she travels 4 hrs each way every other weekend to visit her BF and that uses up a large part of her allowance. Additionally, she alluded to the fact the way the shirt turned up in her closet was because her BF complimented my DD when he visited once and so she knew he liked it so that answered how it turned up in her laundry. DD would have gladly lent her the shirt!</p>

<p>This is off topic, but DD and her roommate found each other on FB. They requested each other, and I told her to think long and hard about this. I felt that it could give the false illusionment of friendship, whereas, walking in as strangers, the bond will come and boundaries will be set in more clearly from the onset. I told her it was her decision, but was very weary of this path. She thought I was just insane and making mountains out of molehills.</p>

<p>Now she tells me all the time, it was the worst mistake that she didn’t listen to me. She has 6 weeks in, and 7-8 months left to go regretting this decision.</p>

<p>It is not only about the issues I have stated, but even more issues, such as, the roomie has a BF who she fights with on SKype daily, while DD tries to study. Even the BF says, I don’t think our DD appreciates this, call me from your phone outside. Her response, F my DD, this is my room too and I can fight with you if I want! She has a BF that visits every other weekend for the entire and so DD is left feeling awkward in her own room. </p>

<p>I told DD beware, that relationship is crashing and burning, the roomie has no friends on the floor because she doesn’t socialize. DD is a social butterfly. If it crashes she will want to be your bff and that will be uncomfortable for you because you will now be caught between two worlds.</p>

<p>DD this time is heeding my advice and realizing college life 20-25 yrs ago is no different than college life now and regretting she requested a room mate.</p>

<p>Back on topic!</p>

109

<p>I absolutely refuse to buy my kids cars in college. The expense is just too much.</p>

110

<p>For S who is a commuter student, we only give him money for a few meals and for the bus pass. We do pay for tuition and books and obviously are paying for his housing and food with us. He wants to move out and if he does, he will have to figure out how to pay for housing and food himself since we aren’t moving to a smaller place.</p>

<p>For D1, she may end up paying us. Let me explain= she is getting her dad’s GI Bill which along with a yellow ribbon program will pay complete tuition. She also gets a housing allowance equal to the amount a married staff sergeant stationed at the college would receive. In many places, that is more than the room and board charges. IF that is so, we will have her give back the amount above the charges to us for us to save for D2’s education or D1’s law school. If the amount doesn’t quite cover the charges, we will add those funds. The GI bill will also cover 1000 of her books cost. FOr spending money, outside of things like co-pays and medication costs, she will have to earn some money. She is an experienced pet sitter and babysitter so at a minimum she can do that.</p>

111

<p>Our older son has more in his checking account that we do. Needless to say he pays most of his own expenses now!</p>

112

<p>I would contact the education dept for your nearest military installation. You need to get more detail info. </p>

<p>For example, from what I know of the GI Bill for dependents it is akin to a FAFSA loan. Unused money does not go to the student, they just reduce the debt level. Thus, no money will be placed in your hands directly.</p>

113

<p>Like several other parents on this thread, I cover tuition, room/board, travel expenses, and fees. D covers books & any spending money. </p>

<p>I think this does two things:</p>

<p>-Gives her some skin in the game. Not so much that she flounders because she is too busy working, but enough so she has some incentive to earn some money and spend somewhat frugally. It gets her off the couch in the summer, too.</p>

<ul>
<li>I think it is huge for my kids to get some work experience before they get tossed into the full time working world as an adult. You learn a lot in your first jobs (how to satisfy a boss, how to be on time, usually some basics about how a business works) that you really would be best off knowing when you start your first full time job.</li>
</ul>

114

<p>Unused money on the tuition part does not go to my daughter. The tuition is paid to the school. The housing allowance is paid to the recipient and she can have a room and board from that or get a private apartment with that. They don’t regulate that money. IF she has any of that left, it will be put aside for future educational expenses.</p>

115

<p>my allowance is all from my dad, but my mom handles it. i know 100 is already a big amount, but i need more than that. its not a matter of want. i just need it. I’ve been trying to apply for jobs everywhere. I’ve been denied every time because of my age and with this economy barely any establishments are hiring. 100 is only enough for my lunch for 1 day 4 times a week in 1 month. i know asking for more sounds greedy or being selfish, but i’m only asking to double it so i can have A BIT of leisure and A BIT of money to save for my first car. excuse me for saying this again, but it may sound greedy to other people, but they will feel the same way as i am right now if they experience EXACTLY the same thing. i’m not a bad person seriously. I’m not selfish.</p>

116

<p>I get what I need, but I run it by my parents every time. Anything that’s frivolous that either I or my parents consider I take out of my own money.</p>

<p>My mom pays for my food, and general hygiene stuff. They also pay for stuff thats sports related because that adds up quick.</p>

117

<p>My S gets an allowance of $50 every two weeks. If he wants more, he can get a job. We have family in his college city so he is able to pick up odd jobs with them doing yardwork, babysitting, etc. We are not covering any of his college expenses out of pocket - he has a partial scholarship, grants and loans. His grandparents have a college fund for him that we tap into to plug odd holes, but is is not spending money.</p>

118

<p>We pay tuition, room and board, all travel expenses, my S has a small clothing allowance. We turned over an account with about $11,000 in it for him to manage. That is his spending and book money for the next 4 years, he worked as a nanny this summer and made a decent amount of money, most of which he saved. He used his graduation gifts to buy a new laptop and some stocks. So far he is spending next to nothing and is actually bought more stocks with his birthday gifts. He is much cheaper with his own money then ours. If he blows all his money he’ll need to get a job during the school year. His goal is to graduate with more then he started with. Hopefully he sticks to this.</p>

119

<p>I am A full Time college student and a Full time employee everything that has to do with school i have paid for and usually use Pell Grants from financial aid.Everything else I have worked for since i was twelve my parents live Two states and only contribution i am receiving from them is my wonderful grandmother is paying for my phone. Your college students should count themselves Blessed that you as parents are doing so much for them. I make $220 a week at 8.25/hr its not easy but i scrape by if students want to make their money last longer here are some tips.1: Budget, 2: room mates can be god sends when it comes to rent, 3:Find a Job, 4: and Discipline themselves to buy what they truly need, and if possible limit entertainment.
It may sound like hell to do but it has helped me for most of my college years and maybe it can help somebody else. :)</p>

120

<p>I get no money. I work for my rent, and have around $100 for groceries each month. I don’t buy books. </p>

<p>Anything else, I’m screwed for or I have to try to find a way to make more money.</p>