<p>As we prepare for D to commit to a college, we're trying to plan and anticipate all of the financial logistics in different cities. Clearly, there are limitless possibilities for fun activities for Tulane students in NOLA!</p>
<p>So, here's a question for current Tulane students and/or parents...how much $$ should realistically be budgeted for spending money...food purchased outside of the pre-paid dining facilities, athletic events, shopping, road trips, whatever!</p>
<p>Athletic events are included in the fees, so all they have to do is show their Splash card. Unless she is planning on taking in Saints games or Pelicans games. But as far as everything else, wow it depends so much on your kid. For most there really aren’t many road trips, NOLA offers so much. Occasionally people will drive an hour or so to take in the beaches around Gulfport or Biloxi, but other than gas and food/drinks, that doesn’t cost much unless they are staying overnight. And I really don’t think most will eat all that much outside of Bruff, unless they want to make exploring restaurants a hobby. I tried to eat at one nice place once a month all 4 years I was there. Add those to being taken out by others from time to time and I got to try a ton of New Orlean’s finest. But even in today’s $$, that wouldn’t add up to that much if they really only did it once a month.</p>
<p>I dunno, parents, what do you think? About $200 a month at most? Not counting travel home of course. My D was a low spender, didn’t shop a ton, so I don’t feel very representative on that.</p>
<p>My son isn’t there yet, but just based on his average spending now, that would probably do it. He usually averages about $40 every weekend, $20/week for gas. He doesn’t shop really. I think there enough campus based activities that are free or maybe minimal cost as well. We are able to access our sons bank account through ours and transfer money to him at any time electronically so I never gave it much thought. Figure we’ll deal with it as it comes up. he tends to be a saver as well. </p>
<p>It depends so much on your child. Mine is rather thrifty and we don’t have the kind of money that many other Tulane families have. Her first semester, we probably gave her $200 total for spending money, and she spent some of her own from her bank account, but not that much. This semester, I think I’ve given her about $150 so far but she has spent a bit more of her own money than last semester too. I would probably be willing to give her $100/month if she needed it. That said, she has many friends who come from wealthier families and spend considerably more. Do they need more money? No, not really. There are so many things they can do for little to no money there, but if they are used to a certain lifestyle at home, they usually like to live the same lifestyle at school. </p>
<p>I know there used to be a pretty nice place in the LBC for hair, nails, etc. geared towards the young women. It closed a couple years ago I think, which tells me there wasn’t a lot of money being spent on this kind of thing. Does anyone know if anything has taken its place? I think it was next to the Whitney Bank branch.</p>
<p>Off topic but is there a barber on/near campus? There used to be one in the LBC but when we took our tour this summer they told us he left/retired. </p>
<p>Actually he passed away, His name was Tom Davis, and he was the barber at Tulane for over 50 years!!! I doubt he will be replaced unless really short hair comes back in style.</p>
<p>I haven’t watched that for a few years. Just as another note, and something that is so typically New Orleans and Tulane, regarding Leland Bennet. He is mentioned in conjunction with the mutton-chops phenomenon. Leland was director of the University Center and LBC for many, many years but was also a local musician. He played sax in various groups, and also directed a school group called The Tulanians for many years. The group was extremely popular on campus, and performed at various schools throughout the country as well. There was even an international trip to Switzerland, which unfortunately was the year before I was selected to join. Several people in the group went on to fame in the performing arts, including an actor that had several long running TV roles and was nominated for a Tony for his Broadway work; the author of Steel Magnolias and several other plays, screenplays and TV shows; and a studio musician who has performed on albums of some of the biggest names in rock. I am sure there are others that went onto success in music and related areas, but those are the ones I know off hand. Leland definitely influenced these people and many of us. He died recently as well. He is missed by all of the Tulane family.</p>
<p>As everyone else has noted a budget really depends on the specific person. I personally like to explore the city a lot and try different restaurants once or twice a week. With that being said, many kids are content eating at Bruff and using wave bucks at the LBC for a majority of their meals. Besides food and drinks there are not many other expenses (I do not know of many people going on shopping sprees for clothes every week, for example) </p>
<p>So with those interests in mind, how much are you spending a month, TF? Eating at restaurants once or twice a week adds up, I would think, so just curious what that comes to.</p>
<p>I suppose it could also become a PhD issue… I wonder how much can rent cost in New Orleans (and, from there, how much money is left afterward) since the monthly stipend is $1,600.</p>
<p>@Catria - Depends on how many roommates you are willing to live with. I saw a one bedroom on Craigslist today for $775 pretty close to the school. I also saw a 3 bedroom for $2100. Those did not include utilities. I have seen more expensive, haven’t seen much less lately. But I seem to recall some places for 3 that rented for as little as $1500. Of course quality varies a lot. But it is certainly possible to get a situation where you can get by for rent and food for $1600 a month and be close to campus, which keeps your other costs down. There is often lots of free food on campus as well. Various events where food is served, things like that.</p>
<p>Wow I feel like $200 a month isn’t going to go far? Especially if they ever go out and want a drink or to listen to music/ eat all that good food/ get coffee… etc… ?? Anyone else with kids at Tulane that can let us know how much spending money you are giving your kid a month??</p>
<p>^^^YES please?! Appreciate the opinions offered so far (thank you!) and would appreciate more info from parents of current students, especially girls? My D isn’t a spendthrift but I wouldn’t exactly call her thrifty! And while she has an awesome and admirable work ethic, its highly unlikely that she’ll be spending Saturday night at the library!</p>
<p>LOL, I hope she doesn’t have to spend Saturday at the library very often! I private messaged a female senior I know who is an excellent student (already accepted to med schools) but who I know to also be outgoing. So hopefully she will weigh in with her recollections of what she typically spent her first two years.</p>
<p>Well…I don’t like to give my freshman daughter an unlimited amount…I gave her a $1,000 at the beginning freshman
year which lasted about 3 months…she likes to spend…she now has small job on campus and that’s her spending money…I don’t give her anything anymore…however, I just paid her first sorority bill which was 1,133 which was a shocker since it does not include housing or food…so, you may need to budget for that as well</p>