<p>I am just amazed at the various discussions on here about how much money kids spend "nowadays" at college. I do not recall kids expecting to go to Broadway shows and take annual excursions to Mexico when I was in college. </p>
<p>My eldest graduated from a Boston liberal arts college several years ago and never spent more money than she could earn in a summer. Two years she had an on campus job too. </p>
<p>She laughs at the very concept of "being able to take advatage of all a big city has to offer." Even she knows that now with her rather low paying D.A. office job she can't do that. But she expects to some day!</p>
<p>What's wrong with kids having to learn a little frugality? Perhaps that is unrealistic though, given the poor money habits and extreme levels of consumption of this generation of parents.</p>
<p>Also, kids spending a lot of money in college are doing one thing big time -- partying. Ask kids in college to honestly assess what their peers spend money on and guess what they'll tell you?</p>
<p>I'm with you on this. And it is followed by parents feeling the need to "help out" their kids financially for sometimes several years after college, because the kids can't afford the lifestyle they believe they deserve (and have become accustomed to) on starting salaries.</p>
<p>College, and the early years thereafter, are great times to learn thrift, how to creatively get by on what you've got. </p>
<p>I'm totally mystified by high school Spring Break trips to some tropical paradise. I get that, if it's the norm where you are, it takes some steeliness to buck the trend. I'm grateful that it is unheard of where I am. But how does such a thing get to be the norm? This whole syndrome obviously starts way before college.</p>
<p>true, while many students (including myself) spend a lot of money...who really cares? My parents flip the bill, and as long as they're willing to, i'm going to take as much $ as they're going to shelling out. Yes I would say the majority of my money goes towards 3 things, booze, food (i don't use my meal plan fully as i probably order food several times a week), and dates/date functions. I can easily drop $4-500 a week on non-essential stuff. But I've never overstepped what my parents have said I can spend, and I've never gotten a call saying "you're spending to much."</p>
<p>It probably sucks that if you're in the city you can't go to plays or live the city life, but still - everyone has a different college experience. I work during the summer and I make good money, I don't use it because my parents have basicly told me once I graduate, I'm cut off. So I figure, why not just take advantage of the $ while I have the opportunity?</p>
<p>Also, I don't know when you went to college, but the same stuff that takes place now took place in the 60s and 70s. While my dads family was dirt poor, and didn't do any of those things, I know my mom told me stories about her trips to europe while she went to college. She wasn't rich then (or now), but she still had the opportunity to do that stuff. And I hope everyone who has the ability to, does take the opportunity to spend lots of $, and go on lots of trips. You most probably won't be able to on your first year out of college salary.</p>
<p>$4-500 A WEEK?? Did I read that right? You must have very generous parents...or H and I must be very stingy ones. We expect each of our kids in school to make that kind of money last at least 4-6 weeks.</p>
<p>A college student spending $400-$500 a week just because s/he can is outright ridiculous, IMO. The problem these days is us parents. We have become so caught up in that I-want-to-give-my-child-what-I-didn't-have mentality that it flaws our children. Sure, it's great to be able to do more for them than was done for us, because we have the means, but what does this teach a child? Usually nothing more than to <em>expect</em> certain things from us and society in general. We often give our children way too much and do way too much for them (I am also guilty of this at times). There is a woman in my office who has a kid in high school and is she super concerned with how she's going to finance this kid's MASTERS degree. If that doesn't beat all I don't know what does. </p>
<p>Oh, wait -- giving a college student $400-$500 a week to spend on "whatever" does! :-)</p>
<p>When S went off to school in September, he had - after savings plus summer earnings minus the fairly expensive laptop he bought - about $2400 for spending for the whole year. This was to include books and any recreational activities. When he got home for Thanksgiving, I asked him how much he had left, wondering if the amount was going to last the whole year. After the first quarter, he had $2500, $100 more than he started(!). When I asked how that happened, he told me he did a little web design work on the side, and besides, he said, he wasn't a big spender. So I guess it will last him the year. :) Until next September when he takes his car with him.</p>
<p>Birder, I'm not sure if your comment about 'expecting to go to Broadway shows' was directed at my post in the other thread but I'm going to reply anyway. :) My D who is in school in NYC does not EXPECT to be able to do that but she certainly loves to spend her free time at the theatre if it's possible. She's a theatre student so this is obviously one of her favorite things to do, both for entertainment and to broaden her theatre horizons. She's been going to the theatre, as have all of our children since they were old enough to sit still and behave. </p>
<p>She's a junior now at NYU and has probably seen most shows which have run on and off-Broadway in the time she's been at school there. Most of these have been tickets obtained through the shows' rush policies which involve standing in line, playing a lottery system, or getting standing room. Occasionally, she's been fortunate enough to get free tickets from family friends in the 'biz'. I don't believe she has ever paid more than $20-25 for a ticket in obtaining tickets in this way. Why shouldn't she take advantage of this?! Who's to say that students shouldn't be able to spend their money in this way? Seeing a movie in the city isn't much less than seeing a live show in this way.</p>
<p>Why is it any different than the myriad of students across the country who spend their money on any other type of entertainment? Do kids who spend money going to movies, or out drinking, or going to football games, or going to clubs, or playing golf, or bowling, etc. somehow make a more wise choice? I realize I'm carrying this to the extreme but your jumping on the Broadway show issue as if it were outrageous for kids to expect this, hit sore spot with me. Students spend their money in many ways, just as adults do. It's a personal decision for each and every one of them and making generalizations is unwise.</p>
<p>As someone else said, these things aren't anything new, and certainly aren't confined to kids who are in schools in large cities. I had friends when I was in college who went to Europe skiing every Christmas break, and other friends who went home and worked for those three weeks. There always have been, and always will be, kids who have the money to do more than others, just the same as there will be adults who can.</p>
<p>My daughter spends her own money and has since junior year of high school. My son works and pays his rent and food with modest input from us. I would and have chipped in for a travel opportunity but not for a spring break. I don't think either of my kids would even ask.</p>
<p>If people have money and spend it on their kids, that is there decision. Everyone has a right to try their own life style, and without commenting on other peoples kids, I will say that I would be disappointed in my kids if they spent $400 on themselves in a week, for several weeks in a row. My D would probably donate most of it to an animal shelter, and my son would probably pay off some of his college debt or hand it over to some homeless shelter. If you do have $4-500 to spend each week, I hope you overtip your servers and delivery people, I can assure you they are not getting that kind of support from home.</p>
<p>My D's bank A/c has only been depleted by the amount of the cost of her textbooks. Any personal expenditure comes out of the little money she earns. And that is by her choice, and not any guidelines that we have set.
She is home for Christmas, spending lots of time with us, and seeing friends. Her best friend is working 35 hours a week at the mall so she can feed her shopping habit (Coach, D&G etc!!). So, to each their own. I am quite pleased with her values.</p>
<p>my d spends her summer earnings on tuition and her school year earnings on necessities like prescriptions, entertainment and books.
Since she is dropping her board plan- money for food will no longer be part of school expenses, so we will start sending her money- or at least depositing in her account money for groceries.
She does live in a city and she and her friends do like going to clubs or out to dinner but mostly they are too busy with studies to really take advantage-
HEr college does have lots of free entertainment as well- student groups sponsor speakers and performances that are free for students- public transportation in her city isnt bad and it is less expensive than maintaining a car- students spending lots of money may make headlines, but I don't think it is common.</p>
<p>I will be attending my state university (~7K/year), despite the offer from my parents that they would pay full tuition to any private school in the country. There will be perks to my decision, and price was definitely a factor in where I chose to spend my next 4 years. My parents will be more lenient with spending money, and whatever money I don't spend that I could have at the private school, I will be able to use for my masters degree, a home down payment in the future, or something to that extent. I don't feel TOO spoiled or out of line, because my dad's dad did the exact same thing for him...even though I recognize just how priveledged I am - I worked anywhere from 12 to 25 hours a week * during school * freshman, sophomore, and junior year of high school, and I bought my own car and am saving so I can have spending money in college. I did forfeit high school sports, but that's something I can live without haha.</p>
<p>We give our daughter around $400/month which covers food, transportation, pharmaceuticals and anything else that you can think of. If she can live in NYC on that and manage to budget in one or two shows a year....more power to her.</p>
<p>Elleneast -- $400 a month including food in NYC. Your daughter is frugal! She also must eat a lot less than our son. :)</p>
<p>Our kid is responsible for his own spending money, as he also was in high school. Of course, this means we don't get to tell him how to spend it even though we sometimes cringe at his choices (Spring Break trip, frat dues...).</p>
<p>One thing that's surprised me is that guys still seem to pick up the tab on dates. </p>
<p>On the up side, I notice he's become a great shopper. Who knew that my SON would discover Filene's basement or look for sales.</p>
<p>alwaysamom, my D is also in NYC and takes advantage of the special rates for students to attend shows. I talk about her going to shows but sometimes forget to mention the rushes and standing in line plus the offers she gets through her school, so I can see how people might think she is spending a lot of money, but in reality that is not the case. she is typically frugal and has continued to be in college. she is fully aware of the economic impact of her attending college on the opposite coast. She did some hard bargaining for an allowance and although she started with a part time job, she eventually chose to give it up knowing the impact it would have on her spending habits.</p>
<p>I don't see a problem with it in certain cases.</p>
<p>I'll be going to college in the fall; my tuition/room/board/textbooks is all covered by scholarships...I don't see any problem with me using any other money on extras.</p>
<p>I'm in the same boat. I got a full scholarship from my University (books, room, board, tuition, etc...) and I am getting about 1500 back in a check every semester because my scholarship exceeds the costs of school. I also get 400 a month from my parents because that was a deal that was made a long time ago that if I got a full scholarship, they would give me money to spend in college. I'm working now too so if I want to go out and spend money on having fun I really don't think there is anything wrong with that.</p>
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I can easily drop $4-500 a week on non-essential stuff. But I've never overstepped what my parents have said I can spend, and I've never gotten a call saying "you're spending to much."