How much allowance per month should I ask for?

<p>My grandpa paid for my high school and has taken care of college tuition, room and board (including meal plan) but I'll obviously need some sort of spending money. Just wondering what a realistic per month allowance is. And do you put a set amount in every 1st of the month, do you just do bank transfers as needed, or maybe I should ask for an authorized user American Express card? Thank you.</p>

<p>How much do you need?</p>

<p>You need to look at your spending habits. An arbitrary set number is of no use when you don’t know your spending lifestyle.</p>

<p>None. Are you kidding me?</p>

<p>Be thankful for the generosity already shown you.</p>

<p>Get a job, preferably on campus, about 10-15 hours per week.</p>

<p>How about getting a job? Then you can learn to live within your means, not someone else’s.</p>

<p>Not sure how getting a meaningless job is going to help me be successful. It could likely interfere with my GPA. Please keep your class warfare debates on huff po.</p>

<p>Will you be receiving any money gifts for graduation? Do you have any savings from previous gifts or small jobs? What about a job this summer? My daughter will be babysitting and working part-time for her spending money. She understands in the transition process to college, the need to start to earn her own money, budget for her expenditures and learn to become more independent.</p>

<p>I’ve taken the time to look at some of your other posts, notably on the U of M forum. </p>

<p>Very illuminating. </p>

<p>It is unfortunate that you are such a marginal student that working for 10 hours a week would jeopardize your academic status. In any case, I sincerely hope that you achieve the success you <em>deserve</em>. B-) </p>

<p>Yeah, I’m having a graduation party where I expect to receive a decent amount of money. I assume that’s supposed to be saved though, yes? And I plan to hopefully intern every college summer, even after freshman year. This summer I’m just going to relax at the lake though.</p>

<p>Agree, find a job. Many kids earn their own spending money. My D worked every summer starting at age 14 to fund herself during the school year (she could only work a few hours a week when school was in session due to various commitments so banking those summer paychecks was key.) This summer before college is no different other than she’s working twice as much as well as applying to campus jobs so she can make money during the school year.</p>

<p>You can earn your own spending money and make your grandpa proud that he’s invested so much in you over the years. The bonus? Some work experience for your resume. You’d be surprised how much a company will value a new college graduate that didn’t just do summer internships in their field but proved they have some work ethic by putting their time in as the bookstore clerk.</p>

<p>I’m not a marginal student and I’d like to keep it that way. Backhanded compliments are unbecoming.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, consolation, this attitude will fit in very nicely in many U of M circles. </p>

<p>FWIW, studies have shown that those who work ~10 hours/week in college have better GPAs than those who do not. You’re not going to be SO busy that you won’t have time for 10 hours a week. I promise. </p>

<p>I’m a supervisor at U of M- I have well over a dozen undergrads under me on a research project where they are learning valuable skills and getting published as co-authors. Trust me, you can find some decently well paying jobs here that are not “meaningless”. </p>

<p>That wasn’t a compliment. It was a wish for your future.</p>

<p>In my experience most kids actually get better grades if they work 10 hours a week. That 10 hours a week (even at minimum wage) is a good rule of thumb for the amount of spending money you’ll need to feel like you can have some fun without going overboard. You’d be surprised how useful those real jobs can be. Even my job shelving library books led to a temporary job across the country in the middle of a recession while I continued to look for a job that was more in my field. </p>

<p>I assume that your grandpa has agreed to provide an allowance also. The easiest way would be a set amount transferred monthly into your bank account, assuming you have a debit card that you can use for purchases or to access cash. The amount will depend on what you expect to pay for while at college. What does your meal plan include? Will you have a car on campus? My big shocker was when I went to the store to buy more shampoo, toothpaste, soap, etc. </p>

<p>I thought most of the jobs were for students on financial aid. And I don’t think I’m qualified to do research as a freshman.</p>

<p>I’m a mom of 3 boys. I’m assuming you are a girl because of your username. DS goes to Georgia Tech and I give him $300 a semester for laundry,haircuts,HBA,school supplies(not books) ,printing fees and general stuff. Assuming you are a girl going to school in Michigan I figure you may need more than that simply because you may spend money on clothes(DS is a tee shirt & jeans guy and doesn’t need the winter clothes you do up there),makeup, dorm decorations and also you probably will do laundry more often. </p>

<p>I give it to him at the beginning of the semester on his debit card. If he has any left over it rolls to the next semester.</p>

<p>Please note I’m not trying to offend any girls out there by saying they might spend more. </p>

<p>When you graduate, don’t bother applying for any jobs. With no experience we don’t think you are qualified to work anywhere. That meaningless job you did not take would have showed us employers that you could show up to work and follow instructions.</p>

<p>You seriously need to get some help with the attitude. This is not about class, it is about being a spoiled child.</p>

<p>Rather than an allowance, perhaps you could do some work for your benefactors to actually EARN the money.</p>

<p>My son worked very part time during senior year and the summer after graduating, plus had money in savings. I give him $200/month, deposited into his checking account the first week of the month (he withdraws as necessary using his ATM). He is a freshman, lives on campus, is not working during the school year, attends college full time and starting 2nd and 3rd quarter has been doing research in his major on campus for credit. He will be working on campus doing research this summer and will be paid. </p>

<p>I don’t understand the call to arms against an incoming freshman asking for realistic allowance amounts. I did not work my freshman year of college. I got an allowance. Still a good student. I got $80 a month for discretionary spending. I had a car. My insurance was covered and gas was covered for driving home for the weekends. Mom mom basically covered everything except for unnecessary things: eating out, going out, shopping, and snacks. I had an all inclusive meal plan so day-to-day food was taken care of.</p>

<p>One option, OP, is to get a job. You can get a job if you want to. If you do not want to, that is fine to. jeannemar’s post is a good start. What will you be needing to buy? What will you be needing to fund? A car? Eating out? Clothing? Food?</p>

<p>A job is not the only way to show future employers you can show up to work and can follow instructions…Let’s not be extreme. </p>

<p>I thought a 4.0 in a STEM shows you can show up and follow directions better than a meaningless campus job. What skills are you learning sitting in a chair for a couple of hours a day and answering a phone? Or serving peers coffee at the library? Sounds pretty pointless and like it would mess with my dedication to my studies. I feel you guys eagerly mischaracterized me as a brat and couldn’t wait to rattle off your class warfare talking points.</p>