<p>1500 isn’t trolling lol. People assume things too early. I will have to fly to my orthodontist appointments every month. That leaves around $1000 a month. $250 a week isn’t much at all.
I’ll also add that you should figure out what your expenses will be. Depending on how much you eat, food should cost around $100 to $150 a week. After that, you can plan on spending $20-50 on miscellaneous expenses such as toothpaste, shampoo, and other essentials. You will most likely spend money on things you don’t need so it will be wise to save a little bit of your allowance. </p>
<p>Anyone who has read other posts by the OP will quickly figured out that he isn’t asking because really wants to know what he will spend. He is asking so he can figure out how much he can soak his grandpa for. Heaven forbid that he would have to soil HIS little fingers at an actual job.</p>
<p>That’s right, you couldn’t possibly find an orthodontist in a college town. ■■■■■. </p>
<p>1500 ■■■■■ boy isn’t the OP…just a ■■■■■.</p>
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<p>I frequently go to a local McDonalds (yes, rather than Starbucks!) and I am always impressed with the young people working there. They are exceptionally polite, smile, and deal with pressure really well during the morning rush hour. I almost always smile to myself and think that the country will be in good shape when these people eventually take over.</p>
<p>" What skills are you learning sitting in a chair for a couple of hours a day and answering a phone?" - </p>
<p>DD got a campus job, open to anybody (she was not on Financial Aid). She learned to answer the phone, look up answers on the web, etc etc. One time she even found a problem with the class audit (graduation checking) program in her major and got it fixed. </p>
<p>She was a good worker. When the switchboard was obsoleted, the department hired her for IT support (computer helpdesk). She learned a lot. It was a HUGE advantage when she applied for a job after graduation. </p>
<p>Using the Federal Poverty guidelines, I would ask for 200% of the poverty level for a household size of one, that will be $2,000 a month. And remind grandpa to get you a credit for emergency use, this is also a good way to learn responsibility and earn trust.</p>
<p>’“1500 isn’t trolling lol. People assume things too early. I will have to fly to my orthodontist appointments every month. That leaves around $1000 a month. $250 a week isn’t much at all.”"</p>
<p>If your parents can afford to give that much money to you for a monthly allowance so that you can fly to ortho appts, then it boggles the mind that they have the intelligence to earn enough income to afford such waste.</p>
<p>there are orthodontists everywhere. when my son had to have his braces put back on in college, he found one in town and went there. that is what college kids do. </p>
<p>and if you have braces on now, wont they be done by college?</p>
<p>OP really isn’t asking for that much money. He is factor in 1000 for flights, which is unnecessary. He is also including food money. We gave D1 $300/month for food and 200/mon for spending money when she lived off campus. We came up with 300 because that’s what her school charged for a full meal plan. </p>
<p>We raised D2’s spending money because of inflation. She just finished her last semester living on campus. When she moves off campus next year, we will also give her money for food. </p>
<p>I required both of my kids to work while in school because I wanted them to have some work experience. Many employers are reluctant to hire anyone, especially summer internship, with prior work experience. It is generally easier to get an on campus job.</p>
<p>OMG.
First I have to say, CONGRATULATIONS for having such a generous grandfather that is willing to go above and beyond to give you the best college experience.
That being said, it is up to you to decide how much appreciation you want to show him. And you can start doing that while in college. You can tell him that when you arrive on campus, make inquiries on your cost of books, transportation, miscellaneous etc, that you will run the estimate by him, and decide on a semester’s budget. A monthly allowance or authorized credit card is okay, but only if he insist.
You can always work 10hrs a week on campus for additional cash if you need it. Besides, it will help you build a healthy work, spending , and savings habit.
The goal here is to have a great college experience, but show your family that you appreciate their support by also BECOMING YOUR OWN and BEING RESPONSIBLE for your actions…
Remember, YOU ARE BLESSED - so many students can only dream of being in your situation. So, use your resources wisely.
Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>To ortho boy…save money. Live at home until your braces come off. </p>
<p>To the OP, YOU need to do three things. First…YOU need to work up a budget of what is essential. Second, you need to present that to grandpa. Third, in the Thumper household, you would be exoected to earn money for the unessential spending. If your parents and you don’t really want you to work while in college, that’s fine. You should be able to earn enough for discretionary spending by working in the summers.</p>
<p>Oldfort…agreed about money for that much food when one lives OFF campus. But this is for a college freshman who should have a meal plan already. And many colleges include a point system that also pays for limited off campus foods. </p>
<p>It’s ortho boy who thinks he needs $1500, not the OP. But if you subtract $1000 airfare and $300 for food (because that is the amount the meal plan should cover), then ortho boy should easily be able to live on the remaining $200 a month allowance left from $1500.</p>
<p>$150-200/month if an allowance is given (not to be taken for granted!) - must be used for personal choices, non-essential winter clothes and gas for breaks.
(I figured that $25 for pizza, movie ticket, and miscellaneous is enough per week so the rest can be saved - or used up by Fall Break and stay on campus :p)</p>
<p>We haven’t decided on an exact number yet, but we plan to start low, and ask our ds to keep a budget of what he spends to see if we have come up with an accurate number or not. Our ds is extremely responsible with money, but I do think it is easy to spend what you are given. If he can demonstrate via his record-keeping that we are not giving him an adequate amount to cover shampoo, school supplies, haircuts, etc., as well as a <em>little</em> bit of fun (occasional pizza, movie, etc.), then we will increase that amount. If he chooses not to take the time to do some adequate record-keeping, he won’t get an adjustment. I think it is challenging to come up with a budget when one is moving to a completely different area - especially when that area has an overall higher cost of living. Budgeting is an art, not a science, and I would expect it would take two or three months before we can determine what is <em>reasonable.</em> </p>
<p>I was not allowed (per my parents) to work during school, but I was expected to work during summers, and that money went toward my spending money. I tend to agree with the posters not wanting their kids to work first semester/first year during school. Not sure about after that.</p>
<p>My S is a Jr. getting a dual degree. We didn’t want him to work his freshman year so he could focus on his studies.
That being said we also didn’t give him spending money that year, he used money he had saved from working in HS and gifts from graduation. He has had jobs ever since. Mostly he is able to do gigs, he’s a musician and plays weddings and such. Right now for spring term he has a job grading papers for a Math Prof. in a class he has already taken and he continues to do gigs. He lives in an apt. and we give him $200 a month for groceries and toiletries. Anything extra comes from him. I know that is low, but he has never asked me for extra spending money, he has learned to stretch a dollar. Useful skill for a future musician.
I know his funds got pretty low this winter, not many weddings in January- March in Michigan!, but he still didn’t ask for more. Since OP is going to be on the meal plan I think $100/ month would be plenty.</p>
<p>For my kids, I handed over their savings account that contained birthday/baptism/gift money over the years and say this is your spending money. It is on you to get a summer job and replenish it.
We pay for books/room/board/traveling home but they are on their own for the rest.</p>
<p>My D needs to work to earn her own pocket money. We will pay for books, supplies, or any billable items that are essential for the study though. However, we offer 10% bonus on the amount of scholarship money she received. Other than that, we do not offer any allowance as we don’t see the need. For OP as a freshman going to UM and live in the dorm, unlimited meal plan is included and you won’t need much extra for additional food cost. There are work study and non work study jobs available on campus. You can find it on UMich’s website.</p>
<p>Just a reminder to OP, it may seem that the people responding to you are judgemental adults, but we are your future employers. You might want to work on that attitude.</p>
<p>What if your kid likes sushi instead of pizza? :)</p>
<p>You can get sushi around here for less than some of the swanky pizza!</p>
<p>My DD likes aveda hair products better than suave. So she buys them herself. Actually, now that she is working herself, and paying her own bills, she is buying Dove Shampoo ($6 for a large bottle vs $30 for a small bottle of aveda).</p>