<p>I have a bit over $1400 saved up, is it enough?</p>
<p>For 4 years? </p>
<p>Do you plan on eating?</p>
<p>For 1 year.</p>
<p>Define personal expenses. Does that include books? Food (ie do you have a meal plan)? Car costs? Or is this just for things like shampoo and toiletries? </p>
<p>It makes a difference.</p>
<p>If you plan on dorming, do you really need to purchase a meal plan? or we can save our money for our personal expenses?</p>
<p>most colleges make you get a meal plan if you live in a dorm…
if personal expenses is like eating out, gas, textbooks, fun stuff, etc… you could probably make do (textbooks can be spendy). you could try to get an on campus job or something too.</p>
<p>That kind of sucks because i plan on not getting a meal plan but use the money for eating out or in and books and other things. Is there a benefit in getting meal plans though?</p>
<p>It depends. For someone like me who barely ate in the caf because of my work schedule, it was a huge annoyance and waste of money. For people like my SO who is a bottomless pit and was always on campus, it was huge. </p>
<p>Likely a moot point though because most on-campus students (especially freshman) are required to buy meal plans. Check with your prospective schools.</p>
<p>Assuming you have a full meal ticket and no car and no frat/sor dues. Then a minimum $50 a week for hygene, clothing, entertainment, etc, (Mostly entertainment) and that’s a minimum. A $100 a week is probably more on the average.</p>
<p>^ I really disagree, but it might depend on where you live. I could not imagine spending $50/week on things like that. </p>
<p>For two people, taking away food and all that stuff, I spend < $100/month on stuff. Toiletries are pretty cheap. Clothing, entertainment, etc is entirely person-dependent. By being moderately stingy with these items, you could easily keep it under $100/month. </p>
<p>Then again, some people have different priorities.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s better if I just live off campus. Isn’t it better to live on campus though?</p>
<p>I was very frugal in my first year in college. After start-up costs (like dorm supplies and a meal plan), I got by on about $30 a month for toiletries. I did not spend money on entertainment, textbooks (used the reserve books in the library) or food.</p>
<p>However, $1,400 won’t get you far if it has to pay for food.</p>
<p>I headed off to college nearly thirty years ago with $1000 saved. I used the money for clothing, books, incidentals, and travel home on school breaks. I was on the school meal plan and the money was gone by Christmas.</p>
<p>I plan on getting a meal plan, not having a car, and I have a separate account for book money. Strictly for entertainment, eating out, toiletries, and clothes, how much should I need my freshman year?(living in Boston)</p>
<p>Well, it depends. How often do you shop? How often do you plan on going out?</p>
<p>In two and a half months in NYC this summer I spent probably ~$2500 on part of my food, entertainment, and shopping. To be fair I went to the bars a lot, but still if you’re in a big city it’s gonna be a lot.</p>
<p>Is it possible that the college gives you extra money and you save that money up for personal expenses?</p>
<p>By my count: One small pizza, two Starbucks and a cheeseburger is $25 a week. ( I don’t know anyone that can stomach every meal at the cafeteria). What about hygene: shower soap, laundry soap, mouthwash, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc. What about supplies: toner/ink, paper, pens, stickies, . Plan on a $100 a month- all total, if you can live on less, you can save up for when your laptop crashes.</p>
<p>@lil Usually, the university will adjust your financial aid depending on how much scholarships/outside money you’re getting so they don’t give you extra money. </p>
<p>100 dollars a month? Wow, that’s good. I’m in high school and I know I spend at least a hundred or more dollars a month…</p>
<p>Virtually all schools require some kind of meal plan for living on campus. Many schools require some type of limited, commuter-plan for meals when you live off campus. If $1400 is to cover your meal plan, books, travel expenses, fees, other basic living expenses like toothpaste and laundry detergent… it will not get you very far no matter where you attend school.</p>