<p>I've had a job for almost a year now, but haven't saved anything... I pay for everything myself (groceries for me, food, gas, car insurance, necessities and outings, literally everything) so it's not easy to save. </p>
<p>My dad (who I do not live with), is not paying for my college (full ride via merit and financial aid), has money, and occasionally buys me nice things (e.g. my new Retina MacBook Pro arrives tomorrow). He agreed with my deliberate aversion to having a job for the first semester, so he's not going to tell me to get a job (yet). I'd like to beef up my checking account before leaving because it would suck to have to phone home for every little expense ("hey dad, I want to join xyz club, it's $50, can you transfer some money over?"). He'll give me the money no questions asked but it's obviously going to be easier to have an amount to work with. </p>
<p>I know he'll give me some money for spending when I go to college (next week), but what I'd like to know is how much money I should ask for (a comfortable amount)? I haven't experienced college yet so obviously wouldn't know how much one may need in a semester. I have a meal plan, so expenditures would only be transportation (Miami public transit), going out (probably will be frequent), and buying things here and there. Any ideas?</p>
<p>Your college will have an estimated cost of attendance, usually broken down by category of spending, so check with that. There’s no real way to give generic advice here; cost of living varies quite a bit with location.</p>
<p>The most common generic estimate is $2000 per school year for personal expenses and textbooks (assuming you are on a full meal plan) but obviously your personal expenses are going to depend on you. I’ve had friends who survived on $200 per semester (including textbooks!) and others who spent $10,000 in the same time frame.</p>
<p>Variables include: How much will you spend on transportation? Will you have any medical expenses? How much do you spend on hobbies or extracurricular activities? Do you get free haircuts, cheap haircuts or expensive chemical treatments? Do you purchase expensive brand-name toiletries or the cheapest most basic supply you can get? How much will you eat out, and where? Etc.</p>
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and others who spent $10,000 in the same time frame.
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Please tell me that’s because they had high medical bills or something, because if that’s just how they live their life they’re in for a hell of the surprise once the “real world” rolls around.</p>