<p>How much 'pocket money' does an incoming Grinnell freshman need? We plan to pay for his meal plan which covers every meal and school-related expenses like books and lab fees. He'll have the clothing he needs. How much money does S need for minor reoccurring expenses (like toiletries, school supplies, laundry, the occasional pizza off compass, etc...)</p>
<p>We want to provide for 'basics', above which he'd have to use his own earnings. We know most entertainment on campus is free, and he has no car, so we're assuming the amounts we've heard about elsewhere on CC (about $25/week) may be more than he needs.</p>
<p>My D is a rising junior at Grinnell. All the students have a Pioneer card (P Card) which is very helpful with $$ for minor expenses. We add money to her P card account each fall and it gets her through the entire year. If any money is left it is carried over for the next year. Students can buy anything in the bookstore, do laundry, buy extra food at the Grille by using the P card. The first year we put way too much money in the account because books were much less than we anticipated. There is a book lending library that saved her a lot of money. I think we put in $1000 for her first year and I think at least $500 was left over at the end of the year. She uses the account for books, school supplies and laundry.
She occasionally goes to a restaurant in town or to Walmart but she uses much less than $25 per week. I am sure there are weeks she uses nothing. Movies are free at the on campus cinema; there are many movies offered and most are recent. If there is a movie at the theatre in town she wants to see, Grinnell students get a discount and I think they only pay about $5.00. The campus really has more than enough entertainment to keep students very busy, probably too busy sometimes.<br>
Grinnell has been a wonderful experience for my daughter, I wish your son all the best! Let me know if you have any other questions.</p>
<p>Our son (who graduated last month) spent far less than $25 a week at Grinnell—probably more like $40 a month, if that. He used it for the occasional movie or meal in town, and for doing laundry. As faithsmom said, there are plenty of free offerings on campus to keep the kids entertained. His shopping needs were minimal—we sent him to school with enough school supplies, laundry detergent, shampoo, etc. to last for the semester.</p>
<p>We put $800 on his P card and he used only $400 last year, including first semester's books. By second semester, he'd found a cheaper way to get books, so that went on his credit card. He spent very little last year. Pizza once or twice, a few toiletries, etc. He said there is no good reason to spend much money because so many activities are free.</p>
<p>Thanks, M's Mom. I was out of town. I hope your son has as great an experience at Grinnell as my son is having. He can't wait to get back--and in the meantime is finding ways to see his Grinnell friends this summer. Last night, he went to a party with friends from high school and said it just remimded him of how different (and better) his college friendships are.</p>