My kid’s spending account will be funded by her earnings from her summer job. I cover the textbooks and the “required” school items, but all discretionary spending money (including her cellphone bill) is money she has earned herself. This worked out pretty well last year, with one glitch: She was new to budgeting, her money ran out in April and she had to get by without any “fun extras” like takeout food, mall trips, etc. during the last month of school. (I admit that I was tempted to send her some extra cash for the end of Spring term, but decided to stick with the tough-love approach). She not only survived being “broke”, but learned a very valuable lesson in how to budget!