<p>How much do college students spend on pizza and printer cartridges? The Baltimore Sun explores those hidden costs that parents may not expect and financial aid packages don't always cover. </p>
<p>See: Estimating</a> how much pocket money a freshman needs -- baltimoresun.com</p>
<p>I’m an incoming freshman, and I know a fair number of people who simply aren’t going to get a job during their freshman year of college- usually at the request of their parents, who want them to focus on schoolwork instead. If they get work-study, they turn it down. I have to wonder if those students and parents know just how expensive the year is going to be.</p>
<p>As for me, Mom’s springing for dorm furniture and school supplies, but once I get on campus, I’m not expecting much (if anything) in terms of money from her. I’ll have a job, though, and I have a savings account I can tap into if I really need money. I also can’t have a car on campus, and I’m hoping that will save me money- I won’t have to pay for gas or maintenance.</p>
<p>to OP thats why i worked in high school</p>
<p>Many colleges have “Spot Jobs” (that’s what they call them at Smith where I used to work; other colleges have their own names). These can help you to accrue spending money when you need it without getting tied down to too many work hours. Although only financial-aid recipients are eligible for work-study positions and these are usually ongoing commitments throughout the semester, Spot Jobs are varied occasional opportunities, like staffing tables at registration or setting up for a special event, and they are typically open to everyone. Even students who don’t want a regular job (or whose parents urge them not to take one) might benefit from seeking out sporadic Spot Jobs when their coffers run low. Similarly, most colleges have job boards that have postings for hit-or-miss off-campus work (e.g., babysitting, moving furniture). Some colleges only allow school-affiliated individuals to post such notices, which tends to mean that students won’t be lured into unsafe situations. But always be cautious before going into a private home or apartment.</p>
<p>Interesting article. It’s a touchy issue, related to the low-income student article discussed before, and it’s one that’s highly dependent on area. Stanford, for example, budgets some $2,300/year for “personal expenses,” but Palo Alto is one of the most expensive areas in the US–so $2,300 won’t go you too far. Of course, most of it isn’t spent off campus, but the money adds up.</p>
<p>Not to mention students also want new toys all the time: new mp3 players, new digital cameras, new [insert expensive electronic device]. That too can really add up.</p>
<p>I think it’s good for students to have a work-study job, even during their freshmen year. It gives them experience, money, a defined social network, etc. as well as discipline, good financial skills, and so on.</p>
<p>I have two kids in college - both in big cities. I give each $500 / month. From that they have to meet all of their personal expenses.</p>
<p>We’ve covered and will continue to cover all academically-related expenses plus transportation between home and school; however, anything else have been and will be covered by our kids. It’s probably one of the best ways to introduce kids to the real world and independence.</p>
<p>I always went by COA, and neither of my older two had any problems with that. They also had their own stash of savings to supplement. I would not stick with the COA figure strictly as there are individual circumstances and some kids have majors or activities that require additional funds. But even a friend whose daughter goes to NYU and a theatre major stuck pretty close to the COA figure. Perhaps she supplemented with a part time job or had a good stash of her own, but the mom who is an old friend of mine said the cost was very close with the only big extra cost being those incurred by the parents during visits. Now that is a figure NOT included in the COA and can go waaay up there. We are going to be spending a lot of money for the 4 days H and I plan to be at the college for move in, orientation and just looking around. Parents orientation there spans two days and we need to book 4 days because of travel time. With air fare, car rental and hotels, that is already a lot, without going into discretionary spending for us.</p>
<p>My S figured out the other day that his average spending was about $100/week in NYC as a freshman. This was just for day-to-day stuff, restaurants, etc. He did not do much night-life stuff in the City his first year. On top of that he did some traveling to visit friends in other cities. He paid this out of the account he had accumulated working summers at the shore. His summer job is to replenish his checking account. He also discovered getting paid to participate in psyche studies on campus. (Beats selling blood, which college kids I knew did in the 70s).</p>
<p>My mom gives me about 300 dollars and I make 300 dollars a month. I try to keep the money level the same rather than using too much or too less. I paid the apartment fee already and tuition already so now I have nothing big to pay :D</p>
<p>I’d say $1600 is a decent average per year per student. This is after books and other school fees though, I’m mostly talking about food, gas, going out, movies, etc. But while this is how much I spent, I go to a school where people really don’t have small budgets, so I had to keep up with them all year. My biggest expenses, however, were books and fraternity dues, which I didn’t include in that estimate.</p>
<p>Also, you should take into account that Freshman year you buy a lot of stuff that can be used for the next 3 years as well (bedding, dorm stuff, etc.) That is where a lot of my money went the first year but now, I can reuse all that and won’t spend as much.</p>
<p>i have about $2900 a year to spend for books and other expenses. I really hope its enough.</p>
<p>My son was a freshman at Harvard last year. I sent him to school with $50 of spending money and he came home at Christmas with $37. He is very frugal. His frugality was aided by having to study 50+ hours each week - not much time for pizza.</p>
<p>I spent $800 last year and that includes money I spent when I came home so I probably spent about $400 at school.</p>
<p>I work throughout the year and live comfortably on 2000 a year. Just dont spend all of your money on stupid stuff.</p>
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<p>your son sells weed sir</p>
<p>^ lol (seriously, you cant get through a year with 13$)</p>
<p>I suppose you could get through a year with 13 dollars if you just sat in a dorm, didn’t buy any snacks or drinks, and didn’t practice personal hygeine…</p>
<p>You can always sell plasma for spending money. You can earn like $50 a week I think.</p>