<p>I have about $20K, so $5K that I can spend a year in college. I will be living in off campus student housing, and the rent would be taken care of. I would only use that money to buy food, clothes, going out, ect. I think that $5K a year is plenty to get by, especially when I'm not paying for the rent or tuition. My parents feel like they would need to send me more money a month, because they think that $5K a year is not enough. I'm thankful that they would give me more money, but if they give me more, I know I would spend it. I don't want to be a jack ass and spend all the money available, because I know I will. I would like to use the money I need, then save up the rest.</p>
<p>Even though I think I will have enough, I would like some insight from people who have actually been through a year of college. How much do you regularly spend on food (If you don't have a meal plan), clothes, going out, ect. a year? Thanks!</p>
<p>$5,000 spending money? What, you going to new york for spring break or something?</p>
<p>But yea I’m also interested in what people spend in a single year of college. I was only planning around less than $1000, with job money coming in.</p>
<p>It’s just over $400/month. It’s definitely doable, but it’s not plentiful. An extra $1k/year would do a lot for you. That can be made over the summers easily though.</p>
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<p>What do you plan on eating for $83/month? I hope not cereal with milk because you’re not going to be able to afford it.</p>
<p>@Vladenschlutte: My school have meal plans and I signed up for the 12-meal plan. I usually only eat 1-2 meals a day.
Of course the OP mention without meal plans. I still think $1,000 is enough as long as you have a job and don’t plan to buy a PS4 or some other expensive stuffs. Not to mention a job with 16 hours per week at minimal wage would get you around $4,000 for the whole school year.</p>
<p>It depends on you and how much money you spend. Do you cook or are you planning on eating out frequently? Do you frequently buy new clothes or do you buy expensive brands? Do you do expensive things in your free time (like going to concerts, going to movies all of the time, buy games and movies, etc). Do you have to buy textbooks with this money?</p>
<p>I don’t think you NEED more money, unless you have to buy your own textbooks, but it’s a matter on if you want more money. I would tell your parents that if you need money for necessities (food, school supplies, etc) that you will let them know, but in the meantime, budget out how much money you have, including saving money if you have extra. If it’s spread over 12 months, it’s a little over $400/month, which is certainly enough to live on if you’re not paying rent. You can also always get a part-time job to bring in some spending money, and if you’re not paying rent, you can probably make enough at a part-time job to cover food and expenses without dipping too much into your savings.</p>
<p>Actually, $5,000 sounds like a great amount. About $400 a month is a nice number to be able to get your groceries, eat out with friends, go out for the night, and buy clothes and whatnot. </p>
<p>I probably spend $200 a month at minimum on clothes and entertainment. This, however, will have to change once schools starts. I’ll get my spending to be around $100 a month. I have an unlimited meal plan. A legitimate mall is 25 minutes away. I think it’ll be doable. I won’t be driving my car as much since I will be on campus. I think I’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Niquii: May the odds be ever in your favor.</p>
<p>I think I will have around $35 on the average month. I’m saving my money for 3 games I would love at release date, PS4 (next year), and a game for PS4. That is basically $600+ to save.
I should be fine xD.</p>
<p>Thanks for your answers so far, but I guess I should have clarified a coupe of things. My off-campus housing lease would only be for 9 months (during the school year), and I would go back to my parent’s for the summer months. During the summer time I wouldn’t spend any of that money; my parents have specified that. The textbooks, laptop, and school supplies are already taken care of. I’m not really a gaming kind of guy, so I won’t buy any game systems or what-not. Thanks.</p>
<p>If it’s only for nine months, then you’re up to around $550/month. That’s tons, if you’re only spending it on food, incidentals, and occasionally going out with friends.</p>
<p>Do you have to pay for utilities or any other bills at your house?
That’s the biggest thing.
If all of that is taken care of then you will find yourself LOADED with wayy more cash that you know what to do with (provided you aren’t a crazy spender).
Most of the friends you will make will be in the business of saving as much as they can.</p>
<p>So enjoy being a lucky college student with great parents :D</p>
<p>But I’d say if your parents want to send you money and you didn’t ask them, then let them. There’s no harm in accepting help.</p>
<p>If you’re worried you’re going to spend it, then set up a savings account (if you don’t already have one) and make a rule that you put 50% (or some percentage that you come up with) directly into savings and simply don’t touch it until your account gets to 0. That’s what I do and it really helps my spending!</p>
<p>I spent about $500 a semester on food when I wasn’t on the meal plan, otherwise, I probably spent about $300-500 a semester on buying stuff.</p>
<p>I spend about $100 a week, not including my shopping trips. I could definitely cut down by going to cheaper grocery stores and buying fewer gourmet sandwiches, but the meal plan costs more than what I spend, so my parents are very happy with me. The school year is about 30 weeks, so without shopping, I spend about $3000. Shopping is about $800 for the school year, but I don’t like shopping much and only go like once a semester. This also doesn’t include trips to the hairdresser, which cost about $500 per school year. I pay for my own books, so those aren’t included here. With all that, $4500 would probably be more than enough for me for the school year.</p>
<p>You might just ask your parents to not give you money for the whole year at once, but rather to give you money on a more frequent but regular basis. Most of my friends get money from their parents at the beginning of each month. My parents give me money on a weekly basis.</p>
<p>Also consider what your summers will be like. I do summer abroad programs that are financed by my school, so I can get through the summer with comparatively little parental support. If you will be living on campus over the summer and not working, you will need to budget your $5K to allow for that. If your school has any other long breaks, like a January vacation, consider that as well.</p>
<p>Merp, I feel like my shopping habits are a lot more conservative than everyone else’s…</p>
<p>I have a pretty good meal plan with an even mix of dining $$ and meals, since I won’t have a lot of time to eat lunch on 1-2 days each week, so that’s covered. I have to pay for books, clothes, and fun things. I have $3k in my bank account and max work study…</p>
<p>Dang, what do you guys do for fun that costs so much money?</p>
<p>I’m am at a slight disadvantage. Buying two games at $60 and a PS4 at $400 and the eye camera at $100 and another game @ $60. Honestly I’m starting to think it doesn’t take $60 to make x million copies of disc and make a good profit.</p>