I know this an inherently personal question, but I was wondering roughly how much one would spend a month as a guy. Assuming on a full meal plan staying in the dorms and spending money is for stuff like food, going out, necessities like shampoo, deodorant and what not, and any other essential costs that an incoming freshman might not know about?
Fraternity dues? Cabs?
Vandy budgets about $300/month. I probably spend about $250 a month, but that’s as a senior with 8 meals a week, so lots of money spend on cabs, food, and beverages. As a freshman, Maybe $100? As you said, it’ so personal. You could very well get away with less or a lot more.
The Vandy meal plan also comes with “meal money” that can be spent at a number of local restaurants so that also cuts down what you spend on dining.
Oh, I thought that the “meal money” was an additional amount that individuals add to their Commodore Card. So is there a set amount of “meal money” for Freshman?
totally personal and quirky from family to family. I would provide my son with at least a navy blazer and one suit as things come up Greek or Not Greek. They need informal, casual dress and something for dress on hand in their closets. Job interviews for instance. Interviews for internships pop up. Dance invites. I would provide each student with a decent selection of jackets for wind, rain, wind and rain (ha) and with a decent selection of shoes suitable for grounding you with a load of books on your back. Our sons were expected to use any gifts from grandparents for living expenses not personal purchases. Also all their summer earned cash went into living expenses not purchases. We happily wrote checks for the following requests: Alternative Spring Break fees, airplane tickets, and a modest amount of requests for money to go to the homes of classmates, and a very modest amount of occasions of travel with college friends, insurance for their laptops (one got stolen), laptop replacement when sensible over time, and phone. If you are thinking how to support your son or daughter, consider a solid used car for their final year(s). With a lot of good airbags as there will be other students in the back seats. I don’t consider big budgets for off campus eateries my responsibility as I feel that being at Vandy is privilege enuf esp with meals covered. That said, I wanted our Vandyson to both feel the pinch of limits in his wallet and to have enough to go out with friends at least once a week off campus. Some summers your fine son and daughters will not be able to earn any cash at all and may end up in unpaid internship purgatory so save your parental dollars, Moms and Dads. One summer in an unpaid internship in DC will cost you 6 grand. Save your financial generosity for that trip abroad when they are 21 and old enough to be very smart on how to use a budget to see as much as possible while overseas. my two cents.
@DogCollector , yes, there is a specific amount of “meal money” that comes with each meal plan. For first years, it is $175 a semester. Once that runs out, then you can use “commodore cash” at restaurants instead.
Oh I see. Thanks Pancaked!