<p>DD will be a freshman this fall. I am wondering how much money she is likely to need over the course of her first semester/academic year for incidentals. I am hoping the current students and parents might offer some insight.</p>
<p>The meal plan, especially with only one meal per day on weekends, seems a bit skimpy. Do students end up going off campus or ordering pizza frequently? Do they buy groceries to keep in their rooms and use the dorm kitchens to cook?</p>
<p>It seems that most entertainment functions such as sprts tickets or movies are already paid for. Do students go off campus for concerts or other events? How often and how much do they usually spend? How much is a typical cab fare?</p>
<p>Are the other things that I am not considering, beyond the basic toothpaste and shampoo?</p>
<p>Wouldn’t this depend on your daughter. Some students spend hundreds per week. Others only need money for groceries/meals outside of the meal plan.</p>
<p>Yes, the meal plan does not cover 21 meals a week. Most don’t eat 21 a week. Those that do usually order food with dining on points (essentially cash credit on card) or cook. Food is alright at Duke. Not terrible but certainly don’t have as many choices as a large state school with 50k+ undergraduates.</p>
<p>DD tends to be pretty frugal, so she would be at the “groceries/meals outside of the meal plan” end of your spectrum. My question is roughly how much will this be?</p>
<p>Even if students don’t eat 21 meals every week, I assume they eat more than two meals per weekend. The points included in the meal plan only include an average of $5-$10 per week which I would think could disappear quickly, even before the weekend arrives.</p>
<p>I’d plan on at least $10 per meal on the weekends. Assuming 2 meals per day (Brunch and dinner), $25 for food per weekend is probably sufficient. Entertainment costs (going out, etc) depend on DD’s social life.</p>
<p>As much as she earned/saved from working before college and as much as she makes in her on campus job. Seriously – most kids will spend as much as you give them. But if they earn their own spending money, you would be surprised at how frugal they suddenly become.</p>
<p>You can easily get by without spending any additional money on food, groceries or restaurants. Free food abounds on campus, and it’s super easy to make the freshman meal plan suffice. </p>
<p>Don’t worry; she’d be fine even with no spending money.</p>
Seriously – most kids will spend as much as you give them. But if they earn their own spending money, you would be surprised at how frugal they suddenly become.</p>