<p>mom2three: Yes, we will be sending tens of thousands of dollars to our son's university, but we have been planning on doing that since he was born. I am thrilled that he is going where he wants to go and that we can afford to send him there. I am also trying to cope with the idea of his being gone -- which is pretty hard to do because he is such a great person. </p>
<p>A smaller food bill is all that we will gain from his absence, because he is very minimalist in terms of possessions and going out. Some of the families in this thread were spending yearly more than the most expensive college out there.</p>
<p>Although we definitely save on electricity and by changing our D to "occasional driver" status for insurance purposes, I know that is offset, and then some, by her room and board bills and higher allowance. What I do like is that I no longer feel like an ATM or $20 bill dispensing machine. I can get cash for myself and still have some left days or even weeks later. It surprises me every time I look in my wallet and actually have some money.</p>
<p>This thread is really making me laugh! Seems the parents of boys are seeing the food savings more -- I'm thinking I won't be shelling out quite as much on hair products and things she talks me into paying for at the mall -- but then maybe I'll buy all that and more for her when she does get home as well as sending her extra money up there. I can't see being as tough as some of you, giving no spending money. And believe me, she is not nearly as spoiled as some of the kids around here. Perhaps my biggest saving will be like Puzzled's -- cash left in my wallet.
So the way to do the car insurance thing is to change them to "occasional" status so they can still drive on breaks?</p>
<p>Just in case I think that I am saving money sending D off to college, I get lots of mail from said college asking me to donate that money to them!</p>
<p>I don't mess around with this. We are with Geico, and they have a college-ish status that allows the boys who DON'T have a car on campus to come home and drive one weekend per month. It seems that I am on the phone at least every three months updating the status of which cars are where and who's driving what and when. But for one lovely semester we had two boys away at school, both without a car. Big savings. Circumstances have made it preferable for DS#1 to have a car at school now, so the rates have gone back up some. </p>
<p>I recommend calling your insurance co., explaining the exact circumstances of who is driving or not, and when and where, and asking them to help figure out the best rate based on that.</p>
<p>
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So the way to do the car insurance thing is to change them to "occasional" status so they can still drive on breaks?
[/quote]
It depends on the policy; talk to your agent. I've taken my kids off entirely -- the agent says I am still covered if they are driving my car, as long as they have not moved home for more than 30 days. My d. is off to Europe & Asia this summer, so that's no problem. My insurance is very flexible about taking the kids off & adding them back again if & when it is needed -- but basically I don't think that either of my kids was ever home long enough for it to become an issue.</p>
<p>I don't think we save any money with S1 being gone with the exception of buying less milk,lol. When he was here we rarely gave him spending money once he reached sixteen. He worked a lot and made his own. His sr. yr. he was rarely at home to eat (except breakfast) so our food budget dropped then. Now that he's in college we send him money monthly to help with his bills (lives offcampus, no mealplan). We still pay for his cell phone and car insurance. Also have to pay for lots of expensive running shoes that we weren't buying when he was here. He still works 20 hours a week and is on a full scholarship. We aren't complaining.</p>
<p>The phase outs are another example of an unrealistic tax code. Middle America is caught squarely in the middle as it were. I have started complaining to my state senator, whose is worried about thing like whether or not there was spying in the NFL.</p>
<p>Our state will not allow us to switch our son to occasional driver status, but we are able to take him on and off the policy freely. This has saved us abour 300 dollars a month.</p>
<p>My parents are going to save a ton when I leave. I drink roughly a gallon a day of milk, and go on periodic eating binges which leaves the fridge virtually empty. They'll probably take away my car insurance and stuff.</p>
<p>Now that I think about it, we probably spend much more on food since we are empty nesters because we go out to eat more. So no saving on that either but it sure is a nice mental health break after making dinner for the kids for almost 25 years. Boy, that last part made me feel old.</p>