<p>My sister and I, are both attending a four year university distanced from our home town. Our parents agreed that in the event of us receiving large scholarships they will provide us with a monthly allowance through the course of our College career as long as we maintain them. Long story short my sister and I have both received a full ride scholarship less books, and we are trying to figure out what allowance is reasonable.</p>
<p>Granted of the two of us, I have only held a job for a single summer, however outside of that my sister and I have supported the family business. Still, during the course of HS our parents actively discouraged seeking employment due to the course load, IB, and the extracurricular activities(DECA).</p>
<p>The university is located in Washington D.C, and we are coming from Colorado. Any thoughts on what a reasonable allowance is, considering that room and board are paid for by the university?</p>
<p>Honestly, reasonable all depends on your family, and their beliefs on how to live life. I have friends that felt it was reasonable to eat almost every meal out, and never cooked. My expectations were to learn how to cook for myself after I got off the meal plan, and maybe eat out twice a week (generally somewhere fairly cheap). If I was going to something like a sporting event, nosebleed seats were in my budget (or whatever better seats we could sneak down to after a few innings).</p>
<p>I lived in a very expensive area my freshman year and my parents gave me $150 a week, which covered food, entertainment, clothes, transportation, etc. That amount worked pretty well, although my roommate got slightly less ($100 a week) and also did fine. It really depends on your eating and entertainment habits as to what is “reasonable”.</p>
<p>wth…do you seriously expect a kid’s parents to just GIVE them that much money?</p>
<p>I think $100 a week is more reasonable, but then again I also think that giving kids an allowance defeats many of the points of going to college.</p>
<p>@dancegrl, the poster stated that she got a full ride to uni and her parents agreed to give her an allowance. I gave a suggestion based on what she would make working around 20/ hrs a week like many students do. I am sure someone could turn to you and say to your suggested $400 a month “wth…do you seriously expect a kid’s parents to just GIVE them that much money?” Make your opinion and proceed with your life.</p>
<p>I am sure the poster would be happy to receive any type of allowance. I would be off of the wall for a $20 from my parents</p>
<p>I would talk with them about what this money would be used for, and set up a rough budget. Then based the allowance on that budget. Also keep in mind what your meal plan includes - it may include a set amount of money that can be used at local restaurants and merchants as well as campus food service . I know this is the case for at least one of the DC colleges we looked at.</p>
<p>My kids all went off to school w/ $2000 in their accounts. They were to pay their books (which I helped them buy used) and all expenses. They all had work study jobs, 10 hours a week. They all came home with around $2000 in their accounts. They ate and lived on campus, and were very careful with their money, because they know how tight it is at our house. Only one didn’t have free laundry. Aside from drug store items, and the occasional pizza and on campus (cheap) event, school books were mostly it. I was expecting their money to be gone. I think it all depends on the expectations you go with and how you are accustomed to living. And how concerned you are about fitting in with a specific crowd and doing what they do.</p>
<p>@notmeantforivy: Jeez, what’s your problem? Are you mad that I didn’t assume the OP’s parents were filthy rich?</p>
<p>I made my opinion and moved on with my life. Calm down and get over yourself. Most people’s parents don’t have $800 or $1600 a month (remember that there are 1, not 2 kids) to give to their kid when they go to college…mine certainly don’t.</p>
<p>Most people can’t go to college either. What’s your point? From what it sounds like the OP’s parents are at least middle class and can not only afford, but are also willing to give a bit of spending money so their kid can enjoy DC or just afford basic living expenses without having to work.</p>
I’d love to go to that job where I would get $800 for working 20 hours a week. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I would say $200 a month is good. Even $100 a month is good. If you’re living on campus in a city with good transportation, you don’t have to worry about gas and the like. It’s a considerable amount to be givin two kids. </p>
<p>My mom is doing the same thing for my sibling and I. You wan to survive but you don’t want to bleed your parents dry.</p>
<p>My sons went to school in DC and it is an expensive city; however there also is a lot to do that is free. You might want to budget some money for Metro fares so you can explore DC maybe $80/ month? See if your campus meal plan can include local eateries near campus–many take dining dollars–my so s tended to eat a fourth meal many nights after studying or intramural sports. On weekends they would often do things off campus, such as going to the Smithsonians or Kennedy Center which are free but would use metro fare and often go out to eat before and/or after generally at relatively inexpensive ethnic restaurants. They also used metro fare to get to various internships (earlier ones unpaid, later ones paid) which also had some expenses for dry cleaning etc. </p>
<p>My sons didn’t have much in the way of other personal expenses but girls might have more</p>
<p>@dancegrl, I am not mad, just gave my suggestion and you felt the need to gawk at it @Niquii, my school job pays me over $800 a month with 20/hrs a week of work. Granted, I do expect all campus jobs to pay that much.</p>
<p>I should probably clarify with some additional information. I am male, and this is not my first time on campus, it is for my sister. last year at the beggining of each semester I was given 1000 dollars to put towards books, laundry, and additional expenses. Now that we, my sister and I, are both attending college and the family expenditures have become more stable, my parents have agreed to cover the cost of textbooks and flights. </p>
<p>Now that the initial costs of the school semester(books,transportation,storage,etc) are paid for, they feel that moving to a monthly budgetary plan is better. Still, due to the difference in experience between my sister and I, they are unsure what would constitute a reasonable monthly allowance. Granted they would like my sister and I to receive the same amount. </p>
<p>Also, I would like to those that have responded to the original question, your input is incredibly helpful as our family is relatively inexperienced with the new college climate.</p>
<p>What kind of job do you think a college student is going to have part time? It’s going to typically be a minimum wage job. Working 20 hours a week, that comes out to $580 a month, before taxes. After taxes, you’re probably looking at somewhere around $400.</p>
<p>In certain states around the country, 20 hours a week at minimum wage WOULD lead to $800 a month (at least, before taxes). Washington is one. In Oregon, where I’m from, it would get you close. I’m assuming notmeantforivy lives in one of the states with a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum.</p>
<p>That said, $800 a month sounds ridiculous to me. Even just half that would be plenty of money to live a frugal college lifestyle.</p>
