<p>I used our example as a realistic portrayal of the non-food costs. I think sue, old fort , and (sorry, someone else from page one) were pretty much right on about $550 - $600 for everything for the month. About $300 for non food expenses, and $250 - $300 for food. Supermarkets near Parsons and NYU will be more expensive than bodegas near Barnard, as mythmom pointed out. </p>
<p>You can always adjust this month by month if she finds she’s short or has extra. </p>
<p>I agree with oldfort - I want my kid to eat some healthy food. Union Square has a greenmarket, (there might be one closer to Parsons, not sure), lots of fruits and vegetables sold in Chinatown cheaply, and there is also an enclosed food market on the Lower East Side (where Shopsins (sp?) is located). I plan on sending my daughter with some picnic ice packs and a collapsible cooler, maybe even a granny cart if she lets me.</p>
<p>Heck, I’m pretty sure I don’t spend that much on food NOW, and I have a whole lot more disposable income now than I did as an undergrad.</p>
<p>My observation at college was that, contrary to popular myth, the people who ate cheaper also ate healthier. I knew a number of people for whom $500 was the food budget for an entire semester (who were eating lots of fresh produce, lean protein, pasta, and so on). Now, this only held to a point - one could eat really cheaply and unhealthily by eating nothing but ramen, or by eating McDonald’s for dinner every day - but despite the urban legends, I never knew anyone who did that, or even came close.</p>
<p>I mean, I don’t want to discourage the generous impulses of parents. I’m just surprised that people think college students need so much money to eat if they aren’t on overpriced meal plans.</p>
<p>I think all the back cards are debit cards now. So you can find a bank bear Parson and open a joint checking account in that bank. You can use the bank card to deposit the money weekly or monthly. Your kids can withdraw the money with his/her bank card. That is what I am going to do with my S going to MN.</p>
<p>$600 a month sounds about right to me. I gave less but he was not in NYC. Look at what the official COA for Parsons is. That tells you what the government feels is a fair amount to fund as you cannot get federal aid over and beyond what the COA is and that includes loans.</p>
<p>Suggestions for living on a student budget in Manhattan-</p>
<p>Banking- Chase has branches & ATMs all over the city. Duane Reade drugstores also have their ATMs. Bank of America has been opening branches throughout Manhattan. I mention these banks because their ATMs are ubiquitous, don’t charge a fee for in-house ATM transactions, & typically offer college students no fee checking.</p>
<p>Marketing- near Parsons is Union Square. During the warm months there is a farmers market. Trader Joe’s & Whole Foods are also located near Union Sq. Fairway Market on the Upper Westside probably has the best prices. From Parsons it’s a subway ride, which she could combine with entertainment in the Lincoln Center area.</p>
<p>Shopping for Dorm items- There’s a Bed Bath & Beyond in Chelsea on 6th Ave, again not far from Parsons. There are also an Old Navy, TJMaxx, Filene’s, & Container Store within a block of BBB. There might be similar retailers near these stores that I’m forgetting.</p>
<p>Eating Out- Lunch or Brunch is less expensive than Dinner. Breakfasts in NYC can be very cheap. </p>
<p>Parsons is affiliated with NYU & the New School. I’m certain that NYU distributes handbooks, like a magazine, with tips on living cheaply in the city.</p>
<p>The Voice, Time Out NY, & New York magazine also provide bits on weekly bargains in the city.</p>
<p>plus my son probably treats when out with girls. and he has to pay for haircuts and stuff too My son is not a frugal, low maintenance person like his mom :-)</p>
<p>When my daughter left for college two years ago, I set it up automatic transfer from my account to hers. Every thursday, (year round) she recieves 100.00 dollars. She has only an atm card. She is not in NYC and she has a meal plan but her allowance covers incidentals, trips, restaurants, clothes and gifts.
My friends daughter recieved a debit card a developed an almost daily latte habit. She failed to moniter her balance and racked up 20 overdrafts is one month.</p>
<p>Suggestion for living on a student budget in Manhattan?
Don’t live in Manhattan. Move out to Brooklyn with roommates after year 1. I think many Parsons/Lang students do this.</p>
<p>FOOD - There is no meal plan so I’m on my own - either cooking or eating out.
$45/week
But more realistically $220/month. I hope to spend ~20 dollars some weeks and maybe go out for a nice dinner in NYC other weeks. My friends say they spend around 25-30 dollars a week on groceries. The “occasional” $10 dollar meal at local eateries add up though… </p>
<p>TRANSPORTATION
$89/month - unlimited metrocard
$801/year
I know for a fact I will be using my card at least twice a day so it works out cheaper this way. Consider if an unlimited is really worth it, however. </p>
<p>ENTERTAINMENT/MISC
$39/week
$155/month
$1400/year
I hope I’ll actually spend less and just move the excess money to next year’s living expenses… :]</p>
<p>Just for some perspective, here. I can’t help the OP, but I thought other parents reading this should know that not all college kids in NY are relying on generous allowances from home.</p>
<p>My daughter is entering her senior year at Barnard. I have never given her an allowance. I paid for a meal plan the first year, which was mandatory – but since that time she has paid for her own food, and all along she has been paying for her own books, transportation, sundries, & entertainment – although I occasionally send a package to her filled with food items (pasta & various packaged, quick fix type of meals – and a few treats.) She has had work study plus also works via Barnard’s bartending agency. I have no idea what she spends, but I know that she has enjoyed many of NY’s cultural offerings, but has a very clear idea of how many extra hours she needs to work to pay for a set of ballet tickets.</p>
<p>We know plenty of college kids who get by just on what they earn. It’s definitely possible.</p>
<p>–I second the advice that living in Queens or Brooklyn next year will save a lot of money. Not just rent, but groceries etc will be cheaper.
–Shop at a regular supermarket, not Trader Joes or Whole Foods. There are plenty of places east of Union Square near Stuyvesant Town.
–Yes, NYC is more expensive than other cities, but the rules about budgeting for groceries and planning meals are the same everywhere. Make sure she knows how to shop for the week.</p>
<p>I don’t think living outside of Manhattan is a good idea especially if your child is not a native New Yorker. The subways are safest within the borough and a non-native New Yorker is obvious to all natives; I am not a worrier and I’ve lived in NY my whole life but I would not be happy with my child riding the subways into the boroughs after 10PM. </p>
<p>I do agree that shopping at Fairway is probably the best place but D’Ags is also reasonably priced for Manhattan.</p>
<p>Finally, there is more to do in NY for free than most locales have for any amount of money. Many museums have suggested fees but you could pay $1.00 and spend the day in a museum, dress rehearsals are often free or very low cost, student lotteries to shows are incredibly inexpensive. There’s just so much to do that entertainment costs should not be much of an expense.</p>
<p>Plus, your NY college student will never ask for a car!</p>
<p>I don’t think OP is asking whether they should give money to their daughter. They have made a family decision to not have the daughter work initially.</p>
<p>Oldfort is right, we do not want her to work first semester unless she can get work study at Parsons. We won’t know about that for a few weeks.</p>
<p>Subway Mom, you said: There are plenty of places east of Union Square near Stuyvesant Town.
Dd will be dormed aross the street from Stuyvesant Park. What are the specific names and locations of the grocery stores in this area.?</p>
<p>lindab - My D is a Parson’s student (entering her 3rd year) - she lives off campus and has worked a P/T job & lived off campus (sharing apts. with others) since she started. She gets a flat $500 a month “allowance” from me. This helps offset her rent, food, supplies, transportation. She got smart and took a p/t job in a cafe in Soho, which feeds her well. Her needs are low (lucky for me she isn’t high maintenance) and yes, sometimes she does go over budget and then I do not balk but let her know so she can be aware. She makes up for it by living in the city year round and working her buns off during summer and breaks. She gets 2 trips “home” a year (2 weeks each). One in winter, one in summer. We share a credit card and she has a checking account which I am able to put her “allowance” into as needed. With the exception of rent, NYC is actually a reasonable place to live because is so varied and diverse - compared to a small town, say, where one only has one or two grocery stores and not much to choose from.</p>
<p>I asked my son – doing a summer internship in Manhattan this summer – how much he thought he needed a week. It’s an unpaid internship. We have paid his housing, utilities, gym fees (which are not a luxury for this kid) and wardrobe costs upfront. </p>
<p>He told me $1000/week. I told him to think again. Shades of scraping by on $100K a year … ($100K less rent and taxes = $50K or less = less than $1000/week)</p>
<p>We are still negotiating. It will be a tiny fraction of that $1000. Believe me.</p>
<p>I grant that it’s summer and he should be having some fun … and the real world will come soon enough. But I cannot imagine why he should have more than $100/week for food and walking around money. The apartment has a fridge and stove! The job includes lunch if nothing else.</p>
<p>While you can easily spend $1000/week you can almost as easily spend $50/week. But, I like your sons’ attitude because it is those who think that’s what it takes to live in NY wind up making that much! This I know from experience. Good luck to him!</p>
<p>Way back in the '80’s, a friend attended NYU. His family was low-middle income with 6 kids, so no allowance for him. One way he cut down the grocery bill was to attend all the ‘free food’ events at NYU and other colleges. Most times were meet and greet guest lecturers where wine and hoers d’oeuvres were served. He had a blast, saved some money, was entertained and fed for the evening and met some interesting people.</p>
I’m just surprised that people think college students need so much money to eat if they aren’t on overpriced meal plans.</p>