<p>One thing that worked as my older children moved off campus and into apartments is that we gave them money in monthly installments. This enabled them to experience planning and budget control.</p>
<p>We paid the tuition/fee bill and paid for books. The cell phone charges were part of our family plan but they paid for any downloads. We calculated and agreed to a monthly amount based on rent and the full meal plan cost. (These numbers were different for each because of the COL in different area of the country).
The money was auto deposited on a set day each month (about a week before rent was due, when the money hit, they sent in the rent check) and they were expected to make it last.
The first year of this, at his request, we also helped one child out by holding on to his summer savings and doling it out proportionally throughout the year. I know our impulsive spender ate a lot of mac and cheese toward the end of many months.</p>