My mom has been wanting me to get a job this summer, but I worked a min wage job last year and it was complete hell. I have no intentions of doing that again. It sucked my summer dry. I’m wondering why college students need money? I was thinking about it, and I don’t see any reason why I would NEED money. As far as books, food, dorm essentials are concerned I have that taken care of. I also have unlimited meals at my school. If I don’t get a job, am I making a big mistake? I asked my parents why I needed money for freshmen year and they gave me a non answer. I know money is nice so you can go to concerts, movies, whatever. But is there any reason I would have to have a few 100 dollars or so (because that’s all I’d make working a job this summer anyways).
Life happens. Having a few hundred in a bank account can quite literally be a life saver. Even the most generous insurance plans require co pays. It’s always better to start saving for retirement as a young person than when you’re middle aged. Unless you work 10 hours a week for less than minimum wage you’ll make much more than a few hundred dollars during the duration of the summer.
Also, what else will you do do during the summer if you’re not working or in school?
I’ve been getting ahead in all my future classes. Since I’m in the honors program I want to walk in on day 1 knowing more than everyone else. I’ve already taught myself calculus for my calc class, and I’m about to start learning the chem terms, and review physics. I demand a near 4.0 and I feel this is essential to up my chances.
I come from a wealthy family, and I just don’t see the point of a min wage job. I don’t want to act spoiled, but as much as my mom acts like I need a job… I just don’t see the point. I don’t see where I’ll need money. So I’m asking if I missed anything.
What will you do when your suitemates want to order a pizza? Or go grab sushi, or go to see a movie? how many times will you have to say no thanks before they stop asking you to do anything at all?
I think you may just expect momdad to pay those things, and they probably will as long as you at least try to pull your weight. You are acting spoiled, Im afraid…saying it with love:). Your mom isn’t as intersted in the $500 you end up with as much as keeping you productive and giving you a work experience or possibly some humility. Newsflash: work often sucks;).
You want to eat somewhere that's not a dining hall for once.
You're off campus and don't want to wait until you get back to eat.
You want to go shopping (physically or electronically).
You want to get someone a gift.
You want to buy a supplemental book for a class.
Laundry and snacks.
You run out of toiletries.
You want to buy a T-shirt for an event.
You want condoms or birth control or cold medicine or Advil or...
Your friends want to go on a spontaneous trip.
Movies, minigolf, concerts, sporting events.
Emergencies.
It’s very freeing to know you don’t have to depend on other people for things you want to buy. Want to be more independent? Take responsibility. That way you don’t have to wait for them to send money (can take three days to transfer between accounts!) when you really need it… You already have it, because it’s yours.
It isn’t about money, it is about your attitude about the value of work.
Treating a menial job with respect.
Having a good attitude about work.
They want to see you grow up and not feel entitled to THEIR money.
Your parents are wealthy.
You are not.
Guess your attitude didn’t change much after your job last summer.
You do sound spoiled. Like someone else said- you may come from a wealthy family but you are not wealthy. It’s more about work ethic than it is about the money. Part of college is about learning more about the world around you and working at a minimum wage job helps you see how others might live and also to appreciate what you have a little more. Having a job looks good on college applications and also to future employers. We never made any of our kids get a job- they just did because they said it would feel weird to have us pay for all of their expenses when they were able to help contribute. Our current college student has used his money to buy meals out with his friends, for movies, concerts, sporting events, snowboarding trips, to visit friends at other schools, etc. he will be able to pay for his European backpacking trip next summer totally out of his funds. Get a job.
That’s why they call it work. Because it’s what you do to make money instead of having free time.
I’m curious-- when you said “As far as books, food, dorm essentials are concerned I have that taken care of.”–how exactly have YOU taken care of them??
Yeah, this thread just SCREAMS “entitlement.”
Your mom wants you to get a job so you’ll grow out of the attitude that their money will continue to take care of you. And perhaps to grow an appreciation of what it’s like to work for a living.
OP, this is what’s going on. Are there any non-min wage jobs you can get? This summer, I decided to forego lifeguarding at the beach this summer to help with business development at a startup. Last summer, the summer before my freshman year, I decided to forego lifeguarding at a pool (for $$$) to focus on an online business managing YouTube channels.
There’s always something you can do to keep you productive, you just need to find out what it is. Find something somewhat fun, even if you want make much. Learn a language, start a business, but whatever it is make sure it keeps you out of the house for a little while each day & makes sure you keep a schedule.
My sister said she recently talked to a wealthy dad. One of his kids made the mistake of saying something about being rich, and the dad said, “Let’s get something straight! Your mother and I are wealthy. You. Have. Nothing!!” I love that.
Did I accidentally type “what is wrong with me psychologically”? I could have sworn I asked why college students need money.
I’m weighing my options as to whether I should get a job or get ahead academically. I did not ask if I had a sense of entitlement. I don’t. Insane to jump to that conclusion after one paragraph.
Thank you to those who simply listed what college students spend money on. Yeah know; the point of the question.
I’m not sure if all schools are like this, but the dining halls were closed for Sunday dinner, so you were on your own. Even not, you will probably get sick of the options and want to eat off campus.
A few other things: late night snacks, alcohol, sporting events, extra school supplies and toiletries, clothes, going to the movies, etc.
I’m pretty sure you wrote “sucked my summer dry”, “I don’t see why I would need money” and other such statements that only a person who has had a more than comfortable amount of money their entire lives would say. If you simply wanted to know what expenses there were in college outside of studies, why not simply ask that rather than using this as a place to rant? By ranting, of course people also responded to the rant as well.
Also, for those who have college covered and maybe even a decent amount of spending covered, there is still something to be said about having your own money that you can truly say you earned.
Not to mention, also being able to list a job on your resume and gaining the networking and experience that any job gives you. In order to get a better job, you have to start somewhere. For most people, that means doing their time in some low-paying job that they don’t particularly want before they can begin moving up to better paying jobs that better fit their interests.
Will you NEED it? Not necessarily, but it’s sure nice to have it. What will you do when a group of friends is all going out to eat or staying in and ordering pizza? What if they’re all going out to see a new movie?
What happens when you need some new shoes? New clothes? Lose the charger for your cell phone? School supplies? You can call mom and dad to ask for money, or you can just go get them. Having a part time job is a good thing. Even if it’s like 8 hours a week or something like that. Basically anyone can easily fit this into their schedule.
My kids can make at least $3,000 in a summer and they still have time for fun. And then they are having fun in college - concerts and music festivals, going to movies, eating out, picking up some snacks and food to cook from Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods when dining plan gets old, late night Chipotle runs, treating a significant other to a meal or buying them a gift, random splurge on a new piece of clothing, weekend trip to visit a friend in another city/college.
How are you only making a couple hundred? What are you doing with all that free time? I hope you are chipping in around the house if you aren’t working.
I worked 40 hours a week last summer, but it was far away. Gas money and taxes destroyed me, especially the gas. I probably made around 1,500 last year. I worked 3:00 pm to 11:00. I haven’t ranted once in this thread, but if you want me to I could go on and on about how I didn’t have a chance to do anything fun because of the schedule I was given. Wake up at 9:00, and basically wait till 3:00, because what events take place in the early afternoon? Also take into account I’m on my feet for 8 hours. By the time I get home (around 12 am) I’m ready to call it a night. 5 days a week. For 7.25 an hour? No thanks.
I don’t know how any of that is relevant to my question though. Just looking for a list of things college students spend on. From what I’ve gathered, the money is more of a want than a need. The mindset is helpful, but I’ve already gained that from working last year, even though evidently most of you would disagree. I have about 1,000 in the bank. I think I’m just not going to worry about it.
Thanks the information to all that responded, but some of you came on like sharks, without giving me a chance to explain myself.
I’ll just add that spending money is more of a ‘want’ than a ‘need’ if you are used to living frugally, but it feels like much more of a ‘need’ if you come from a more affluent family (which it seems like you do, and I do too). Even if you get free transit, don’t have to pay for books, and aren’t one for nightlife, having a decent steak at a restaurant after living off of mediocre, fattening college food is REALLY nice (in my opinion, low quality meat is the worst thing about college food).
Even if you go into college expecting that you won’t spend much money, you will have to be rather militant in order to keep in line with that expectation, especially when you’re a month into college and you’re tired of the cafeteria food PLUS there’s a movie you really want to see with your friends, PLUS there’s a potential significant other you want to get coffee with. Then, especially if you’re used to the little luxuries in life (no judgement, as I know I am), that money will seem like much more of a need.