Spending money for a freshman

[Anonymous]

DS has a job this summer and will make some money, but not a ton, maybe $1500 post tax (and he'll presumably want to spend money this summer as well). What's a reasonable amount for spending money per semester? School is an urban location, but he's not a foodie or theater goer or other things that would be especially expensive.

[Anonymous]

I give my son a plate on my credit card account and he has a full meal plan.

He definitely has not spent $1,500 in a school year. He mainly occasionally buys convenience store food and small items. Easily less than $100 per month at school. At 7-11 and Target, mainly.

We often pay directly for expensive things directly, when he's at home. That includes school season football tickets, clothes, glasses, and classical music concert tickets.

This is the same way my parents treated me in college. I used the credit card rarely, mainly occasional purchases like mail order clothes. I received ticket packages as presents for Christmas and birthdays. We like theater and music shows.

He is responsible about extra food purchases so I don't restrict it.

[Anonymous]

We don't provide spending money. They have PT jobs during the summer that save for the school year.

However, at some universities you can put money in a meal card that they can use in town, or at the university store for incidentals, not just food. We have done that.

I have a DS in college, and he's pretty low key, so he doesn't need much. He has a lot saved in his bank account and will have a lot more after this summer's internship.

17 yr old DD will require additional personal expenses for feminine stuff.

But, entertainment, clothes shopping, that's on them.

[Anonymous]

We match whatever they earn at their summer job, they get half at the beginning of first semester and half at the beginning of the second. They can spend or save it but they aren’t to come to me asking for more.

[Anonymous]

Our policy is the kids earn their own spending money. Honestly, my son spent less than $1000 over the year. I do pay for books because I don’t want them to economize by not buying them.

[Anonymous]

Hey OP, I asked this question a while back. Tried to find the thread to share the link, but it's buried deep.

Basically, it's ALL over the place. Some parents are like "he's 18 he's on his own," and some are like "kid has our credit card and spends $5k a month and we don't monitor it."

I came away from that as I always do ("who ARE you people and who hurt you??") and figuring I'd provide around $500 a semester, in addition to paying for housing and meal plan and fees that cover local transportation.

[Anonymous]

$200 per month, but at the end of the month we bring it back up to $200. So we don't give another $200.

[Anonymous]

Here are some previous links:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1272919.page

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1217212.page

Use regular Google to find old threads.

[Anonymous]

His summer job money is sufficient, and will help him learn to budget. With a meal plan he needs no additional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, I asked this question a while back. Tried to find the thread to share the link, but it's buried deep.

Basically, it's ALL over the place. Some parents are like "he's 18 he's on his own," and some are like "kid has our credit card and spends $5k a month and we don't monitor it."

I came away from that as I always do ("who ARE you people and who hurt you??") and figuring I'd provide around $500 a semester, in addition to paying for housing and meal plan and fees that cover local transportation.

Thanks! I'd like to come somewhere in the middle as well. Not a free for all, but I assume we'll cover some things. DH's parents made him pay for his dental work in college - including wisdom teeth removal! - which seems nutso to me.

One thing we will do is no questions asked Uber after dark - since it is an urban location, I don't want him to walk or take public trans if it isn't safe. I trust him not to abuse this.

[Anonymous]

DS probably had about that amount when he started freshman year. We cover books and meal plan and $50/month to cover basics (e.g. you need more shampoo etc.). He was pretty broke by the end of the year but that motivated him to work more that summer and to get an on-campus job sophomore year. He was able to get a TA job grading papers for 10-15 yrs/week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, I asked this question a while back. Tried to find the thread to share the link, but it's buried deep.

Basically, it's ALL over the place. Some parents are like "he's 18 he's on his own," and some are like "kid has our credit card and spends $5k a month and we don't monitor it."

I came away from that as I always do ("who ARE you people and who hurt you??") and figuring I'd provide around $500 a semester, in addition to paying for housing and meal plan and fees that cover local transportation.

? expecting a young adult to get a PT job in the summer to save for fun money during the school year is ""who ARE you people and who hurt you??"

Who are you and why do you baby your young adult?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, I asked this question a while back. Tried to find the thread to share the link, but it's buried deep.

Basically, it's ALL over the place. Some parents are like "he's 18 he's on his own," and some are like "kid has our credit card and spends $5k a month and we don't monitor it."

I came away from that as I always do ("who ARE you people and who hurt you??") and figuring I'd provide around $500 a semester, in addition to paying for housing and meal plan and fees that cover local transportation.

Thanks! I'd like to come somewhere in the middle as well. Not a free for all, but I assume we'll cover some things. DH's parents made him pay for his dental work in college - including wisdom teeth removal! - which seems nutso to me.

One thing we will do is no questions asked Uber after dark - since it is an urban location, I don't want him to walk or take public trans if it isn't safe. I trust him not to abuse this.

I don’t know what college it is, but most urban campuses give vouchers for uber rides after dark and also offer Safe Rides (free lift service). So he may not need you to pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS has a job this summer and will make some money, but not a ton, maybe $1500 post tax (and he'll presumably want to spend money this summer as well). What's a reasonable amount for spending money per semester? School is an urban location, but he's not a foodie or theater goer or other things that would be especially expensive.

At least 5 threads in the past 6 months on this topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, I asked this question a while back. Tried to find the thread to share the link, but it's buried deep.

Basically, it's ALL over the place. Some parents are like "he's 18 he's on his own," and some are like "kid has our credit card and spends $5k a month and we don't monitor it."

I came away from that as I always do ("who ARE you people and who hurt you??") and figuring I'd provide around $500 a semester, in addition to paying for housing and meal plan and fees that cover local transportation.

? expecting a young adult to get a PT job in the summer to save for fun money during the school year is ""who ARE you people and who hurt you??"

Who are you and why do you baby your young adult?

lol touched a nerve?