Spending money question for parents with kids that go to college in Boston

[Anonymous]

OP, know that the people who tend to answer this question on this board definitely lean toward the “kids don’t need spending money” camp. I think they also don’t account for inflation. My favorite thread was the one where people claimed kids not on the dining plan only need $150-200 a month for groceries.

My kid goes to school in a big city and spends about $400-500 a month, and he’s not spending on anything outrageous. He charges everything, so I see where it all goes. He and his friends mostly eat in the dining hall, but buying something like Chipotle twice a week is $120+. Snacks and soft drinks, toiletries, books, supplies, one outing that charges admission, refreshments at the football game, out to a medium-nice dinner with friends once a month…it all adds up.

I can promise you there are kids who spend a *lot* more than this. Do you want your kid to be able to go out when his friend group is going, at least on occasion? I swear there are a lot of people on this board who didn’t have any fun in college and don’t want their kids to do so either.

And don’t say it’s about “learning the value of a dollar.” My kid worked last summer as a grocery store cashier (which *was* an amazing way to learn about the value of dollar), and has an account from which he could spend several times more than he did (only a portion of which he earned himself). If things go as planned, my DC will be coming into a significant amount of money in the future. I’m more concerned about teaching him how to handle that responsibly than teaching him how to survive on little or no money. Not spending money because you don’t have any can be miserable because you’re deprived of things other people take for granted, but learning to *not* spend money you do have is a life skill that is more relevant for a person like my DC. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

A idea that might be fun: Your student might enjoy searching now for free things to do in Boston to get a sense of things. My friend’s child was delighted that their college city offered free concerts for students.

Overall, $1500 sounds reasonable.

[Anonymous]

I think this is so kid dependent. I have a first year at SLAC who has spent almost nothing. According to posts on the parent Facebook page, some kids are spending tons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is so kid dependent. I have a first year at SLAC who has spent almost nothing. According to posts on the parent Facebook page, some kids are spending tons.

Totally agree. I have a kid at a school in another East Coast city, may not be quite as expensive as Boston, but eating out and going to shows etc is going to add up no matter where you live. She has a busy and happy social life but it’s very campus based and she is naturally frugal, she spends next to nothing. Of course she knows kids who spent a TON of money but you certainly don’t need to when you’re in college if campus is a lively place.

[Anonymous]

College Board's Big Futures site, under costs. Look at off-campus. For our 2 who went in different directions out of state, it was spot-on.

[Anonymous]

Around 400 per month

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DS goes to school in Boston and hasn’t needed much spending money at all. He uses the meal plan for most meals and rides his bike or the T to most places. He orders things on our Amazon when needed. His college is in the burbs, so he doesn’t go out that often in downtown Boston.

Tanget- Where does your dc go to college in the Boston suburbs? My DS loves biking for relaxing pleasure activity, and we had assumed we’d look at more rural colleges for him but he’d prefer to be closer to a city. (basically, he’s anti-car and outdoorsy but also likes to have chipotle and concerts nearby 😊)

[Anonymous]

My DD maybe spends $75/month. That's really all she has from her summer job. She might have enough to spend $100/month. She hasn't complained but she also knows I can't give her any more.

[Anonymous]

Wow, huge range here. NP also parent of student to be a first year in the fall, I think it would be helpful to know from thise answering what year your student is - I expect upper students peobably eat off canous more vs first uears who have full meal plan? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

$1500 is a lot, but your kid will be able to afford things the rich kids buy and do!

While my kid knows several, she does not run in the same crowds as them, so she is able to use money that she had earned during HS internships for fun! She tends to rely on the food provided by her plan as that saves her a bunch of money. There are kids who eat out every meal as well!

[Anonymous]

I have 1 kid at BC. There is a lot going on on campus so DC doesn't go into Boston every weekend. If kid is in the meal plan which I believe is required for all freshmen then $250-$300 per month should be sufficient.

[Anonymous]

Boston area resident here and current BC grad student. $1500 a semester is fine if he has a meal plan. BC dining isn’t the best and there aren’t lots of readily accessible other options outside of campus like there are at BU but the campus is otherwise a complete social scene so really no need to go outside.