What is a reasonable allowance for a student at a rural college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP listen to people who have kids in college now. The "I walked 5 miles in the snow without shoe stories are a bit dated." Things have changed. It's hard for kids to get jobs especially if the college location is rural and he/she doesn't receive financial aid/work study. Our kids gets mostly all A's. If the grades weren't there that would be another thing.

On-campus jobs are an option and they typically work around your child's schedule. And if the area your child goes to school in is so rural, then they don't need money for recreational stuff, because there's nowhere to go anyway, right?

Just how do you know on-campus jobs are an option? They are for kids on work-study/financial aid.

And it's so rural that they only eat bark, bugs and snails from the pond. On weekends they use slingshots for small animals like squirrels and then roast them over a campfire. The people there wear clothing made out of cardboard and plastic shopping bags so no need to purchase any clothing. Instead of using shampoo and soap everyone just rinses off in the lake and rolls in pine needles to dry off. They give each other haircuts with gardening shears they borrow from the grounds department. And once a week the college projects movies on the side of physical plant building so there's no need to ever go to a movie. And why participate in healthy activities like skiing and snowboarding when you can just slide down a hill on a cafeteria tray.

Did you belong to the hair shirt club when you were in college? Sounds like it.

[Anonymous]

So if they child can't get an on-campus job (or University sponsored job) because they are not on financial aid, is there a reason why they can't work at McDonalds, Subway, Pizza Hut or any of the other "off-campus" facilities that are there? I understand that if the school is in a rural area with limited employment then these jobs may go to the locals but if that's the case then there isn't much to spend money on in the area anyway.

Also, the job market when they graduate is going to be competitive so they'd better learn to compete while in school - even if it's for the job as the deli clerk at the grocery store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if they child can't get an on-campus job (or University sponsored job) because they are not on financial aid, is there a reason why they can't work at McDonalds, Subway, Pizza Hut or any of the other "off-campus" facilities that are there? I understand that if the school is in a rural area with limited employment then these jobs may go to the locals but if that's the case then there isn't much to spend money on in the area anyway.

Also, the job market when they graduate is going to be competitive so they'd better learn to compete while in school - even if it's for the job as the deli clerk at the grocery store.

I think his summer job working in a research lab is a better way to make money then working at McDonalds during the school year when I want him to study and take advantage of the wonderful resources at the college. Not all students are the same. Not all financial circumstances are the same. One size does not fit all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if they child can't get an on-campus job (or University sponsored job) because they are not on financial aid, is there a reason why they can't work at McDonalds, Subway, Pizza Hut or any of the other "off-campus" facilities that are there? I understand that if the school is in a rural area with limited employment then these jobs may go to the locals but if that's the case then there isn't much to spend money on in the area anyway.

Also, the job market when they graduate is going to be competitive so they'd better learn to compete while in school - even if it's for the job as the deli clerk at the grocery store.

I think his summer job working in a research lab is a better way to make money then working at McDonalds during the school year when I want him to study and take advantage of the wonderful resources at the college. Not all students are the same. Not all financial circumstances are the same. One size does not fit all.

I am the PP with three in college. If your college kids are telling you that on-campus jobs are for financial aid students and/or that there are no other jobs (other than McDonalds...and there is NOTHING wrong with a college kid slinging burgers.) available, I have some ocean front property to sell you. Please. All three of my children are on academic scholarships. Two of them are in the honors college where they are required to maintain a high GPA plus participate in extra requirements for the program. All three have part time jobs. One is a tutor. One is in the National Guard. And one works for an IT company. There are jobs out there. Your kids just have to get off their asses and look.

[Anonymous]

I really doubt that there are NO on-campus jobs for non-FA kids. There are probably jobs - but they're not the cushy ones. Eg, when I had work-study, I worked in Georgetown Library, which basically meant I sat at the reference desk and could study 75% of the time I was there, only occassionally interrupted by someone who needed reference material. When I was denied work-study (still at Georgetown), I had to seek out other stuff but still on-campus. Georgetown had an on-campus catering service that would hire students for events. It also had a babysitter list and I would babysit. These jobs often took place on "going-out" nights and on weekends and were more work. But if you really needed the money (which I did) . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP listen to people who have kids in college now. The "I walked 5 miles in the snow without shoe stories are a bit dated." Things have changed. It's hard for kids to get jobs especially if the college location is rural and he/she doesn't receive financial aid/work study. Our kids gets mostly all A's. If the grades weren't there that would be another thing.

+1. DD goes to a rural campus and plays a sport that practices during cafeteria dinner hours in season. She works all summer, buy her own clothes, pays for any trips she takes and generally supports herself when school is not in session. Yes, we pay her tuition, room and board and school related expenses. We also give her $40 a week stipend for personal use.

I agree that no college student should live better than they live at home. But I also want her to enjoy her college experience somewhat. My parents could not afford to give me anything but tuition and I worked a full time job as a full time student (I worked 6 hours a day 6 days a week after freshman year). Yea, it taught me a lot, but I was miserable and I do not have fond memories of my college years. Just because I struggled does not mean that I want my kids to struggle like I did. It does not hurt me to give her a few bucks - I would spend that monthly on Starbucks.

[Anonymous]

It's funny how so many of you go off on kids for being lazy and needing to work. As far as I am concerned school is the work and that should have their full attention. It is important for a child to be thrifty and understand the value of a dollar but I am not sure working at McDonald's does that anyway. I agree with summer work and even durring break if they can find a job. There has been a strange change to summer jobs in the last few years in that most summer jobs in professional environments have become unpaid internships-- seems wrong to me.

I think $300-400 a month seems fair.

[Anonymous]

I think the person who keeps bragging about her kids being on full "academic" scholarships is bending the truth. I bet they are on F.A.

At my dd's college - ALL of the jobs on campus go to FA kids. That seems really unfair to me. We aren't rich at all...my dh and I have been working since age 12. Why are we penalized for living on the cheap.

Get real -- things are expensive out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if they child can't get an on-campus job (or University sponsored job) because they are not on financial aid, is there a reason why they can't work at McDonalds, Subway, Pizza Hut or any of the other "off-campus" facilities that are there? I understand that if the school is in a rural area with limited employment then these jobs may go to the locals but if that's the case then there isn't much to spend money on in the area anyway.

Also, the job market when they graduate is going to be competitive so they'd better learn to compete while in school - even if it's for the job as the deli clerk at the grocery store.

I think his summer job working in a research lab is a better way to make money then working at McDonalds during the school year when I want him to study and take advantage of the wonderful resources at the college. Not all students are the same. Not all financial circumstances are the same. One size does not fit all.

I am the PP with three in college. If your college kids are telling you that on-campus jobs are for financial aid students and/or that there are no other jobs (other than McDonalds...and there is NOTHING wrong with a college kid slinging burgers.) available, I have some ocean front property to sell you. Please. All three of my children are on academic scholarships. Two of them are in the honors college where they are required to maintain a high GPA plus participate in extra requirements for the program. All three have part time jobs. One is a tutor. One is in the National Guard. And one works for an IT company. There are jobs out there. Your kids just have to get off their asses and look.

Not to mention- don't kid yourself that your child is spending all of that extra time studying- they're drinking, getting high, watching Family Guy, etc.

I think it's nice when parents are able to and choose to cover their kids' necessities, but I think ultimately you're doing your kid a disservice if beer, restaurant meals, spring break vacations, and the newest $120 jeans at Abercrombie are "necessities" that you're covering too. Your kid is never going to learn to budget or to be responsible or to manage his time. It's not that working a minimum wage job "builds character," it's that forcing your kid to work and budget his money will teach him valuable life skills. If you want to be supporting him well into his 30s, then go ahead, give him $400 a week for pot and Pizza Hut. Five years from now you'll be paying for his $150 cable package and 10 years from now you'll be giving him a down payment for his home.

[Anonymous]

My deal with my kids is, if you maintain a 3.3 or higher, I will pay all expenses (room and board and books plus 350 per month). If below 3.3, no 350 a month the next semester. Get a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if they child can't get an on-campus job (or University sponsored job) because they are not on financial aid, is there a reason why they can't work at McDonalds, Subway, Pizza Hut or any of the other "off-campus" facilities that are there? I understand that if the school is in a rural area with limited employment then these jobs may go to the locals but if that's the case then there isn't much to spend money on in the area anyway.

Also, the job market when they graduate is going to be competitive so they'd better learn to compete while in school - even if it's for the job as the deli clerk at the grocery store.

I think his summer job working in a research lab is a better way to make money then working at McDonalds during the school year when I want him to study and take advantage of the wonderful resources at the college. Not all students are the same. Not all financial circumstances are the same. One size does not fit all.

I am the PP with three in college. If your college kids are telling you that on-campus jobs are for financial aid students and/or that there are no other jobs (other than McDonalds...and there is NOTHING wrong with a college kid slinging burgers.) available, I have some ocean front property to sell you. Please. All three of my children are on academic scholarships. Two of them are in the honors college where they are required to maintain a high GPA plus participate in extra requirements for the program. All three have part time jobs. One is a tutor. One is in the National Guard. And one works for an IT company. There are jobs out there. Your kids just have to get off their asses and look.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...I know everything...blah, blah, blah...Yes I'm an ass...blah, blah, blah, blah, Yes I have a chip on my shoulder, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My deal with my kids is, if you maintain a 3.3 or higher, I will pay all expenses (room and board and books plus 350 per month). If below 3.3, no 350 a month the next semester. Get a job.

Why not require higher than a 3.3?

[Anonymous]

My dad paid for my college and spending money. I worked in the summer but not at school. Grad School I was on my own. Guess what, I have made a ton of money in business since graduating and never worked flipping burgers in college. I am not putting down working in college I am just not glamorizing it either. I think $400 a month seems reasonable for allowance for clothes, gas, food, beer etc.

[Anonymous]

My sister is a sophomore this year. She is not on financial aid. She has 3 on campus jobs. She is a tour guide for prospective students. She is a waitress for catered events. And she does something else but I don't remember what it is. None of these are guaranteed hours but maybe that's why she has 3 jobs. Between the 3 of them, she can usually cobble together enough spending money. She was not able to get a full paid professional summer position. But she was able to find an on campus summer position that will pay her a small wage as well as room and board for the summer.

[Anonymous]

I think it's nice when parents are able to and choose to cover their kids' necessities, but I think ultimately you're doing your kid a disservice if beer, restaurant meals, spring break vacations, and the newest $120 jeans at Abercrombie are "necessities" that you're covering too. Your kid is never going to learn to budget or to be responsible or to manage his time. It's not that working a minimum wage job "builds character," it's that forcing your kid to work and budget his money will teach him valuable life skills. If you want to be supporting him well into his 30s, then go ahead, give him $400 a week for pot and Pizza Hut. Five years from now you'll be paying for his $150 cable package and 10 years from now you'll be giving him a down payment for his home.

+1 I have a clear picture of why so many kids are graduating from college without a clue, angry and miserable because they cannot afford the standard of living right out college that mommy and daddy provided for them. College is not just about gaining the academic skills to enter the work force. It is also about gaining the life skills to enter the adult world. After paying rent, utilities, car payments, insurance, student loans (in many cases), and funding reasonable savings, a lot of these kids are not going to have a lot of extra money to blow from their first employment. Not all of these kids are getting big law jobs.

BTW, if my children don't exceed a 3.3 GPA, they won't lose their spending money they'll lose their tuition, room and board. That too is a life lesson. You don't do a good job for your employer, you get fired. You screw around and don't do a good job academically, you lose your "academic scholarship" aka free ride from mom and dad.