How do you handle spending money for your college student?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't provide any spending money. We pay for tuition, room, board, books, sorority dues, and supplies for the dorm/apartment. They pay for everything else- beer money, uber, concert tix, incidentals that come up (tampons, toiletries, snacks, groceries once they got off the meal plan, etc.), any spring break they want to go on. I think it is GOOD for kids to have skin in the game.

OP here - I agree! So do your kids make their spending money by working summers and during the winter break, or do they work during the school year too?

Both of them worked 40 hours/week during summer. DD worked about 10 hours/week at an on campus job starting sophomore year, DS did a 20 hour/week internship his junior year but didn't work during the year otherwise.

But for people on financial aid, all that money goes against your aid. You have to be very aware of it.

My daughter babysat and tutored under the table instead.

Niece lost her work-study eligibility this way. I agree, you have to be mindful of how much you make when on aid.