Allowance for College Students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kid gets a job. Problem solved.

I wouldn't want this, unless it was some sort of RA job. I want my kid in college to focus on studying, not waiting tables.

And drinking and getting high!!

[Anonymous]

I guess the important thing is to know your kid.

If he/she goes to college for fraternity/sorority life and by nature doesn't study and take academics seriously that's one thing. If he/she has a track record of responsible behavior and judgment as evidenced by getting good grades, participating in meaningful activities like student government, volunteering or research that's another thing.
I would gladly provide financial support to a student exhibiting the latter qualities.

Not all students are the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess the important thing is to know your kid.

If he/she goes to college for fraternity/sorority life and by nature doesn't study and take academics seriously that's one thing. If he/she has a track record of responsible behavior and judgment as evidenced by getting good grades, participating in meaningful activities like student government, volunteering or research that's another thing.
I would gladly provide financial support to a student exhibiting the latter qualities.

Not all students are the same.

PP here. I was trying to make this point earlier, but you put it much more eloquently than I could have.

[Anonymous]

If you get them a credit card in your name you can see exactly what they are buying so you know if it's alcohol or things they shouldn't be buying. You forget school IS a job but much more stressful. It's hard sometimes for a student to manage a full class load successfully. They need time to party and let off steam, just not too much.

As a student, I would rather my parents pay for half my tuition, I take loans for the rest, and have them give me the money for living expenses so I can focus on school not work during the semester. My mom is paying my living expenses but i'm taking on all the tuition and it's helping me do much better in school to be able to focus on one thing. If you only have so much to spend I would recommend that. It also depends on their major, science majors(like me) spend more than double the time per class than lets say an english major.

[Anonymous]

800 a month after paying room / board and tuition

[Anonymous]

I know both sides of the coin, so I will give you all my two cents. The first time I went to college (and did not finish), all my expenses were paid, I was given about $1500/month for funny money, and I babysat weekends on top of that. I had whatever I wanted. I was very grateful but I didn't have enough checks and wasn't as serious as I should have been. I was much more interested in dining out and going on vacations.

Then I went back to finish college as a parent (and business owner) and my grades were atrocious. It was upsetting for me because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do better.

There is a happy medium; it's not spoiling your kids. Too much distraction is bad, whether it's in the form of a job or too much spending money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know both sides of the coin, so I will give you all my two cents. The first time I went to college (and did not finish), all my expenses were paid, I was given about $1500/month for funny money, and I babysat weekends on top of that. I had whatever I wanted. I was very grateful but I didn't have enough checks and wasn't as serious as I should have been. I was much more interested in dining out and going on vacations.

Then I went back to finish college as a parent (and business owner) and my grades were atrocious. It was upsetting for me because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do better.

There is a happy medium; it's not spoiling your kids. Too much distraction is bad, whether it's in the form of a job or too much spending money.

So you wasted the free ride?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you get them a credit card in your name you can see exactly what they are buying so you know if it's alcohol or things they shouldn't be buying. You forget school IS a job but much more stressful. It's hard sometimes for a student to manage a full class load successfully. They need time to party and let off steam, just not too much.

As a student, I would rather my parents pay for half my tuition, I take loans for the rest, and have them give me the money for living expenses so I can focus on school not work during the semester. My mom is paying my living expenses but i'm taking on all the tuition and it's helping me do much better in school to be able to focus on one thing. If you only have so much to spend I would recommend that. It also depends on their major, science majors(like me) spend more than double the time per class than lets say an english major.

I will grant you that science majors spent more time in class because most classes have labs in addition to lectures. That does not mean that English majors spend any less time completing their work. Humanities classes are usually more reading and writing intensive than science classes. The level of writing expected is significantly higher and students are expected to complete a lot of work independently. Being a serious student, whether in the humanities or the sciences, requires hard work and long hours. Being a lackadaisical student requires less time.

[Anonymous]

After reading through all the inputs, I feel kinda bad now since I get about $2000 a month.

Full-time college student at NYU
All expenses paid

That $2000 is pretty much for food only.

[Anonymous]

2000 a month is crazy. My son spends about that much all year for his club Ice hockey expenses, maybe more if he needs some new equiptment. He worked over summer and makde about 11K, doubt he'll spend more then 1000 all year for expenses probably a lott less unless he goes snowboarding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After reading through all the inputs, I feel kinda bad now since I get about $2000 a month.

Full-time college student at NYU
All expenses paid

That $2000 is pretty much for food only.

All expenses paid by whom? Please.....I hope this isn't spending oney on top of room, board, books, tuition AND this PP isn't getting a free ride when the petty cash available is 2000/month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After reading through all the inputs, I feel kinda bad now since I get about $2000 a month.

Full-time college student at NYU
All expenses paid

That $2000 is pretty much for food only.

All expenses paid by whom? Please.....I hope this isn't spending oney on top of room, board, books, tuition AND this PP isn't getting a free ride when the petty cash available is 2000/month.

It is so he can spend more hours studying and in the lab so that he will be successful...we all know the only meaningful indicator of a successful life is a high powered career. If he had to do anything but study then his parents would think him a failure in life. the smart kids figure out how to make mom and pops think 100% of their lives are devoted to this priority of ambition and career success while at the same time actually living a life with relationships, socializing, activities, fun and balance!

[Anonymous]

For 2K a month, you must be eating out every meal. Both my college students work for their spending money. They get $350/month from us. That's it, we can't afford more.