Rising junior here who was off the meal plan last year. We give $125 a week with the intent that he's grocery shopping, cooking and making meals at home, plus 1-2 fast fresh meals out a week. He does have one of our older cars to run errands and get to the grocery store. He has a few different part time jobs to earn extra money if he wants to eat out more than that! It seems to be enough, or at least he's not complaining about it.

Anonymous wrote:I’d give her the amount the meal plan would cost and let her figure out how to make it work. It will be a good part of her education.

This.

I give $600/month to cover groceries, eating out, household supplies, movies, clothes, etc. She also has a small meal plan that costs about $200/month.

We give DS $210 a week. He is 6’1” and eats a lot. This includes toiletries. I think he still tries to cook himself a good amount but grocery stores in college towns are expensive.

DD has graduated. DS is a rising senior. We provided $50/week. They worked in the summer so they could use that money to supplement and for things like takeout, Starbucks and toiletries.

We covered tuition, housing, a car and medical expenses which I felt was enough.

Anonymous wrote:My DD is a rising junior in college and moving off campus . She says she doesn't want a meal plan of any kind.

How much should she expect to spend per month for meals? We are planning on putting that much in a debit account every month.

If she cooks $350-400 per month. If she eats out mostly.... double that!

I’d give her the amount the meal plan would cost and let her figure out how to make it work. It will be a good part of her education.

Look up the cost of attendance at the school, it gives a food budget for the school year.