Allowance in college?

[ides]

Allowance in college?

No allowance here either. I saved during high school with jobs. I was in a small town so spent almost nothing. At first my parents gave me a meal card then when I moved off campus they gave me a little each month for food. I believe it was mostly my own loan money that they were doling out to me. I'm still a bit annoyed at how little I got and believe they made a profit off of me.

When I was finishing school in NYC I worked retail jobs then babysitting. At that point they gave me a little toward rent and eventually near the end of school they gave me a bit more toward rent but that was all.

[WolfpackWife]

My parents were incredibly generous in college. They paid our tuition and room and board. I don't remember having a set "allowance" freshman year of college, as I lived in the dorms and had a meal plan. The remaining three years when I lived with roommates off campus, they would give me a monthly deposit of ~$1500 (if I remember correctly) to pay for rent, utilities, groceries, gas, etc.

I actually had a part-time job junior and senior year of HS (YMCA after school counselor) and junior and senior year of college (part time student assistant in a pediatrics office). I also had a job every summer from junior year of HS on. The money I made was used for whatever "extra curriculurs" I wanted, though in retrospect it would have served me well to save it. I don't remember having to ask for extra $$ very often in college, but I know there were at least one or two instances of calling home and saying "can you transfer...?"

[Ladybug]

My parents didn't give me an allowance so I always worked. I have mixed feelings about this. Work could/did become more important that classes, and I had a lot of cash for spending/going out/shopping/etc. My parents did things differently with my younger sister and paid for her living/food/etc. She then kept a very small job and overall tighter, more reasonable budget.

[SoonerTexan]

Allowance in college?

^ I identify. I got way less from my parents that my peers or DH, but I worked my ass off and made a pretty decent bit. But I also spent a pretty decent bit

[Vanquisher]

I worked, and Chad did too. Money was SUPER tight. Our grades suffered. It made the difference on his getting into medical school in Albany versus somewhere cheaper. It is still haunting me as I am trying to bring up my undergrad GPA to try to get into PA school. I would rather my kids didn't have to spend their entire lives paying for college. We'll do what we can, but there will be a tight budget.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

My parents paid for school, but beyond that, it was on me. I never had an on-campus job, but I worked since the time I was 15 to pay for things for myself. DH's parents were supportive of him, but he went to a school where everyone had $$$ and a car, and he was at the lower end of what he had provided. We will do as much as we can, but neither of us feel that the kids should have to work in college if it's not for their career or own desire. We won't be funding private bottle service at the clubs, but if they want to eat at Chipotle vs the dining hall sometimes, they should be able to do it. We'll probably do an "allowance" for them starting at some point, but more tied to budgeting than chores.

[Vishenka69]

I didn't even have an allowance in high school. I was expected to have a summer job and part time jobs through out the year.

In college my parents covered the tuition and room and board. The rest, including books and computer was all on me. Since work study was limited to only 15 hrs a week, I also had an off campus job. I didn't feel that working 20-25 hrs a week impacted my studies but I wasn't pre-med.

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[scarlett09]

I didn't really get an allowance during college. I had a work study job in the dean's office, for about 10 hours/week. I also worked PT during the school year in HS and FT during the summers in HS and in college. I had my own checking account and debit card when I got my first job at 16. I didn't budget or save very well, because there was no example of such in my house. So I often spent it all pretty quick. I never asked my parents for money, but they would often slip me a few bucks. Especially my dad - he would give me 50-100 bucks every time he saw me up until we started our real jobs about 2 years ago.

My parents paid for tuition, room & board. I paid for books with money from my summer job. I had a meal plan and some money on the university's debit plan on my ID card. Which I often spent by Halloween. Don't let your kids be me! I never starved but I didn't make sound financial decisions.


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[peggyfromwastate]

Thanks for all the perspectives. She signed up for the moderate meal plan which has about 1-2 meals per day, I think 10 per week. She's planning on buying cereal, tea, stuff like that. She will have no car, but the school has a very nice bus line. She's applied all over for a job here, and has been applying for 3 months, but no one wants to hire a graduating senior. I told her to scrounge up a nanny job. She's just not too motivated sadly.

She buys all her clothes, makeup, etc from her allowance now, plus most of her "personal hygiene" items since she prefers high end stuff. Lol. I'm not paying for that.

We pay her cell phone bill now, but hold back first weeks allowance as her "contribution".

We have been paying her car insurance and she has a gas allowance on the debit equal to what we paid for her bus pass here to get to and from school. No school buses in this area.

The campus says they usually don't have a lot of jobs available in the fall, but by winter they do. She aspires to work in the kitchen washing dishes (seriously, she does). Apparently those jobs are easy to come by, but I'll definitely pass on the tip about the jobs where you can study while working.

Again, my takeaway from this whole process is that the parents are expected to do do much more and to cover every expense imaginable now. It's a very different situation from 15 years ago even.

But freshman year of college? It's grade 13 of secondary school. Sold to the kids (and parents even) as some type of academic summer camp with lots of fun activities to keep you entertained.

[L.Jane]

I had my dad's CC for emergency situations, but I always called and asked before I used it and I was always flabbergasted at the kids who had a HUGE allowance each month. I hated taking money from my parents so I always found nanny jobs and used that money on the extra things I wanted. My dad felt I shouldn't have to work in college, but just concentrate on my studies. They did always pay for my flights home. I hope to be able to do the same for my kids (and trust them with my CC to use like I did).

[ladymoreta]

Again, my takeaway from this whole process is that the parents are expected to do do much more and to cover every expense imaginable now. It's a very different situation from 15 years ago even.

But freshman year of college? It's grade 13 of secondary school. Sold to the kids (and parents even) as some type of academic summer camp with lots of fun activities to keep you entertained.

I can see this. College expenses have gotten far beyond the point of students being able to work their way through, so it makes sense that the trend is moving towards parents paying more and more. It's sad, but I don't see it changing anytime soon. (Cue my rant about undergrad and grad school being the next economic bubble...)

Anyway, back to the original question - I didn't get an allowance, but that was 15 years ago. I think giving her a small amount per month isn't a bad idea, as it can help her with learning to budget and pay bills.

[bokelley]

Dh and I did not have an allowance. He lived off loans and I had a scholarship and loans. My family had the money to give me an allowance but my grandfather stance is that I needed to be on my own.
My car payment was low and I worked. Dh worked 3 part time jobs during undergrad to pay for college.

[Chrisada]

I always worked and was expected to work by my parents but did have a CC through my father and all major bills (rent, car, insurance, ) paid for.


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[SuzySunshine]

I also worked, I qualified for on campus employment and usually had a little cash left each semester from loans/scholarships. I probably spent the most on gas driving home which mom and dad were happy to give me when necessary but otherwise I didn't spend a lot.


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[ides]

When O is that age I don't want him to have to work during school. Summers definitely to save up for xtra cash during the school year.