| I cook for myself with an allowance of $50 a week. That amount basically allows me to get whatever I want without worrying about the price of it. Students who go for canned/frozen/prepared meals will go through a lot more money for the convenience (I get a lot of fruits, veggies, bottled sauces, and raw meats).
Things to keep in mind when considering this:
Will your child have easy access to a grocery store? If a grocery store isn't within walking distance, how will they get there? It's not a good idea to depend on getting rides from a friend because they will go hungry if the friend doesn't have time to go shopping when they are available.
What is the cost of food in the area (there are plenty of online cost of living calculators that have food cost as a subcategory)? See how it compares to your home area and divide it up by the number of people in the house, or take my number above and adjust (I'm in the Cleveland OH area)
Giving students the cash can work out fine, or consider having a credit card for them that you pay - if they go over their set amount they're responsible for the difference. Just be clear with your expectations. |