<p>I’m working right now to earn spending money for my summer and fall semester.</p>
<p>How much should I generally budget to spend each week (I’m not paying for anything like fees or books…just stuff that I want)? Someone told me $25 a week…but why would I spend that if I had a full meal plan?</p>
<p>It really depends on your situation. If the school is isolated and provides lots of free entertainment then $25/week could be enough. On the other hand it’s easy to spend several times that if there’s a commercial district nearby or you’re going out a lot with friends. Keep in mind that seemingly minor items (like an ink cartridge for your printer) can be pricey.</p>
<p>I think that my son spends closer to $50/week. This amount can vary. As NewHope mentions ink for your printer could be a large purchase. The money does not just go toward entertainment, but things one needs (ie: soap, shampoo, haircut, bottled water or softdrink in the dorm room, etc.).</p>
<p>my freshman and soph. years I worked a job on campus and made about 50-60 a week which I used to pay for my car insurance, my cell phone, and “misc” expenses. By that I mean trips to the mall, snacks for my dorm room, food when I didn’t feel like eating in the caf, concerts, going to the movies, gifts for people, etc. When I had my own apartment junior and senior year I worked a little bit more because then I had food to buy all the time… which usually worked out to be about 25/week… give or take a few if I was splurging on something. My senior year I worked a lot more because I bought a new car at the beginning of the year so I had my car payments as well as higher insurance.</p>
<p>I think my cheapskate son probably spends about $10- $25 a week. He and his friends tend to do things on campus, free outdoor things like hiking and hang out watching movies. If they go out, it’s to a local coffee shop or a movie now and then. My daughter may have spent closer to $50 because she would buy clothes (always on sale!) and go to concerts. I also think location makes a huge difference. My daughters college was in an isolated rural area and my son’s is next to a small town. Both had/have friends with similar low budget tastes. Not into clubbing or things like that.</p>
<p>My son has gone skiing, and camping on 4 times throughout the year. Skiing can be quite expensive. Since he does not have his own skis at school, he rented them. He has an occasional meal out, usually when it is a friend’s birthday. Next month he will go to an amusement park for Halloween festivities. He is also going to attend an on campus concert next month. Otherwise, he is on campus doing lower budget activities, but it does add up quickly.</p>
<p>We really had the kids budget $50 per week as a target from their summer work. Of the 4, 2 Ss went over and ran out before the end of the year, but they were very social and liked to spend on events and on line games. One S spent way under, he could never see any sense in spending money if someone else would. The fourth, D is about on target so far. Money is used to go off campus, buy tickets, some clothes, extra food such as the study pizzas. But as she likes to point out - she’s the girl and knows how to plan ahead and budget, details her brothers were not into. :)</p>
<p>My S, who is at a LAC that’s in a very nice town that’s a 10-min. drive from Orlando, budgeted $25 a week, and I don’t think he’s spending that.</p>
<p>He’s also on full meal plan. He uses the college’s printers, and the college provides free laundry.</p>
<p>He has found interesting lectures and films on campus for free. He went to a swing dancing party on campus for just $5. It included swing dancing lessons. He’s spending $40 for a day-long swing dancing course, but I think that has been his splurge since he went to college in Aug.</p>
<p>If he wants to eat off campus, there are places within walking distance where he could get ice cream, smoothies, or even a very cheap meal for under $10.</p>
<p>I do think that $25 is reasonable whereever you are, and $50 would be for big spenders. Colleges that are isolated tend to have more on-campus activities (including very cheap and free ones) than do most colleges that are in urban areas. Things like buying clothes are optional unless one has moved to a place in a very different climate than what existed in your home area.</p>
<p>My son has been living on campus since August 20 (or so). He bought a copy of Halo III and spent $15 on some other computer game. Other than that, he’s spent less than the cash he had on him when he got to school. I know this because I’m on his bank account and saw his statement online. At this rate, his summer earnings from this year will last until he graduates.</p>