Average cost avoidance of NOT having your kid at home?

Paying for College
41

There are savings, yes, but who will empty the dishwasher now??? :))

42

I think for California (or at least CSAA/AAA) it’s 500 miles. As @calmom said, it probably varies state by state and possibly company by company.

43

With two in college and few at home, our biggest drop has indeed been with music lessons and travel, and paying for travel elite sports. Both things were beneficial to the oldest two, but glad to not be writing those checks any more (younger lean toward scouting, rec sports and drama). Private school tuition ended for them, but we help pay tuition in college for oldest so that was a wash, as what we paid for both in high school now go to oldest’s tuition (second oldest has full scholarship). The food bill and eating out/ activities as a family are both less costly now. As someone else mentioned, we just have a bit more wiggle room. Oh and spouse changed the internet back to basic (for awhile with us working from home and the kids all on line at times, we had to do business level internet access!). That saved a chunk of change.

Also, we have a year to breath before college application costs, SAT/ACT fees, and college visit cost kick back. Not doing those things this year is saving us a pretty penny! Neither in college ever pay to go to the doctor now either, so that is nice…they use the student clinics.

44

Food and gas costs are down. Car insurance for students living over 100 miles away with no car with them went down significantly (over $1000 between 2 students). But… they will both be working near their college this summer necessitating apartment rentals and mass transit fees. Not sure if it balances out or tips the scales.

45

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they will both be working near their college this summer necessitating apartment rentals and mass transit fees.

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But who pays? I didn’t subsidize my kids expenses over the summer if they chose to take jobs or internships that required them to live elsewhere. That was on them.

46

we’re probably an outlier-- but we were paying $120 per month for parking (downtown urban area); that plus music lessons ($200/month)- is a significant savings.