<p>The auto insurance discount for the student at college varies form State to State and also Insurance Co. to Co. Hope fully you are at least getting the ‘good student’ discount fo a “B” average report card.</p>
<p>^^Don’t I wish! MA has the most highly regulated auto insurance system in the country. We don’t get discounts for anything, much less a “good student” one or even an “advanced driver training” one.</p>
<p>no, expenses did no go down when D#1 went - we had to pay for her living expenses (scholarships/loans only covered tuition) and that was easily $750 a month. This past year, her senior year, she had classes only 3 days a week so worked PT at her summer job (and now her full-time job). So she commuted the 30 miles each way to class and paid for her cell phone, gas, entertainment, most of her clothes, etc. Only this year did the living expenses go back to where they were before she went to college.
I do not buy the stuff about saving $2K to $3K a year on the food, not when college might cost 10 times that!</p>
<p>Obviously everyone knows what their “net cost of attendance” is going to be, but there are expenses currently coming out of the family budget included in that. I have figured that I am paying for my kids to eat while they are in high school, so that amount for “board” is sustituting for all that money for lunches at school, groceries that they eat and their food at restaurant meals. It may not be an exact reduction but there must be some savings. Also I had kids who did “club” sports in addition to school sports, now they are and will be playing in college with all expenses paid. We used to travel with them to watch, now we will just be traveling to watch. So, I think the point is the “net cost” of college,while high, may be a little lower than stated.</p>
<p>Some expenses went down, especially groceries and sundries (tp, laundry supplies, etc.). But the biggest thing I’ve noticed is that I LOVE having my own bathroom! We’ve been sharing a very (very!) small one for 18 years.</p>