Now that I can start thinking about specifics . . . What are people thinking about spending money for your children while they’re in school?
Congrats to @AnxietyAttack77 and @madredos and all who have made decisions. I will say it is very fun to read the decision posts! There is so much joy and also relief!
Awesome news @AnxietyAttack77
1 down/ 1 to go @madredos - congrats!!
We will probably not have a formal grad party here- maybe just a family dinner out a the restaurant of DS’s choice.
We provide my D with everything she needs, toiletries, contacts, cellphone, food (meal plan, snacks and occasional treat), books, supplies. She pays for her entertainment (concerts, going out to dinner with friends). Also she pays for her own makeup and clothes that she wants other than necessities.
She worked last summer for her spending money.
@AnxietyAttack77 no speeding money here, D is working over the summer for her spending money.
I plan to mail her an occasional gift card here and there but no allowance.
D’s phone is free on our grandfathered phone plan, so no issue there. For now she gets an allowance, and whether she gets one next year depends on how her summer works out. She is waiting to hear on a paid internship, which should be enough to cover books and spending money. She’s also applying to jobs in case that doesn’t work out.
My older D’s father offered her the choice of an allowance or working PT while in college, as long as she came up with a spending budget justifying the allowance. She never did and chose to work, but it was too much for her on top of her freshman year. We’d rather D not work at first if that can be avoided. But we’re not rolling in dough, so for extravagances like concerts or her expensive make up preferences, that would be on her.
Whoa - 150+ posts since I’ve last looked. Congrats to all that have docked and strength to those that are still floating.
DD and I are back from two whirlwind admitted student programs and we came home with a Mount Holyoke sweatshirt ( @AnxietyAttack77 congrats! ) For some reason, I expected a lot more excitement from her as a result of making a decision. I know she’s tired from sleeping on floors and jetlagged, but I want her to be really happy with her choice. It sounds as if she’s found her people, even if they happen to be 3,000 miles away from home.
@Undercovermom1 my D was similarly low-key about her decision but I really think it’s the best one for her. We were not able to make the official MHC admitted student visit but made a quick trip up a couple of weeks ago and while she waited until after revisiting her other top choice, I thought that if she followed her heart she would end up at MHC. She gave it 24 hours after getting back from the other visit to announce it though.
@AnxietyAttack77 – we are similar to @mommdc. We will send our DD with everything she needs but “fun” money is on her. No allowance. She works as ski instructor in the winter and has a summer job so she can save a nest egg for school. I give my daughter less than a week before she will figure out every “free” activity offered. 
@PhilaSkiMom They always figure out the free food for sure!
No allowance from us either. We’ll be sure that she has enough for laundry :)) but any extras including books are on her!
Gosh congrats all!! We are still on the ship. Hoping that changed this weekend. Down to three schools but the prices are so different. Doing an overnight tomorrow and maybe that will have us jump ship. Or we head to another port and see if we can get them to revisit the financial aid package. Anyone successful with that??
Thanks
D is finishing up her last-minute whirlwind visit to her financial safety. It is not a fit. I don’t know if my D is Cinderella or the glass slipper in this analogy, but we could really use a fairy godmother about now. Assuming a charming old lady with gossamer wings will not be showing up at my house, I have been enjoying my favorite pastime, college number crunching, and it is kinda sorta good news.
Of her two favorite schools, one looks to be a little cheaper than the other – using the numbers they provide. Then, I dug a little deeper. The slightly more expensive school has more rooming options. The cheapest dorm is $1.5k less than the COA dorm listed. The more expensive school does not require an all-you-can-eat option (which my D would never fully utilize); another $500 savings. Finally, for the following years living options, the “cheaper” school’s costs shoot through the roof. At the seemly more expensive option, the room and board costs will actually go down after freshman year if she lives frugally. The more expensive school is in a state with a much higher minimum wage, assuring the part-time job she will need to pick-up pays a decent wage. It also has free laundry and printing and the financial aid grant is guaranteed to not go down unless our finances change dramatically.
D won’t be home until tomorrow, and I’m waiting to confirm in-person she really, really can’t see herself at the school where money won’t be an issue. If that is the case, I have two pages of number crunching/fact finding to show her. My end goal is for us as a family to step off the USS Indecision with grace and purpose, instead of haphazardly flinging ourselves off the gangplank and hoping for the best. Let’s see if we can pull it off.
Don’t forget to factor in annual tuition increases @palm715 . Also , higher minimum wages usually equates to higher COL.
Great research @palm715!
@AnxietyAttack77 We will probably only send about $100.00 a month. We expect D16 to get a job while in school to help off set her every day expenses.
@carolinamom2boys I used http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ for the past and predicted tuition and fees. You’re right, it was an eye-opener.
Just over 6 weeks to graduation and D16 has received an overwhelming amount of party invites already. It’s like…when are we going to throw her party so it won’t conflict with anyone else’s???
D16 just texted me to let me know she got voted on the Prom Court. Now, she has to “compete” with her friend in the run-off vote for Prom Queen.
Graduation party- My sister and I are having one the Sunday after graduation. It’ll be a family, family friend and our friends party at our house/in our yard. I do not know if my friends will have parties. Allowance- We haven’t discussed this yet. I’m guessing they will give us some sort of allowance but how much I’m not sure. I know my mom has talked about us needing to get a checking account and possibly a credit card before college.
Hmmmm, received a “thank you” email for attending Indiana University Preview Days. That was really sweet, unfortunately we did not attend IU preview days, nor did my D16 even apply to IU. Was never on a mailing list or ever visit campus!
Hahaha @labegg ! D received a huge packet of info from Elmira College yesterday- guess they didn’t get the memo that she’s just about to graduate.