Saturday, 06 March 2010
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Advice: Appropriate Allowance for College Student?
Some college student pay their own way, or at least get part-time jobs. Other college students receive allowances from their parents. For those with allowances, it's debatable what a good amount is.
But what's just what's being asked over on our Advice page. The question is:
What do you think an adequate allowance is for a college student that isn't able to get a part time job?Let us know your answer on the Advice post.
Or ask your own question on Advice!
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Comments (52)
I don't think that under any circumstances a college student should get an "allowance" from their parents. Sure, parents like to give their kids a few bucks here and there, but as for a weekly/ monthly allowance, that is just hindering the young adults growth into a mature, responsible adult. An allowance is like a sense of entitlement and it teaches the college student nothing about responsibility. Campuses have jobs available and it may take a little while to find one, but part time jobs around town are there as well.
$100/month is pretty normal at my school
I think 20 dollars here and there is okay to cover gas/food but allowance is ridiculous. I never heard of anyone getting those privileges while I was in college.
No college student should get an allowance. When you enter college, you become an adult. It is your responsibility to get yourself a job (or do odd jobs or studies for the psych department for cash), and manage the money that you do have to make it stretch.
Generally, I would say that the college student should get a job, even if it's a piddly on-campus job. Unable to? Too busy? No transportation? However, while they would have scoffed at the idea of an allowance in college (I only got an allowance in elementary school, and only if I did my required household chores) my parents always did say, "Your education is your most important job." If the student really has to focus on education to do well and doesn't have a whit of time for anything else, maybe he/she could get an allowance based on grades, with more for A's, some for B's, none or a little for C's, whatever.
Unless you started a general college fund for your kid its kinda a hindrance to give your kid an allowance in college. I say hindrance because how are they going to learn to survive in the real world if they have mommy and daddy paying for things.
@Evil10@xanga - The thought process is that in the real world, graduates won't have to sacrifice an arm and a leg to do their occupation, so that they can pay for necessities themselves.
The allowance should be based on where said student is going to school. The cost of living varies from location to location, and the amount should adjust with that.
0$
If they can't afford if without mommy or daddys money, then GTFO.
As a college student who doesn't have a job anymore, I get about $10 a week. One day a week I'm at school for most of the day so my parents give me money so I can get something to eat inbetween classes. My parents don't give me pocket money which is what allowances are usually all about and I don't expect them to. I think what it comes down to is an appropriate amount as a living expense. It varies depending on where the student is going, whether they're living at home or on campus, etc.
some of these responses are ridiculous. for a white middle-class white girl like myself in a field dominated by mostly women (dance), even the concept of scholarships doesn't exist. my parents aren't paying for my college-they can't afford tuition and never started a college fund for me. i receive about $125 monthly from them for food and other expenses like books.
i realize that i have to grow up. and i figure that'll happen after graduation when i'm paying back thousands of dollar in student loans...
i don't except my parents' contribution, but without it my education would really suffer.
zero.
i had 2 part time jobs during my years in university. c'mon, get a part time job already. you're in your late teens/early twenties. those who are too busy to get a job are usually the ones that are have co-op.
allowance from parents at that age is embarrassing
I had classes 5 days a week and for a majority of the day so I could graduate early. I didn't have time for a job and my school did not offer on campus jobs, but I didn't get an allowance. I got money here and there and I usually just saved it for things I needed and occasionally I would treat myself and go out to eat with friends. Though I had my own money saved up too and I didn't really need the help my dad still wanted to help and there's no arguing with him. He was afraid that I wasn't eating because I had lost so much weight :/
Being a student and having a job is hard, so I'm not sure why so many of these responses are against the idea of an allowance. I have a part time job but I don't get enough hours for it, so I need the extra money for groceries from my dad. I'm pretty broke most of the time and I have to get about $1000 wisdom teeth surgery soon, which I need help with. He sends me about $100 every two or three weeks. I am about 20,000 in debt from school and any money from my parent helps significantly. In fact, I'm even moving back in with my dad next semester to save the money I would spend on rent towards all of this money I owe. I just find there's nothing wrong with getting help from your family, especially if you're a struggling student.
Just wanted to put my 2 cents.
In general, get a job. If emergency situations arise- then perhaps parental contribution is acceptable. By emergency I mean extreme unplanned expense like car blows up or major medical procedure not "oh no, I need beer".
Looking back at the question though- basic cost of living- rent (though that should be a part of the tuition package), maybe $75/month for food (or less as meal plans tend to also be part of the package).
I'm a college student now and I understand how budgets (yes I said the b-word do it, it helps) can be tight, but really there are all kinds of ways to make just a little bit stretch.
@blasslila_schmetterling_liebe@xanga -
@whatsarahsaid14@xanga -I come from a lower middle class family. I am $70,000 in the hole because my parents didn't have money to pay my tuition. I got deals on books, shared with my friends if we had the same class, or didn't buy them if they weren't essential. I got $200 at the beginning of the fall semester from family because my birthday is in early September, but I never asked my parents for any money. I made that $200 stretch, and I got a job every semester. Having a job and going to school is hard, but having a full load of classes and spending 8-15 hours a week practicing and performing in a major marching band is harder, and that's the only time I didn't have a job. Spend less money on eating out, clothes, and whatever else, and you'll find ways to live cheaply with whatever part time job you can find, whether it's in a campus store, a departmental office, a bagel place near campus, whatever.
a) there are only a limited number of jobs on any given campus
b) regardless of where your college or university is located, you will have trouble finding any sort of job in this day and age
c) for those who live off campus in apartments and such, how is one expected to pay for his or her own meals/gas/rent
d) college is just about studying or growing as an adult. its about exploring. how is one expected to explore without the means to
im not against lookin for and getting a job. i am in uni and i have a parttime job. i dont go out every day, or every weekend for that matter. all i know is that even with the money i make by working 10 hours a week, i cannot a) pay for my meals, b) pay for my books, and c) go explore the city im in. if my parents have the means to, then sure why not? 200 bucks a month doesnt hurt.
Allowance? :( My family is so poor that I have to give them money, not the other way around.
I receive $25 a week. And I really think it depends on your definition of "allowance". Most people commenting seem to think that parents give allowance so that their kid can go shopping or buy beer. That is definitely not the case for me. I use that money for gas and food -- nothing else. If want to buy extra things, then I cut back on my gas/food spending for awhile and save it up. I do not spend extravagantly by any means, and my mom would be the first to tell you so. I don't understand the impression that college students that receive allowances are spoiled and don't work hard enough. In case you haven't noticed, living in today's world in EXPENSIVE, even if you are living the bare minimum. And I can tell you that there are absolutely NO extra jobs in my town; all of the jobs that would be for college students are now occupied by older adults that were nixed from their original careers. My parents agree that first and foremost, I am a student and completing my degree is top priority -- especially over any part-time job.
I get arbitrary amounts of money every few weeks - $60 to $100 - but it's not really an allowance. I'm in a rural area where the economy basically doesn't exist, and I'm helping my mom take care of her property and my brother. I'm also heading back home in a couple of months and will be pretty much on my own again....
Ha, the people here that stand on their soapbox and preach their beliefs are amusing. I choose those words because their opinions are just that, preferential statements of belief. Just because you lived your life one way doesn't mean it should be the way everyone else lives theirs.
hahahahahahahahahaha.....no
i get like 20 bucks every three days but i buy cigs, gas, food so much & in my town there are NO JOBS hiring its rediculous.
i know this situation needs to change though..
I don't get money from my parents. They just have to make sure my car has gas in it when they drive it. I'm going to get a job before the summer so I can pay for college
dude, get a job. on campus jobs are NOT THAT HARD TO GET. i would know. :P
I think the parents should teach the child responsibility, by letting them know that the money they are receiving for allowance, is for food, transportation and textbook money. How the student chooses to spend it is up to them, but it will teach them about managing their money. If they want more to have extra spending cash, then they will need to get a job.Â
HOwever, this only works for students who actually have that sense of responsibility in them, and want to go to school. I know a lot of students don't.Â