Anyone w/ college kids living off campus
Find a Conversation
Anyone w/ college kids living off campus
| Sat, 06-23-2007 - 10:27am |
My son is moving off campus this year after spending his freshman year in the dorm as required by the University he attends. His dad and I are divorced and we each pay half of his tuition, room, board, books..... Last year it was pretty easy because we looked at the bill online each month and we each paid our half. This year, however, only the tuition, a small meal plan and books will be on that bill. I am trying to figure out the best way to equally share the expenses of rent, elec/water, and food. The rent is pretty easy because we will each deposit half in his bank account prior to the due date and then he will write a check. I am thinking the elec/water bill he can call us when they receive it and the boys will divide it in 4ths and then his dad and I will split his share. The food is where I get caught. Three of the four boys are best friends from HS whose parents I know. Each of those are going to get a 7 meal plan which will mean they eat one meal (probably lunch) on campus. That means they will need quick stuff for breakfast if they eat and then food for one meal. Anyone have ideas on how to figure out what the cost of that will be per boy? Anyone doing this have other ideas or suggestions of things to think about?

suggestion..go to the parents of college students board.
Your son is no longer a teen, even if he is 19. He is a young man.
As for the bills..simple. Decide on a monthly allowance. In advance, the two of you deposit you half into his account to cover a few months.
The average amount for the bills should have been already figured out by the boys.
They should decide how much each roomie has to contribute each month. As for food, I suggest they buy their own food. How much do you spend on groceries in a week? Take a percentage of that amount.
Personally, I think you are way over-thinking this. :)
The boys need to figure a lot of those expenses themselves--especially the food. Let them work out how they want to divide it. A weekly grocery bill split both ways? Each boy have a section in the fridge that is theirs? Let them work it out. YOU just need to figure out how much you will give him for all that. Figure a set amount and let him work out the details. I know, figuring the set amount is the tricky part. :) The people they are renting from should have some idea as to how much utilites usually run for that place. Take an educated guess as to how much your son will need for groceries AFTER the boys decide how they are going to split that cost. My guess is they won't be cooking a whole lot at the house anyway, so there probably won't be alot of community-type food anyway--milk, cereal, a few things like that. Besides, living within a budget will be very good for him.
My son lives off-campus and I give him $300/month living expenses. He also works part-time, so that greatly supplements what I give him (our COL is very low in our area, so monthly expenses could be quite a bit higher in another part of the country).
<<<Your son is no longer a teen, even if he is 19. He is a young man.>>>>
Sorry.... I thought I had seen posts on here about college age kids. I didn't realize I shouldn't post this....