Mine got a part time job while in college, I think the second year.
Going off to college question?
- Thread starter Tigerlily
- Start date
Mine got a part time job while in college, I think the second year.
My daughter is enrolled in the work study program through Towson. She will work on campus part time and will receive a check although she is limited as to how much she can make per year. I have instructed her that she needs to look for additional part time work in the area. She has been working at the CSM bookstore for the last year and has been saving as much as she can. She will be leaving that job in two weeks though to leave for school.
When she graduated CSM in May my mother wanted to give her 3000.00 to help her out but I told her to instead divide it into payments for her throughout the next year. So she gave her 300.00 when she graduated, then 300.00 more for her birthday last month. She will spread out the rest every couple of months to help cover additional costs as well. I was afraid if she got all that money at once she would have blown it over this summer and she would not have been focused on working and saving as much of her own money as she could.
She has her own car insurance policy and pays for that herself as well as her essentials, clothing, gas etc. I pay her cellphone bill as she is on my plan but she is pretty good about not abusing the minutes.
She sounds very responsible, what about the second year she will want to move off campus and most likely share and apartment? Just a thought for the second year. I had to co-sign to get the apt for mine, which means, deposit, cable tv, electric, internet etc. Might need to save up slowy for that in the future.
She only has two years to go and is hoping she will be assigned to the Towson Run Apartments, which is where most upper class & transer students get placed. We hope to find out where she will placed in the next week. If she is in a dorm that means less to take with us. If she get's into the apartments she will share a two bedroom apartment with three other students. It would have a bathroom in each bedroom, I also think a half bath as well off the living room, dining/ kitchen area. This would mean bringing pots, pans, dishes etc. She would be able to reduce or even eliminate her meal plan though.
libertytyranny
Dream Stealer
the campus card will be fine. consider switching to the same bank so you can transfer money in a second online in case of emergency. Credit cards are just a bad idea. they don't build up your credit like a lot of people think and even the most responsible person can get into trouble. Nearly every emergency can be handled by someone at school or a quick transfer of money online.
The only time I really needed money off campus was to buy gas or booze
I recommend the meal plan for the first year, no matter what the housing situation. it will give her time to adjust and figure out life with a little safety night. too many kids living on ramen after spending all their money. (even if it just an abbreviated one)
I am sure you know what kinds of things to get her..but a pop up hamper or laundry bag works best, fabric softener sheets ( not for laundry, for putting int he vents to get rid of the dorm stink) a shower tote ( even if an apartment, nothing worse than your roomate using all of your shampoo when you need to wash your hair) a good laptop, (netflix account will get you points with your roomate) lots of family pictures, shell need to contact her roomate/s about who has a tv, full length mirror, dvd player, fridge, etc. and if it's an apartment they may be tempted to "share" the costs of food, tp, cleaning supplies etc..and maybe its a lesson everyone needs to learn..but umm..dont. It causes nothing but fights..lol. a good talk about never drinking without a buddy and never letting any of the girls go off with someone alone, and not getting shwasted..and She will do just fine
I didn't go to towson, but I visited a few times. Fun place, alcohol falls like rain, a ton of pot..loads of horny boys...but..all in all a rather fun and safe place to be if you are smart and have good friends.
and she's not far away. so don't worry
The only time I really needed money off campus was to buy gas or booze
I recommend the meal plan for the first year, no matter what the housing situation. it will give her time to adjust and figure out life with a little safety night. too many kids living on ramen after spending all their money. (even if it just an abbreviated one)
I am sure you know what kinds of things to get her..but a pop up hamper or laundry bag works best, fabric softener sheets ( not for laundry, for putting int he vents to get rid of the dorm stink) a shower tote ( even if an apartment, nothing worse than your roomate using all of your shampoo when you need to wash your hair) a good laptop, (netflix account will get you points with your roomate) lots of family pictures, shell need to contact her roomate/s about who has a tv, full length mirror, dvd player, fridge, etc. and if it's an apartment they may be tempted to "share" the costs of food, tp, cleaning supplies etc..and maybe its a lesson everyone needs to learn..but umm..dont. It causes nothing but fights..lol. a good talk about never drinking without a buddy and never letting any of the girls go off with someone alone, and not getting shwasted..and She will do just fine
I didn't go to towson, but I visited a few times. Fun place, alcohol falls like rain, a ton of pot..loads of horny boys...but..all in all a rather fun and safe place to be if you are smart and have good friends.
and she's not far away. so don't worry
the campus card will be fine. consider switching to the same bank so you can transfer money in a second online in case of emergency. Credit cards are just a bad idea. they don't build up your credit like a lot of people think and even the most responsible person can get into trouble. Nearly every emergency can be handled by someone at school or a quick transfer of money online.
The only time I really needed money off campus was to buy gas or booze
I recommend the meal plan for the first year, no matter what the housing situation. it will give her time to adjust and figure out life with a little safety night. too many kids living on ramen after spending all their money. (even if it just an abbreviated one)
I am sure you know what kinds of things to get her..but a pop up hamper or laundry bag works best, fabric softener sheets ( not for laundry, for putting int he vents to get rid of the dorm stink) a shower tote ( even if an apartment, nothing worse than your roomate using all of your shampoo when you need to wash your hair) a good laptop, (netflix account will get you points with your roomate) lots of family pictures, shell need to contact her roomate/s about who has a tv, full length mirror, dvd player, fridge, etc. and if it's an apartment they may be tempted to "share" the costs of food, tp, cleaning supplies etc..and maybe its a lesson everyone needs to learn..but umm..dont. It causes nothing but fights..lol. a good talk about never drinking without a buddy and never letting any of the girls go off with someone alone, and not getting shwasted..and She will do just fine
I didn't go to towson, but I visited a few times. Fun place, alcohol falls like rain, a ton of pot..loads of horny boys...but..all in all a rather fun and safe place to be if you are smart and have good friends.
and she's not far away. so don't worry
Thanks for your insight. No way I am switching to PNC but maybe we can open a separate account for her at my bank.
I have received so many wonderful pm's and posts with very helpful information. I really appreciate all of the input.
When we went for orientation they talked allot about drinking and setting limits. They said I should tell her if she is going to drink to just have two but no more than three drinks. Really? Do they think that me saying that is going to stop her?
She turned twenty-one last month and had one drink on her birthday and she said it was nasty ( A Mohito). She is not a drinker, druggy, smoker and she is involved in church, its youth group and is still a virgin. I think I got the wrong kid at the hospital. I just hope that she does not go wild when she gets there. I just want her to be focused on her goal and do well.
We have received many recommendations on what to take and I have made an extensive list which we are presently working on. As of right now she signed up for a 15 meal a week plan. That way she only has to cover breakfast herself. I explained to her when she said that if she got into an apartment that should she consider dropping the meal plan or reducing it that she should take the number of meals per week she signed up for and then multiply that by weeks she will be there and then divide that by the cost of the meal plan to get an average per meal cost. I think she will find she will be better off sticking with the plan she already picked. Then she won’t have to worry about arguing over who is going to do the dishes, grocery shopping, roomates eating her food etc.
Again, thanks for the response.
IrishGal
Stretch's Mom
Don't be surprised if she doesn't use that meal plan. Our daughter had the same size plan at her college and was averaging only 7 meals a week at "the caf". The students tended to eat more at the student center, or the on campus sub and coffee shop. See if the meal plan has the ability to exchange to these places (example - 1.5 meals at the dining hall can be exchanged for a meal at the sub shop...or a 1-to-1 exchange at the coffee shop).
Also the one thing that I got advice on and sent up with Stretch is a "medicine drawer." We got one of those little plastic bins with a drawer in it and filled it with things like band-aids, cotton balls, peroxide, neosporin, tylenol, motrin, OTC cold meds, a thermometer, etc. It REALLY came in handy for her. Then when we were up there, we would go to the Wally Mart and re-stock for her. Since Stretch's school is in a colder climate-with VERY changeable weather, she really appreciated knowing that she had the "right" medicines on hand when her head got stuffy, etc. It kept her from experimenting at CVS or worse yet...with her friends.
tes218
New Member
Thanks for your insight. No way I am switching to PNC but maybe we can open a separate account for her at my bank.
I have received so many wonderful pm's and posts with very helpful information. I really appreciate all of the input.
When we went for orientation they talked allot about drinking and setting limits. They said I should tell her if she is going to drink to just have two but no more than three drinks. Really? Do they think that me saying that is going to stop her?
She turned twenty-one last month and had one drink on her birthday and she said it was nasty ( A Mohito). She is not a drinker, druggy, smoker and she is involved in church, its youth group and is still a virgin. I think I got the wrong kid at the hospital. I just hope that she does not go wild when she gets there. I just want her to be focused on her goal and do well.
We have received many recommendations on what to take and I have made an extensive list which we are presently working on. As of right now she signed up for a 15 meal a week plan. That way she only has to cover breakfast herself. I explained to her when she said that if she got into an apartment that should she consider dropping the meal plan or reducing it that she should take the number of meals per week she signed up for and then multiply that by weeks she will be there and then divide that by the cost of the meal plan to get an average per meal cost. I think she will find she will be better off sticking with the plan she already picked. Then she won’t have to worry about arguing over who is going to do the dishes, grocery shopping, roomates eating her food etc.
Again, thanks for the response.
My neice goes to Towson and is involved in two different Christian groups on campus. She says they are a lot of fun, plenty of activities and very nice group of people. Hope your daughter gets involved with them. She is a lot like your daughter in her choice of lifestyle.
pelers
Active Member
Can leave the birth certificates and other official documentation at home. It won't be needed and if it is... it's only two hours away.
Take the health insurance card. Find a doctor up there that your insurance covers. Nothing worse than having to drive several hours each way to see a doctor when you're sick. Can try and schedule those 6 month dental checkups during winter and summer breaks.
Don't get her a credit card. Honestly what I would probably do is set up a special checking account that you two can share. Find out what ATMs are available on campus and have a local branch near you. Set up a student checking account, they are usually free and fairly easy to open. This way if she needs emergency cash you can just run to your branch or ATM and deposit it and she can have it instantly. I say set up a special account because I'm having nightmares now after finding out that my mother-in-law has been on my husband's and my joint primary checking account (that she opened for him back in college).
Medicine box sounds like an excellent idea!
Don't get laundry baskets, they are a PITA to haul around long distances (and you know the laundromat is going to be as far away as possible, that's just how those things work!). Get either a pop up hamper or one of those giant mesh laundry bags. Make sure it has a good carry strap! She may elect to come home and do laundry... I sure did after I stupidly left my laundry running while I went out to have a smoke and came back to some random chick pawing through my undies
Don't take more than you absolutely need. If she's living in dorms she's going to have to move in and out pretty frequently. At least every summer. Only two hours away, better to under-pack and then come home to grab things you essentially need rather than trying to pack up a bunch of crap you haven't touched all year come summer.
Good luck to her
Take the health insurance card. Find a doctor up there that your insurance covers. Nothing worse than having to drive several hours each way to see a doctor when you're sick. Can try and schedule those 6 month dental checkups during winter and summer breaks.
Don't get her a credit card. Honestly what I would probably do is set up a special checking account that you two can share. Find out what ATMs are available on campus and have a local branch near you. Set up a student checking account, they are usually free and fairly easy to open. This way if she needs emergency cash you can just run to your branch or ATM and deposit it and she can have it instantly. I say set up a special account because I'm having nightmares now after finding out that my mother-in-law has been on my husband's and my joint primary checking account (that she opened for him back in college).
Medicine box sounds like an excellent idea!
Don't get laundry baskets, they are a PITA to haul around long distances (and you know the laundromat is going to be as far away as possible, that's just how those things work!). Get either a pop up hamper or one of those giant mesh laundry bags. Make sure it has a good carry strap! She may elect to come home and do laundry... I sure did after I stupidly left my laundry running while I went out to have a smoke and came back to some random chick pawing through my undies
Don't take more than you absolutely need. If she's living in dorms she's going to have to move in and out pretty frequently. At least every summer. Only two hours away, better to under-pack and then come home to grab things you essentially need rather than trying to pack up a bunch of crap you haven't touched all year come summer.
Good luck to her
Proud_Nana
Member
My daughter also went to Towson and graduated a few years ago. We opened, what was then called, a custodial account with SECU (State Employees Credit Union). We both have accounts here. They have an ATM right on campus. If she needed money, she took her debit card and made a withdrawal. If she needed MORE money, all she had to do was call me and with a few computer clicks, I transferred funds from my account to her account. She will need little money on campus as most things can be done with the ONE card. You may want to check to see if either of your banks have ATM's on campus. One thing that was a big help with my daughter was under the bed rolling storage. We used two or three of these and I purchased them at Lowes. Space for clothes and 'stuff' is very limited so any organizers you can get will be helpful. Also maybe recommend that she does not take everything she owns on the first trip. She will find out how much room she has to work with and bring more stuff as she needs it when she visits. Example, right now she does not need to take her winter attire, she can start switching out as weather gets cooler. Does she have one or 2 roommates? Oh, by the way....I still haven't re-decorated her room