The Logistics of Privilege (Or, How It Works When Your Parents Pay for Your Education)

Last week I wrote a little bit aboute how I did money in college (my parents paid for everything, basically, save a little bit of spending money I earned myself), and I asked a bunch of other people how the logistics of paying for their own education worked. These are responses from folks who mostly had their educations and living expenses paid for. Next time: Responses from people who paid for their education themselves.

“My parents paid for my college. They paid tuition and rent and for my meal plan. I worked over the summers to make my “spendin’ money” for the year, i.e. i had it pretty easy. It was good for me because I didn’t have to think about money or work very hard. It was bad for me because i could have learned important lessons about the value of a dollar. It probably made me lazy. However, since graduation they haven’t given me a dime. Except a couple times when I borrowed like $500, which I later paid back. This was when I was in debt — from credit cards — and desperate. Much like you are now.” — WI

“My parents paid for my college — they’d been saving for our college educations since before we were born. They also paid my rent. They transferred the rent money to me each month and I wrote the check. They gave me extra for groceries each month, but I had to pay for eating out and going out. Which I paid for with jobs, and savings from jobs in high school. Since I was 12 I had to buy anything I wanted with my own money, so I learned to save.” — M

“I had my tuition paid for by because my dad retired on disability. I also got a stipend from the government for spending money. I took a part time job that I saved every dime to pay for my summers in Los Angeles, where I interned each summer. My parents also supplemented my income with $200 to $300 a month. They continued to be crucial in getting me set up after college to, when I moved across the country.” — GB

“My parents paid for my college. The first year of college, they paid for a meal plan, but all discretionary money was up to me, so worked part-time. After freshman year and studying abroad, I had to pay for stuff like books and my cell phone and car insurance. We worked out a deal my last year when I got a $10k scholarship that they would help me buy a car with it. So I have a used Honda that I got then that still runs great.” — MA

“My mom paid for my college. And when I moved off campus, she paid my rent and gave me the equivalent of what she was spending on the dining hall previously for food. I had a job, like ten or twelve hours a week, and that was my money. But sometimes I needed more, so I just asked for it, and gobbled it up like the greedy little heathen I am. I went to a fancy school where everyone had money, so if I didn’t, I was screwed. Sign this, ‘a piglet I know.’” — MI

Share your education-payment logistics: logan@thebillfold.com

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