Parents of College Students Going Away to School

Financial stresses can prove to be quite the distraction for a college student, especially when they live away from you. Besides paying tuition, room and board, and books, college students often face a variety of smaller expenses that add up quickly. Helping them establish a budget is important. Flex meals are the first thing to be addressed. Make sure the plan chosen gives them flexibility, with some built-in responsibility. Help them to see each week at a time and decide how many flex meals they may want. Assess after the first few weeks, then again after a few months, to help them learn and be realistic about their meals. Assessing is key to their learning. For the second semester, make adjustments according to the first semester experience.

The second important thing is recreational spending. Again, help them with a budget and let them make the decisions. Make sure they have weekly money, whether it be from a summer job, working part-time during college, or an allowance you provide for them. Encourage them to track their spending money, so they can see where it is going. It can be any eye opener, to see how much that daily latte adds up to in a month, getting their fingernails done, or enjoying several nights out at the local establishments. Help them to see if they are within the bounds of the budget, and if they would prefer to save for other things, such as clothing, electronics, etc. Everyone has their own sense of what they prefer to spend money on, but it must stay within their budget.

If they are working while going to school, analyze those costs. Sometimes, the cost of the increased job expenses, and the accumulated stresses involved in limited homework time can exceed expectations of the actual money earned. Is it really a good idea? Looking at the cost of tuition, make sure they have the time to apply to their studies - don't waste it on a bit more free-spending money.

Keeping in touch with your college student can seem like a "no-brainer." However, you need to give your student some trust. Some parents speak to their student many times a day, but there are many ways to keep in touch besides the phone and texting. Give them some breathing space to make friends, and feel a bit of the tension in building friendships. In new situations, we all feel nervous, but learning how to reach out and begin a conversation is important. Once they experience the ease of this, they will grow in their social skills. You need to relax, and let them experience this social process.

Sending them cards of support and encouragement will let them know that you are thinking about them and that you care, while giving them the trust and confidence they need to build their friendships, and explore new situations.

Here is a popular and whimsical card that wishes them luck and success as they go off to school. You can have it customized for their school. This card is for the University of South Carolina. USC is printed on a bumper sticker on the back of this car, and inside wishes them luck and success as they go to the University of South Carolina.

CLICK CARD TO SEE INSIDE

Seeing a package from home can make your your student's day! It doesn't have to be complicated, nor expensive. Always include a bit of food. Brownies ship nicely, and add things like mints, gum, candy bars and microwave popcorn packs. Gift cards to their local hangouts and nearby stores will be appreciated. Don't overindulge them, but gift cards will give them a financial shot in the arm. Be creative, simple and more frequent in their care packages. A few a month are better than 1 the whole semester.

The excitement of college life can wear off when a problem arises. It can be academic, social, or getting sick. Assess whether it is something your need to intervene on, but usually, it just means some common sense talking with them to help them deal with the situation. Ask questions and really listen. With a bit of guidance on your part, they will come through these problems and become stronger as a result. Here is where a card, and care package can come in handy. A parent's role is to support the student - not take over.