College students learn some lessons on the cost of living
My son, the college man, is finally getting an education in the
ways of the world.
He is realizing what it means to be broke.
This concept came along as a result of moving into off-campus
housing. Ross spent the first two years at UC Santa Cruz living in
the dorms, and liked it for a while. But then he got the yearning
to live away from the noise and clamor, and so did a bunch of his
buddies.
College students learn some lessons on the cost of living
My son, the college man, is finally getting an education in the ways of the world.
He is realizing what it means to be broke.
This concept came along as a result of moving into off-campus housing. Ross spent the first two years at UC Santa Cruz living in the dorms, and liked it for a while. But then he got the yearning to live away from the noise and clamor, and so did a bunch of his buddies.
There were some tense months as they filled out applications and searched for a place, which is not an easy task in Santa Cruz, where there are more students than rentals in the neighborhoods around the university.
And being a guy put him at a definite disadvantage. Landlords would rather rent to girls on the assumption that girls are less likely to have wild parties and tear things up.
But the deed was finally done, the place was found, papers were signed and money exchanged. Voila: off-campus housing in a little house, close to a bus stop and convenient to the downtown area.
However, now Ross is learning about everything that it takes to be a renter. Such as: paying the rent. And the bills. And for food and such. He’s finding out that it is not cheap to be on your own.
Previously, he was somewhat sheltered from the actual costs of living.
You see, the on-campus housing and meal plan was paid for in a lump sum each month, and I did the paying, so utilities and food magically appeared.
Now, he’s having to budget for the first time, and pay the bills himself, with the help of financial aid and a little bit from Mom.
“It’s really expensive,” he groaned the other day when we were talking.
“Yeah, no kidding,” I said.
Granted, he’s having to pay for stuff I never had to when I was in college –Internet access and cable – plus water, garbage and electricity. Luckily, with seven roommates splitting the bills, it’s not so bad. Ross’s share of the cable bill, for instance, comes to only $12 a month.
But put all the bills together and it does seem like an unscalable mountain at times. Plus he decided to get a cat, so there are also vet bills and cat food to be purchased on top of the other expenses.
Like I said, a lesson in the school of life.
I’m trying to be sympathetic but at the same time, resisting the urge to slip him some extra money. It’s tough for me not to help – after all, isn’t that what I’ve been doing all his life?
But the time has come for him to contribute to his education, and I know in my heart of hearts that this is what needs to happen. Not only for me, but for him. Growing up is hard to do, even when you’re 20 years old.
So now he is working on getting a job – so that he will have a few extra bucks to go to the occasional movie and pay for cat stuff – and that, too, is an education. He’s applied for several, was interviewed twice for a position at Office Max … which ultimately went to someone else.
But hope is still on the horizon. An on-campus job is currently in the offing, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he gets it.
After all, life in the 21st century is expensive. Plus he’s got a kitty to support now.
