How much money should a kid have saved after highschool?

bleedgreen20: How much money should a kid have saved after highschool?
I live in a fairly rich community and a lot of my peers have like $ 10,000 saved after high school because they’ve been given it as gift money. I plan to have $ 4000 saved by the end of highschool, and I’ve had to work hard for all of it. From your experience, is that enough to pay for spending money in college and other various expenses to get your life started the right way?

Answers and Views:

Answer by asshole
enough to feed a family of 4 in a 3rd world country for 3 months

Answer by Patryk
Considering I’m in your shoes, I can tell you that NO. That’s not enough money to pay for anything really. However, you’re better off than most.

A car costs a few grand, you’ve got car insurance that’s about 100$ a month if you’re a teen, a phone bill that’s probably 80$ .

Also, college is ALOT of money, especially if you come from a rich/well-off family. I paid 1700$ for a COMMUNITY college for a SEMESTER.

I suggest that you work through college and live with your parents until after you’ve paid off your debts and loans. Then after finding a better job, get your own apartment with a best friend. 🙂

Answer by a_non_ah_mus
If it’s just for spending money I would say yes. If it has to cover books and things like that I would say no. people spend a lot when they go to college. if you take things you already own and other things from home like tp and snacks you wont have to spend as much. Apply for scholarships everything over the cost of tuition and housing goes back to you.

Answer by MSB
$ 4000 doesn’t go far, but it really depends. It won’t cover tuition, so I assume you are getting some kind of grant/scholarship/etc.

But for expenses, again– does the $ 4000 have to cover all expenses including books and supplies? Rent/dorm fees? Food? Then it will be gone right quick.

If most stuff is covered and you’re just going to be living off $ 4K, you can be frugal and stretch it.

If you have a part time job it helps.

Don’t worry about what other kids are lucky enough to have… I went to college I was flat flat broke, I had nothing, I mean nothing… I was a 21 year old single mom when I started college, working part time in a grocery store for minimum wage. I got by on grants & scholarships, living really cheaply (ramen noodles, renting 1-room studio apartments w/my baby, walking/taking buses, I’d even take my baby to class to keep babysitting costs down, thank goodness she was so quiet).

I even had to take off entire semesters every 18 months or so to work full time to save extra money, which is why I started at age 21 but graduated at age 27… but hey, I graduated, that’s what counts, now in my 40’s I realize those years made me strong and resourceful and learn to appreciate what I have.

The thing is, if you want to go to college, you will find a way, and find resources for help, and living situations you can afford, and you get through it.

So don’t worry, you’ll be fine.