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Old 05-02-2010, 12:06 PM
 
43,011 posts, read 107,716,990 times
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My son wants to attend a school in Boston that does not have student housing.

The school discourages student employment, and highly recommends limiting any employment to no more than 20 hours per week.

Without working, he will have an income of $2,600 per month to support himself while attending school.

Can a 19 year old student live in a SAFE area and afford food and transportation for $2,600? Will he have enough money for occassional entertainment?

I know Boston has a high cost of living. But please tell me this is doable! Thanks!
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Old 05-02-2010, 12:20 PM
 
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I was renting a one-room apartment in the Back Bay area, on one of those streets that cross Newbury Street and the Commonwealth Avenue. Though generally high-rent area, I managed to find a $700 a month room. And when I say "one room" I mean one room with a shared bathroom with the other 3 one-room apartments on the floor. It was a narrow brownstone. I didn't try to impress anyone, and that kind of living I think would have been just fine for a student. I worked at first while living there, then became a full time student. That was 10 years ago. The college was on the outskirts of Boston, but I could afford driving there. The area I lived would have been a good location for someone at Boston College though. It's possible to find $800 - $1200 for an apartment in any area of Boston. Utilities and food would be $600 or so. I think $2600 is plenty good.
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Old 05-02-2010, 01:12 PM
 
Location: Spring Hope, NC
1,555 posts, read 2,508,109 times
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Check out Craigs List for a roomate situation that is within reach of school.
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Old 05-02-2010, 09:03 PM
 
Location: Brooklyn, New York
467 posts, read 1,862,121 times
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I live in New York City, live with my boyfriend in one of the safest neighborhoods, and I live off of about $2,600 a month, so you can most definitely do it in Boston!
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Old 05-03-2010, 07:47 AM
 
Location: Brookline, MA
613 posts, read 2,300,781 times
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I'm assuming there's no tax here? Because if so, it's very doable. $2,600 a month times 12 is $31,200. That's like a 40K+/yr salary after taxes. He won't be living the posh life, but he should be completely fine.
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Old 05-04-2010, 05:46 PM
 
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Default oh boy!

Haha I wish I had had $2,600 a month to live on in college!

I'm not sure where the college is, but a good all-around bet for a place to live is Somerville. I lived there for years and never paid more than $550/month in rent (I lived with roommates).

Also, I find that the high cost of living thing means a lot to people from the Midwest or South, but for anyone else in BosWash it's pretty much, well, a wash.
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Old 05-05-2010, 08:33 AM
 
Location: Providence, RI
12,659 posts, read 21,804,358 times
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Easily. I mean EASILY. Even if he pays $1,000/mo for a room/utilities in an apartment in Boston (with roomates, of course), that leaves $1600 for food, misc. expenses and fun. He could probably do it on HALF of that. Of course, I'm assuming he won't have a car (and he shouldn't, it's pointless for a student in Boston... it'll just be an expensive hassle).

Last edited by lrfox; 05-05-2010 at 09:09 AM..
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Old 05-05-2010, 08:49 AM
 
Location: NoVa
26 posts, read 95,500 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lrfox View Post
Easily. I mean EASILY.
+1

I think part of the fun of off campus student housing in Boston is roughing it a bit (the suburb between BU and BC is often referred to as the student slums of Allston)--nothing posh, apartments falling apart a little bit, not a lot of space, but lots of fun, and first taste of independence, responsibility and managing a budget. I'm not sure about the school's advice to not work--I think working a part-time job can be a good experience.

In any event, the budget you have in mind should keep him quite comfortable.

Oh, and agree 100%--no need to drive if he is anywhere near the T.
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Old 05-05-2010, 08:55 AM
 
7,235 posts, read 7,010,210 times
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I think someone asking if a college student will be okay on only $40K a year is part of the reason there is a fair amount of disdain for the college kids in this city.
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Old 05-05-2010, 12:13 PM
 
Location: a bar
2,712 posts, read 6,082,243 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne View Post
I think someone asking if a college student will be okay on only $40K a year is part of the reason there is a fair amount of disdain for the college kids in this city.
Yes. HA!
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