Costs and all that jazz.. how did you convince your parents?!

[LauGh A Lot]

thanks for all your wonderful advice! i just want to point out that i have no problem working.. i've been working since i was 14 and have beaucoup d'argent saved up to buy a new car, however.. i just want to take a break from working and really focus on school and having fun in college. i currently work at the marriott and will be transfering down to another marriott hotel in tallahassee where i will be working one day a week (hopefully sunday night) just to have a little spending money.

My mom's a friggin' immigrant. She didn't even know what a sorority was.

So I didn't convince her. I worked two part time jobs (three, at one point), went to school full time, and held office for a few semesters in my chapter.

[AGDee]

If your parents are pro-Greek, you could also ask that things like your badge, Initiation fee, or new member fee be your Christmas/Hanukkan present for that year. Or, buy a little less car with that savings and keep some set aside for sorority expenses!

[emleepc]

Payment plans are fabulous things, if your sorority does that. They can be a big help, even if you aren't strapped. You may have other expenses later on that you haven't thought of yet.....

My parents said I was on my own for sorority expenses, and it can be daunting at first. The trick is to pay on time, and not get behind. Budget what you have to pay each month and don't stry from that or you will find yourself in a heap of trouble....believe me, I had to find that out the hard way.

Good Luck to ya!!

[AChiOAlumna]

I paid for all my expenses myself. I worked part-time on campus to supplement my income. The only thing my parents paid for was my badge as an initiation gift.

[DaffyKD]

I joined KD many many moons ago. My parents paid all the expenses. They were going to pay for my dorm and meal plan when I let them know that I got a bid from KD and wanted to move into the house. Turned out they were saving about $75 a month paying for my room, board, dues and other expensed for the sorority over my living in the dorm.

Dad had been in a fraternity, but never talks about it. Mom was anti-greek until she met my sisters. Today, she goes to the largest philanthropy fundraising event our AA holds.

DaffyKD

[PiPhiGirl2005]

I also pay for my dues myself - then again, they've never been anywhere NEAR $2000. I would encourage you to get a job and start saving now, and maybe strike some sort of deal with your parents, i.e. you work to raise half, and they chip in the other half. Hopefully, you will be made away of your schedule of fees for each subsequent semester early enough to earn the money and discuss the fees with your parents.

[nauadpi]

My parent's wanted me to have the option of not working while I was in college, so they made a deal with me that if I kept my scholarship (which required a 3.5 gpa and loads of community service) they would pay my way... The other part of the deal was though that I had to keep a budget. So when it came to sorority dues that was included in my budget. I had to give them a breakdown of where everything was going... Then anything in addition to the budget (money to go out, shopping, etc) came out of the money I made during the summer... The key factor for my parents was showing them where the money was going, not just telling them it would be a certain amount...

Overall though, my parents were very willing to pay for sorority dues, because they saw how happy it made me... It also probably did help that my mom, my sister and my aunt were all in sororities...

[kddani]

Originally posted by LauGh A Lot
i just want to take a break from working and really focus on school and having fun in college.

As nice as that would be, for many/most people that's just not realistic. And if you have a new car, don't forget those lovely insurance premiums that go with it

You really should look into setting up a budget for yourself. You're also going to have travel expenses between OH and FL (I believe you said you were in OH). Moving all your stuff there is not going to be cheap, and going that far, living at home for the summer probably wouldn't save you much money b/c you'd either have to move everything back with you or pay for storage, which can be pricey.

Once you know where you're going for sure, sit down with your parents and have them help you make a budget. Living on your own, you'll have expenses you never even thought of before

[adpiucf]

Talk to your parents about recruitment and sorority life before you register. Find out their level of committment.

They may offer to help you pay for it and/or help you budget it. Run the numbers. You may have to take a parttime job or work in the summers to pay for your dues.

While it may be nice to want to take your college years to have fun and focus wholy on school and sorority, that may not be a reality. Also remember that there are other campus organizations you may become involved with at a lesser cost, and that going through recruitment isn't a guarantee you will end up joining a sorority. Keep your options open and talk to mom and dad now about your goals while you are a student.

[SeminoleMom14]

Hey LaughsALot -

My daughter is a freshman at FSU this year and a proud Sister of Delta Delta Delta. While she didn't have to convince me to pay for her sorority...I did have to convince myself a bit. I really wanted her to have the experience since I wasn't greek in college...but it does seem expensive when you first look at it. There's also a very wide range of fees between the sororities at FSU as well, from $900 - $2300 so it will really all depend on where you find a home.

Here's how I convinced myself -

My daughter lives in a dorm now that costs approx $2000 per semester and the average on-campus meal plan was around $1200 per semester...so room and board are $3200.

Her sorority fees were just under $1800 this semester but will be around $1500 next semester. TriDelt (as well as most if not all the FSU sororities I think) requires its members to eat at the house and these meals are included in her fees. So to me...because we didnt have to buy the school meal plan it saved me $1200 and her sorority only ended up "costing" me the difference...$600 this semester...next semester it will only be $300. She just loves their chef and is eating very well too!

On top of that, she plans to live in the house next year and rent will be approx $1000. Her meal plan will be a little more expensive because she'll be there for breakfast too but her total fees next year should be in the $2600 - $2800 range...making her room and board PLUS the sorority fees less than the $3200 we would be paying for her dorm and on-campus meal plan alone. So just tell your parents that you'll actually be saving them $$$ by being in a sorority

Honestly though, she is having such a great time and meeting so many people that the experience has really been priceless(to quote Visa) and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

[Lady Pi Phi]

I didn't know I wanted to rush. I just did. It was the winter semester of my third year. I paid for the dues myself. But my chapter's fees were never that high.

[KSUViolet06]

My mom is Greek, so she didn't need convincing. She paid her dues by herself in college and expected me to do the same. She chips in every once in awhile if I'm short, but I manage fine on my own.

[LauGh A Lot]

thanks so much seminolemom!! i actually did a budget plan to compare the difference. without being in a sorority all my costs for both semesters would be approx. $10,971.00 and being in a sorority it will approx. be $9,933.00.. so i think if i show my parents this they'll definately agree to pay since i'll actually be saving them money (approx. $1,038.00)

[SeminoleMom14]

You're welcome LAL!

Can't wait to read your rush thread in the fall...I got totally addicted to them when my daughter was going through rush(apparently still a little addicted since I keep checking in on GC every few weeks...even though I'm not greek!)

Good Luck with the parents....we can be a pain sometimes!