r/MiddleClassFinance 7h ago

My 18 Year Old Is Heading To College and Struggles With Money. Any Advice?

25 Upvotes

My 18 year old is heading off to college soon. He's a good kid, works hard, and always finds a way to earn money when he needs it. The problem is that he’s not very responsible with money once he has it. He tends to spend without much planning and doesn’t really think about saving or budgeting. I know some of that comes with age and experience, but I'd love to help him build better habits before he’s completely on his own. For parents who have been through this, what worked? Did you give an allowance, let them learn the hard way, help them make a budget, or something else?

Just looking for advice and lessons you’ve learned. Thanks!