Youth Indicators, 2005: Trends in the Well-Being of American Youth - Indicator 38: Spending Patterns of High School Seniors

Indicator 38: Spending Patterns of High School Seniors

Figure 38. Percentage of employed high school seniors spending “most” or “all or almost all” of their earnings on selected activities or expenses, by race and college plans: 2001

Percentage of employed high school seniors spending “most” or “all or almost all” of their earnings on selected activities or expenses, by race and college plans: 2001

NOTE: Portions of earnings spent were defined as follows: a little (1-20%), some (21-40%), about half (41-60%), most (61- 80%), and almost all (81-99%). The response rate for this survey does not meet NCES statistical standards.
SOURCE: University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research, Monitoring the Future, 2001.

In 2001, 41 percent of working high school seniors said that they spent 'most' or 'all or almost all' of their earnings on personal items such as clothing, records, and recreation. Black students contributed a greater percentage of their earnings to meet family expenses than did White students; higher percentages of Black students reported spending 'some', 'about half', and 'all or almost all' of their earnings on family expenses. Nine percent of the working high school seniors planning to attend a 4-year college were saving 'most' or 'all or almost all' of their money for education.

View Table