Budgeting dollars to send monthly

[chicagagirl2511]

Hello again to all. I bet many of you are looking forward to this long weekend. I know I am. So my questions is "How much money is a good amount to set aside for your L/O monthly?" He is in Pontiac and has an extensive friend network that is willing to help him out. I will be the one getting the funds and sending. I would like to tell his friends about how much he would need to do a little more than just survive. I am not talking The Ritz but in your opinion "how much is reasonable?"

 

[freya]

Hi! Things behind bars are expensive to be sure, but don't send more than you can afford. It hurts you both in the long run. My guy keeps food stuff for everyday and a special box for lockdown. I send what I can every two weeks to keep his food up and write outs. With winter coming I will be sending extra for warm things such as long underwear.

[rottiemama2003]

  Find out what he would like to purchases and look at the commissary list here and that way you budget... but don't forget the co-pay for healthcare is going up.. and also if some one sends him a package and not enough postage. Hope that helps... I like that Ritz  

[Dazzler]

I sent my inmate $300 every month...occasionally $400 if he wanted something special.  Now that sounds like a lot of money but it was at a time when they were able to purchase cigarettes...every week he smoked a carton that was $45.   So it left him $30 a week for all his other essentials and food.  We wrote a lot so he bought a lot of write-outs and he loved his coffee.  He lived okay...he was able to buy a television, fan, stereo, lamp, electric razor, hotpot...all the conveniences of home...LOL.  he bought warm clothing cause he lifted weights outside and he had nice gym shoes...LOL...very important inside...to have nice gym shoes...   Send what you can afford....if he were inside now he'd get about $100 or $120 a month...no need for cigarette money...

[LSlater0227]

Thanks for the summary Dazz!  That can give a good idea of what is logical.  Between the phone and money on the books, I was spending WAY more than that when D was in the county over the past 7 months.  Not to mention the attorney fees that kept him from being gone longer.

[Dazzler]

I figured he got enough because he had his state pay sent to Feed the Children....LOL...

[jdmlt]

After the getting him settled into his new place $300...tv, hot pot, etc. I sent $100 a month. He uses his birthday/christmas $ to buy his winter/summer clothes and those all important nice gym shoes.

[rottiemama2003]

Please make sure he has money for a fan in the summer. Start planning for that, they can have a shortage.

[jdmlt]

I was told that some prisons don't have fans until certain months of the year. When they open the market up for fans they go fast. So if his prison is one of those tell him to make sure he keeps $ on the books for it and not have to wait for you to send him $ for it.

[rottiemama2003]

They don't that is why I said that so he will not be on a waiting list for a fan like alot was this hot year. IDOC in the summer without a fan. Grumpy man

[jdmlt]

Please make sure he has money for a fan in the summer. Start planning for that, they can have a shortage.

They don't that is why I said that so he will not be on a waiting list for a fan like alot was this hot year. IDOC in the summer without a fan. Grumpy man

I must of misunderstood, I read there can be a shortage. I didn't understand it, as they are not able to buy a fan year round.

[tbgirl]

I sent about $600 the first month he got shipped out for the basic startup stuff like tv, underwear, gym shoes, etc. and then $100/month...he doesnt complain, so I assume it's enough.

[Ira]

I sent him $500 when he got there first to buy all the big things like TV, hotpot, gym shoes, some warm clothes (it was October)... It lasted him for a month - a month and a half. Now I send him $150 a month.