Do you intend to pay for LO's college?

sweettooth87 · November 2013

Jalee85 · November 2013

I voted for partially. I want to help S much as I am able too. However, it's so expensive I doubt we can pay for all of it.

PharmDMom · November 2013

DH and I are split on this. His parents paid for all of his schooling so he thinks we should do the same. I went to a six year doctoral program at a private school and so my parents could only pay for part of (read: not much) my school. I don't think it's bad that the child pick up some of the tab for education but agree that we should save for it to help them out.

sweettooth87 · November 2013

I voted yes. My parents paid for mine and my brother's, and part of the deal was that I'd pay for my children. My view is that it's easier for me to save for their college expenses (I've got 18 years to do it!) than for them to pay student loans when they're just starting out in the real world. I understand for a lot of people it's just not financially possible, however.

I went to the University of Miami and while it would be fun for my children to go to my alma mater, that place is way too overpriced for me to encourage them to attend. I'll be hoping for scholarships and the desire to go to a state school

. Whatever savings is left over will probably go towards and epic family vacation and then money for them to start their life (downpayment on house, etc).

ETA: I have no intention of paying past their undergrad degree. They're on their own for the rest! I'm also not paying for them to get shitty grades and have to drop classes.

shelley1002 · November 2013

I voted SS. Unless rules change in the next 18 years DH's GI Bill will cover 4 years for each of our boys.

asilwhite · November 2013

I said SS because we'll put aside $$ to pay but MH's grandfather has also set aside $$ to help with college so we won't be paying in full, but college will be fully paid for with his generous gift.

Although we'll see if that's enough because college is uber expensive if you don't go to a state school and only getting more so, so it depends on where he wants to go to school.

It's insane how expensive higher education is!!!

babygiantquest · November 2013

Where's the, "Oh God, oh God, I seriously can't even think about this right now" option?

BlessUrHeart29 · November 2013

I voted "partially." We'll definitely open a savings account for him and save what we can. It would be awesome if we could pay for it all, and we definitely will if we can, but I don't anticipate being able to do that. I'd love for him not to be bogged down by student loans like DH and I are.

Skyjewell23 · November 2013

I intend to pay for their housing, food, car, gas etc. through college like my parents did. I believe that college is a full time job and I don't want DS working while he is in college. Of course, if he is taking advantage of the situation and not pulling good grades we will reevaluate the situation.

His actual college tuition will student loans mostly.

apritchett50 · November 2013

babygiantquest said:
Where's the, "Oh God, oh God, I seriously can't even think about this right now" option?

This!

SuperSecretStatus · November 2013

I voted "partially", but that will be if we're able to save anything. We live check to check and still barely make it month to month. If nothing else, I plan to help both girls with as many scholarship apps as possible.

jennlin · November 2013

Fully for anything in-state, no dorms. We're currently saving $5k a year for each kid in Washington state GET program..think we're gonna keep it up for about 10yrs each.

JuneBug86 · November 2013

We are starting a savings account that they can use for schooling if they wish, but if our boys follow what most of the men in our family do, they won't be going to college. Chances are, they will likely join the RCMP or military. In that case, they can spend the money on something else (wedding, down payment on a house, etc).

pmarie33 · November 2013

We've already got a good college fund for DD setup. DS's paperwork was just mailed to us since his SSC finally came. His will start next week.

yesthisiskim0401 · November 2013

SS:

We are opening a savings account for each girl and depositing what we can (and so are my parents) for them to use as they please, whether it be for a car, a house, their wedding, or college.

Ulinemm · November 2013

I voted No Way. Both my husband and I had to pay our own way for college and we felt by doing that it forced us to take our education more seriously and taught us responsibility (the importance of having a job, paying bills, and budgeting) than if it was paid for by our parents or grandparents. I know this isn't how it is for everyone and many people get help by having family pay for part or all and take school very seriously, but for me I needed to have a cost on my education to put value on it.

Of course if it got to the point that our child would have to drop out of school due to financial reasons, we would help support our child in whatever ways we could so that he could continue with his education.

kimbo1216 · November 2013

I definitely want to pay. I don't come from a rich family by any means. But paying for school was not something my parents wanted me to worry about. I got a lot of help via grants and scholarships. But my patents paid for the rest.

Now grad school is another story.

chelseyestelle · November 2013

My husband and I both paid for our schooling but we also received generous scholarships and grants every year. We want to reward our children so this is our deal.

If they can get a full ride scholarship anywhere we will buy them a new car for high school graduation. My husbands best friends family did this for their children and all 5 of their kids got a full ride somewhere. Sounds like a win to me!

New car and school is paid for. I'd be all for it.

mancila60 · November 2013

I said partially. My parents paid for books and I had grants and scholarships for my actual tution. Once I lost my funding my parents paid for part of it and I paid the rest. However the college I went to was local and they did payment plans. So once a month a payment was made which ended up making things seem less expensive.

We are hoping LO will do the same with grants and scholarships and then hopefully we can afford to help with the rest. However the minute grades suffer and my money starts going to waste then they will have to find their own funding.

knottied2a666e3e38a2a87 · November 2013

Ulinemm said:

I voted No Way. Both my husband and I had to pay our own way for college and we felt by doing that it forced us to take our education more seriously and taught us responsibility (the importance of having a job, paying bills, and budgeting) than if it was paid for by our parents or grandparents. I know this isn't how it is for everyone and many people get help by having family pay for part or all and take school very seriously, but for me I needed to have a cost on my education to put value on it.

Of course if it got to the point that our child would have to drop out of school due to financial reasons, we would help support our child in whatever ways we could so that he could continue with his education.

I agree. I worked through college and law school, and resented people who didn't have to. Too many of my friends messed around major-hopping or never finished because they weren't the ones paying. I had big scholarships that I worked hard to get, and have plenty of loans, too. I just don't think college (especially undergrad) should be a full-time job for anyone. If my kid is sincerely struggling academically because they can't balance it, I'll be glad to help somehow.

MammaWolf7 · November 2013

We have already started putting money aside for him. Hopefully by the time he goes to college the cost won't be ridiculous

ksimo6 · November 2013

We are establishing a 529 account now. We will contribute to it monthly and ask relatives to put money there in lieu of large gifts (we do this already for our nieces and nephews). Whatever is there is what she gets.

That said, my parents have set up wedding/first home funds for all of their grandchildren so I don't feel the least bit bad about my child's potential need for a few student loans.

ballygirl · November 2013

I've already opened 529 c accounts for the girls and I have a savings plan that should allow us to fully pay for an in state public university. If they want something fancier, they'll have to pay for that.

kdjudd · November 2013

It depends on if my daughters want to go to college or not.

SnoopyLuv · November 2013

Both girls have sizeable 529s due to my dad's passing. We were and continue to put $100/mo eachinto them. Dh works for the state university system so they'll have free tuition at his school (which is the best one in the state) and reduced at the others. If they decide on other schools, the difference will be on them.

Houseplant · November 2013

My mom paid for 90% of my undergrad, but I took out loans for the rest of undergrad and for my masters degree. DH's parents paid for all of his undergrad. He is now working on a masters degree, but his job is paying for that. Our consensus is that we will pay for undergrad but not for an advanced degree. Basically, we are "paying it forward".

CatieG · November 2013

Nope. We'll pay for housing and books plus a food allowance but the kids better have good grades and get scholarships! Or join the military. Better yet, go to Germany and get their degrees there. Both kids have dual citizenship (American/German) and are being raised bilingually so going to Europe to study is actually a very real possibility and SOOOO much cheaper since there are no tuition fees (administrative, yes, but not tuition if you're German).

CatieG · November 2013

Sorry, posted twice!

citygirl17 · November 2013

My parents paid for my college education in full and I want to pass that along to my daughter. Neither DH or I have any student loans so we are in a position to do so.

RedZee · November 2013

Dude ! Let me figure out daycare and kindergarten first !

Ideally, we will pay for undergrad and they will pay for grad school. (We have both spent as lot of time in grad school )

MissLauraPants · November 2013

Have set up a 529 already and he is richer than me and my bf already lol

andthatmakes4 · November 2013

I put partially but only because DH. And I don't agree on this. He wants to pay for it fully and I want to only help pay. I don't think we'll have the money to pay for it completely so it doesn't matter.

MangoMama82 · November 2013

My father paid for my BA, and I'm so grateful I don't have to worry about student loans. I get it if living paycheck to paycheck is preventing you from saving right now, but if you can afford to set a little something aside, why wouldn't you? Debt and loans equal being a prisoner, if you have the means I feel like you should set your kid up for freedom

EmJ&B · November 2013

We have a 529 set up for him. I had a full ride for undergrad but law school loans are killing me now. Don't want DS to deal with that

vvg28 · November 2013

Idealistically, he will do well in school and get scholarships like him Momma.

But, if not, if he does his part and works hard in school, we will pay for it. Now, I am not one to force college on him, though. If it looks like he would enjoy a trade better, I plan on encouraging him to go to a trade school (mechanic, electrician, etc). I graduated with sooo many kids that wasted time and money going to college only to end up not even using their degree. Not everyone is meant for college. Doesn't mean they aren't intelligent, just means its not their thing. Like my husband, he is super smart, but hated school. He was much happier working with his hands. He got a welding degree out of high school.

mrambo3 · November 2013

We've set up 529 and mutual fund accounts for both kids. We will continue to save as much as possible. Depending on our situation when they go to college, we will either pay their schooling or partially pay. DH had his entire college paid for while I paid probably 90% of my college education. While I understand the meaning of them helping and paying for part of their education, I will not let them stress about it. I worked 2 jobs throughout college and feel like I missed out on doing a lot of things because of it.

megs1409 · November 2013

DH and I aren't completely in agreement on this. He didn't go to college. I went to undergrad and law school. My parents "helped" me pay for a portion of undergrad in that they had me take out the federal student loans each year and then they paid the rest after my scholarships, etc. I paid for all of law school. I think the responsibility of having an obligation to pay for your schooling makes you more serious about it. We are setting up 529 plans for our LO and my SD, but we will not be providing a "full ride."

norbert5 · November 2013

We will do what we can but DH and I are prioritizing our retirement over us paying for the girls education in full.

LetsGoToDisney · November 2013

ksimo6 said:

We are establishing a 529 account now. We will contribute to it monthly and ask relatives to put money there in lieu of large gifts (we do this already for our nieces and nephews). Whatever is there is what she gets.

We did this too. The grands, great grands and great-great grands wanted to contribute to her education. So we started the college savings plan and will give her as much help in that area as we are able.

ajjf1026 · November 2013

I put undecided because my husband and I can't rly agree on what we want to do. I want to pay for it fully, DH says that's not going to happen. I would like to pay for undergrad and then have DS pay for anything above & beyond.

Want a personalized experience?

Do you intend to pay for LO's college?

Do you intend to pay for LO's college? 249 votes

Re: Do you intend to pay for LO's college?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards