Thoughts after first summer on a 400 after moving up from a 340

Stee6043 said:
Yeah......hmmmm....college is a hotly debated topic within my social circle(s). I would say two thirds of the folks I live/work with are not planning to fully pay for their kids college. It's just not realistic for many/most, particularly in lower cost of living locations.

Another perspective - if I could choose to save now to 100% cover all of my kids college or choose to spend now on a decent sized boat, slippage, fuel and every summer weekend family time while the kids still like hanging around...well now we have a decision to make. :)
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My Dad didn't pay for all of my college. It was frustrating and confusing at the time. I wish I he had given me a heads-up, but that's where my resentment stops. I was raised on boats after all! He died this spring. Too soon, and with no fortune to pass on, but I wouldn't trade a big inheritance for my great childhood. For most of my formative years, I thought we were rich. Just typing that makes me grin.
 
Stee6043 said:
Yeah......hmmmm....college is a hotly debated topic within my social circle(s). I would say two thirds of the folks I live/work with are not planning to fully pay for their kids college. It's just not realistic for many/most, particularly in lower cost of living locations.

Another perspective - if I could choose to save now to 100% cover all of my kids college or choose to spend now on a decent sized boat, slippage, fuel and every summer weekend family time while the kids still like hanging around...well now we have a decision to make. :)
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We were older and more established when we had the kids. That made saving for college a bit easier.
The ride is over when they graduate. If they decide to go to graduate school it will be in them. They understand that.
Our state schools aren’t cheap either, and they will only be getting more expensive over the next few years. Our governor decided to buy votes by promising free tuition to families below a certain income level. Since I didn’t read anything about faculty agreeing to volunteer their time to teach those kids I guess the rest of the population over that income level will have to pay more for their kids to get educated in order to cover the kids getting it for free.
 
RollerCoastr said:
My Dad didn't pay for all of my college. It was frustrating and confusing at the time. I wish I he had given me a heads-up, but that's where my resentment stops. I was raised on boats after all! He died this spring. Too soon, and with no fortune to pass on, but I wouldn't trade a big inheritance for my great childhood. For most of my formative years, I thought we were rich. Just typing that makes me grin.
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As the oldest of 7 growing up in a rental apartment, there were no illusions of wealth in our household. Going to college after High School wasn’t an option. It was either full time employment or the service. I chose the USN. I got my degree in bits and pieces as an adult while working full time and going to school part time over a number of years. Lots of stops and restarts due to work schedules. I paid for school while paying to keep a roof over my head and all of life’s other expenses.
It kind of sucked at times, but I wouldn’t have traded any of it.
Overall, I had a blast.
 
JVM225 said:
As the oldest of 7 growing up in a rental apartment, there were no illusions of wealth in our household. Going to college after High School wasn’t an option. It was either full time employment or the service. I chose the USN. I got my degree in bits and pieces as an adult while working full time and going to school part time over a number of years. Lots of stops and restarts due to work schedules. I paid for school while paying to keep a roof over my head and all of life’s other expenses.
It kind of sucked at times, but I wouldn’t have traded any of it.
Overall, I had a blast.
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What is very cool here on CSR is this story is the norm, trust fund babies don't seem to hang around here.

MM
 
LOL. I'm definitely not that. About 14 years ago, I let my life pretty well fall apart back in Salt Lake City. Left there with what could fit into my 5.0 Mustang hatch, my dog and cat, and rumbled my way back to western NY to be with family and friends. Had $240 to my name when I left, made one stop in Denver to see an old friend. Left there, drove straight through to Rochester, remember getting off the Thruway with $7 left in my pocket, and a half tank of gas. Lived with my folks for about 6 months, and put my life together from there.
 
bracketracer said:
LOL. I'm definitely not that. About 14 years ago, I let my life pretty well fall apart back in Salt Lake City. Left there with what could fit into my 5.0 Mustang hatch, my dog and cat, and rumbled my way back to western NY to be with family and friends. Had $240 to my name when I left, made one stop in Denver to see an old friend. Left there, drove straight through to Rochester, remember getting off the Thruway with $7 left in my pocket, and a half tank of gas. Lived with my folks for about 6 months, and put my life together from there.
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These stories are great.

MM
 
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This thread has wandered off topic but what the heck. My two cents is, a debt free college education is one of the best gifts a parent can give a child, with a few stipulations. Major must be legitimate as we defined it. No gender studies and other BS majors. We pay for Bs or better. You graduate in four years or the next semester is on you. Grad school is on you not us. We were more hard nosed than most of our friends about the rules. Both kids took care of our yard doing pretty much all the mowing and trimming. We did the Fall cleanups as a family. The kids turned out OK. One is CEO of a public software company, and the other is self employed in the software industry and doing well. Grandkids are good students in high school. The youngest son told me this year that the yard work taught both of them how to work and helped to establish their work ethics. I understand there is some luck involved in raising children, but it also seemed like the harder they worked, the luckier they became.
 
Blkbird said:
Try having a son and then losing him. My son was killed six months ago and I'd give anything to have him back. Boats are nice toys but my son was everything in the world to me.


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Blkbird, I'm so sorry for your loss. God Bless you and your family. I cannot imagine your pain. I was only making jokes about my two girls. I would give away everything I own for them and could not imagine life without them. Again so so sorry for your loss. I have tears in my eyes for you. Stay strong....
 
sbw1 said:
View attachment 62229 This thread has wandered off topic but what the heck. My two cents is, a debt free college education is one of the best gifts a parent can give a child, with a few stipulations. Major must be legitimate as we defined it. No gender studies and other BS majors. We pay for Bs or better. You graduate in four years or the next semester is on you. Grad school is on you not us. We were more hard nosed than most of our friends about the rules. Both kids took care of our yard doing pretty much all the mowing and trimming. We did the Fall cleanups as a family. The kids turned out OK. One is CEO of a public software company, and the other is self employed in the software industry and doing well. Grandkids are good students in high school. The youngest son told me this year that the yard work taught both of them how to work and helped to establish their work ethics. I understand there is some luck involved in raising children, but it also seemed like the harder they worked, the luckier they became.
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Sounds like we’re from the same old school. Those are pretty much the rules for our kids.
We stressed academic success all through elementary, middle, and high school. Aside from typical extracurricular stuff, they were expected to have paying part time jobs while in high school and put 50% of what they make in the bank. I provide them with reliable older cars, pay the insurance, repair them etc. until they finish college.
In return they pay for the gas they use. They’re expected to earn money during school breaks to have pocket money (dad doesn’t pay for Starbucks) during school semesters. If they don’t get the needed grade in a course, they owe me the money for it. If they need a day over the typical 8 semesters to finish school for any reason, then it’s on them.
They both have credit cards jointly with me. I don’t believe in credit card debt so the day the bill is due it gets paid in full. They’re responsible for anything on the bill not directly related to education.
If they play their cards right they’ll both graduate 100% debt free with enough savings to get a bit of a head start.
What they do with that opportunity is on them.
 
sbw1 said:
View attachment 62229 This thread has wandered off topic but what the heck. My two cents is, a debt free college education is one of the best gifts a parent can give a child, with a few stipulations. Major must be legitimate as we defined it. No gender studies and other BS majors. We pay for Bs or better. You graduate in four years or the next semester is on you. Grad school is on you not us. We were more hard nosed than most of our friends about the rules. Both kids took care of our yard doing pretty much all the mowing and trimming. We did the Fall cleanups as a family. The kids turned out OK. One is CEO of a public software company, and the other is self employed in the software industry and doing well. Grandkids are good students in high school. The youngest son told me this year that the yard work taught both of them how to work and helped to establish their work ethics. I understand there is some luck involved in raising children, but it also seemed like the harder they worked, the luckier they became.
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I need to introduce my kids to a rake...
 
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