https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:03:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college/page/2#post-1227387 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 14:46:45 +0000 Honeybee 1227387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'll pay for the kids' tuition but not living expenses. For one, that will make our savings stretch further. For another, I believe our kids should contribute to their own educations, and living expenses will (likely) be the lower cost in attending college, especially if they chose to attend one of the local universities and live at home for free. Otherwise, they can seek out scholarships or work to pay their bills. If they wanted to take out loans to pay for their expenses, we would maybe reconsider, though, since we don't want our kids to have to accumulate debt for their educations.</p> <p>In our situation, my kids' education will be a joint family effort (both sets of grandparents and my kids' godmother have savings for them ), for which we are very grateful.</p> <p>ETA: My husband and I both worked full-time in college, and I feel like both of us benefited from those experiences. I am ok with my kids struggling a little bit in order to achieve their goals; I wouldn't want them to struggle as much as I did, though, which is why we'll be contributing a significant amount. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college/page/2#post-1227378 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 14:44:56 +0000 HLK208 1227378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'll help but def. not paying for all of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college/page/2#post-1227361 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 14:40:28 +0000 Sapphiresun 1227361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We plan on helping, but not paying everything. Perhaps some may even be an interest free loan like DH's parents did with him. I paid my own way through university and it was hard, and my GPA definitely suffered since I also needed to work full time and took on significant loans. I think having a part time job in university is a good thing, but would like her to work less than I did.</p> <p>We won't compromise our own retirement to pay for it, but would like to help as much as we can while meeting our own financial goals. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college/page/2#post-1227338 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 14:34:56 +0000 prettylizy 1227338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I want our kids to have part time jobs in high school and learn to save up for things (like an education) but we plan to top them up as much as possible to avoid having to take out loans. DH and I both had modest student loans but we were able to pay them off within 5 years thanks to our parents help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college/page/2#post-1227260 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 14:18:21 +0000 Ginabean3 1227260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, we will pay for all of it. Lucky LO also has a fund set up by her grandparents which will help. My parents paid for all of my college/grad school and SO's parents paid all but $10k/year and made him take out loans to learn financial responsibility. It worked out well, especially since he went to jr. college for the first two years (way cheap) and then a private university. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college/page/2#post-1227224 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 14:09:49 +0000 hummusgirl 1227224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'll pay for part of it. My parents paid for all (tuition, fees, living expenses) and while I GREATLY appreciated it, I do think I took it for granted. I think I'd want to pay for LO's room and board, and some or most of his tuition, but have him pay some as well. It's harder to skip class when you personally write a check for the privilege of attending. </p> <p>I agree with @Mrs. Jacks that we might not even qualify for loans, and I wouldn't want LO to get screwed over because we didn't save. We can't count on the continued availability of the huge student loans of the past decade (nor should we since I think it's completely unsustainable but that's for another discussion!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1227214 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 14:05:50 +0000 blackbird 1227214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will be helping out with college (to an extent...i'm not paying for some fluffy useless degree where they just end up living in our basement like my coworkers' kids...) but never at the risk of our retirement funds. We funnel money into that as a priority. I don't expect to necessarily be able to cut a check for all of our LO's college expenses (DH is against funding it 100% anyways) but we will offset what we can. We will also encourage other options, like military service (and the money can go into a trust or house fund for them down the road) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1227206 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 14:04:50 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 1227206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We plan to pay for all schooling. We're in a position where we can, for hopefully up to 4 kids. If they all decide to be doctors though, we might have to get them to chip in! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1227189 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 14:00:02 +0000 Smurfette 1227189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Part of it for sure and if we cam afford it,. then all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1227185 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:59:26 +0000 Maysprout 1227185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have started saving for college but they might not be able to go to the most expensive college and I don't plan on saving for that.</p> <p>They have dual citizenship so going to college in Europe is a possibility. They could go to University where my husband or I work or one of the associated schools where they get a discount. Or both DH and I were DI athletes so I'm expecting athletic scholarships :wink: . </p> <p>I'm hoping that they choose one of the ways to discount college so they can used the money saved for other things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1227160 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:52:59 +0000 deerylou 1227160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will save and help as much as we are financially able. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1227152 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:52:12 +0000 hilsy85 1227152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hopefully all of it. I wouldn't want him to feel hindered in his choices, nor do I want him dealing with major debt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1227132 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:47:52 +0000 yin 1227132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will save for LO's college but know that it may not be possible for us to pay the entire bill. I'm hoping that they will get into the university right down the road, which will save us a lot with in state tuition. Both DH and I attended the university to save our parent's money as well. Since we live 25 minutes walking distance away from campus (or just minutes driving), it would also be nice if they lived at home. I can't predict what they decide to do in the future or which colleges they may get into, but we will save money in line with them attending in state with no room and board. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1227116 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:44:17 +0000 mrsjyw 1227116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We definitely plan on paying for our LO's college and not at the risk of our retirement money. </p> <p>These two are completely separate financial line items in our budget that we save for accordingly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1227111 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:42:46 +0000 MamaMoose 1227111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: "I would never put my retirement money at risk. I need to save for both things and feel that I (personally) am not parenting to my fullest potential if I don't make a good faith effort to provide as much as I can for college." THIS exactly. In a much nicer way than I would have phrased it :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1227098 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:39:09 +0000 sarac 1227098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: This is exactly my reason to save for college. Yes, having to pay their own way (to an extent) teaches money and life skills, but it also greatly impacts their choices. </p> <p>My plan is this: I'm saving a fairly modest amount for her college education. Probably about enough to pay for in state tuition. If she wants our financial support, she'll have a few options. </p> <p>1. She can choose a degree or course of study that provides her with immediate job skills. Teacher, premed, paramedic, whatever. </p> <p>2. She can choose a degree that is real world useful (eg biology, film production) and do summer internships to get job experience to position her to be employable on graduation.</p> <p>3. She can choose to study whatever random thing (art history, opera performance), on the condition that she goes to the local community college for a few terms and gets a license in phlebotomy or ultrasound tech or whatever. Something that could support her while she pursued her dream. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1226997 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:06:59 +0000 kiddosc 1226997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd to help pay for part of their college tuition, but will not pay all, even if we were capable of doing so. I think that trying to secure scholarships, saving money from part time work, and even taking out some student loans are all good lessons. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1226993 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:04:51 +0000 NovBaby1112 1226993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will help out as much as we can, but I know there will be no way to fully fund all our children to go to college. I am hoping they inherit my DH's brains and my athletic skills and get some sort of academic or athletic scholarships, lol. But we will see! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1226992 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:04:28 +0000 mrsjazz 1226992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As much as we can. I have a lot of student loan debt and do not want LO to be saddled with this type of financial burden when she's just starting out as an adult. DH went to college for free (his Dad worked at the university) and paid for graduate school himself, we are both on the same page about wanting to provide for her education. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1226983 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:01:48 +0000 ILoveLettie 1226983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We plan to pay for our daughter's college or secondary training (and if we decide to have any future children, we would pay for their school too) as long as she gets good grades throughout high school and applies for as many scholarships as possible, and maintains a high enough GPA throughout college to keep the scholarships she earns. This is what my parents did, and I really appreciate them paying for my school and the fact that I entered marriage debt-free--unlike my husband, whose mother would have paid for his college if she could but couldn't, so he has a lot of loans. He doesn't wish loans on our child either because he knows how stressful it has been for him. </p> <p>However, like @char54 said, they will be also expected to get summer jobs and, at least after their first year, on-campus employment to cover any spending money, "extras", and books. And after their four years of college, or their first technical program, there would be the expectation that they're on their own to finance graduate school (though, as long as we have the money, we will loan them some to help them get started, with the expectation it would be paid back--that's what my parents did for us, and my dad's dad did for him). There would also be the expectation that we won't be paying for a super-elaborate wedding, just something small and simple, and if they want anything bigger they can fund it themselves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1226971 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 12:59:20 +0000 LovelyPlum 1226971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As much as we're able, yes. My parents did, and I'm eternally grateful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1226968 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 12:58:50 +0000 lovehoneybee 1226968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'd like to help as much as we can. He's also very fortunate, because his grandparents and great-grandmother have set up college funds for him themselves (in addition to what we're doing), so if he chooses to attend college (and we hope he will, although we won't demand it) he'll be financially able, and if he doesn't he'll have the money available for other pursuits (which would hopefully be some sort of post-secondary education, if not a traditional college). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1226954 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 12:55:50 +0000 LuLu Mom 1226954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will help (we have a college savings account &amp; so does her grandparents) for her, but the rest will be on her to work hard for scholarships and she can cover the rest with loans. I would love for her not to have loans, so we will do what we can to avoid those, but it's all part of life in my opinion. </p> <p>We will also buy the first car (nothing new or fancy) and if they crash it they are on their own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1226950 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 12:54:54 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1226950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: We hope our girls choose the University I work at. If I could be assured of that, it would even make a 3rd child a possibility, but of course we can't guarantee it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1226941 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 12:53:32 +0000 looch 1226941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will contribute some, but not all. My son could also attend college in Europe, for little cost, which I hope he does! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1226932 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 12:51:32 +0000 theonewhere 1226932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I want to help with living expenses, especially for things like internships, but I want to encourage pursuing scholarships to cover tuition and factoring cost into school choice. </p> <p>SO wavers on what he'd want to do. </p> <p>We're both united on making sure that what we do for one, we can do for any others, or we won't do it at all. SIL #1 is pretty close in age and the ILs were helping her with some expenses at the exact same time they were telling SO he was on his own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1226905 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 12:46:03 +0000 Mae 1226905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think the option is retirement OR college. That is one of the reasons that we won't have a ton of kids. </p> <p>If we're able I would very much like to help with college. I certainly won't write a blank check. Both because I don't think we'll be able to afford to do that and also because I think having some financial responsibility for your own education helps to make a person more responsible. My parents covered living expenses while I paid for tuition and I still amassed 80k in student loan debt between undergrad and law school. I'd like to cover living expenses and maybe half of tuition if we're able. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1226904 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 12:45:43 +0000 Littlebit 1226904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We won't be. I'd like to help out, but we definitely won't be paying for it all. I don't think there's any way we could afford to pay for it all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1226888 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 12:41:16 +0000 Charm54 1226888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, if we are able, but we will expect them to have summer jobs to cover their spending money and also to take advantage of any scholarships available. </p> <p>It will also be clear that this is our major gift to them and not to expect lots of money for weddings, down payments etc. </p> <p>That's what both my parents and DHs parents did and I cant tell you what a huge gift it is to not have student loans. Way better than having a huge wedding.</p> <p>That being said university is much cheaper in Canada than the USA - we certainly wouldnt/couldnt afford some of the tuitions in the states! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-pay-for-lo-college#post-1226886 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 12:40:51 +0000 pinkcupcake 1226886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, as much as possible. Undergrad for sure, and hopefully grad school, too. My parents paid for my entire education - college, law school, living expenses - and I'm eternally grateful to them that I was able to pursue the education I wanted without having to worry about how to afford it. </p>