MS parents: How much have you saved for college (529, etc.)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a whole different ball game out there with respect to loans for tuition. For example, in the 1980's, tuition cost me less than $2,000 dollars a year at UVA. I was able to pay this with some assistance from my parents, summer jobs, and by working 10 to 15 hours a week. Now, tuition is over $13,000. A student would have to work about 60 hours a week at minimum wage to cover tuition, let alone room, board, and incidentals.

That’s why you take out loans while you are in school and not making much money. You repay them when you have a FT job. Do you understand that this is what the majority of college students do? People have enough trouble paying their bills let alone have extra money to put aside for college.

Props to everyone who has saved so much...it is a very hard thing to do these days!
For us and many others we know, our health care, housing, and own retirement savings eats up so much of our budget. It is harder & harder to save.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a whole different ball game out there with respect to loans for tuition. For example, in the 1980's, tuition cost me less than $2,000 dollars a year at UVA. I was able to pay this with some assistance from my parents, summer jobs, and by working 10 to 15 hours a week. Now, tuition is over $13,000. A student would have to work about 60 hours a week at minimum wage to cover tuition, let alone room, board, and incidentals.

That’s why you take out loans while you are in school and not making much money. You repay them when you have a FT job. Do you understand that this is what the majority of college students do? People have enough trouble paying their bills let alone have extra money to put aside for college.

Props to everyone who has saved so much...it is a very hard thing to do these days!
For us and many others we know, our health care, housing, and own retirement savings eats up so much of our budget. It is harder & harder to save.

Its not hard if you make it a priority. If your priority is to live in a big or nice house and lots of retirement, then its hard to save. If you live like some of us in small homes and don't do a lot of vacations or extras (and yes we save for retirement/max out what we can), its not that hard to put $10K away if you make $150-200K or more a year. We comfortably do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a whole different ball game out there with respect to loans for tuition. For example, in the 1980's, tuition cost me less than $2,000 dollars a year at UVA. I was able to pay this with some assistance from my parents, summer jobs, and by working 10 to 15 hours a week. Now, tuition is over $13,000. A student would have to work about 60 hours a week at minimum wage to cover tuition, let alone room, board, and incidentals.

That’s why you take out loans while you are in school and not making much money. You repay them when you have a FT job. Do you understand that this is what the majority of college students do? People have enough trouble paying their bills let alone have extra money to put aside for college.

Props to everyone who has saved so much...it is a very hard thing to do these days!
For us and many others we know, our health care, housing, and own retirement savings eats up so much of our budget. It is harder & harder to save.

Its not hard if you make it a priority. If your priority is to live in a big or nice house and lots of retirement, then its hard to save. If you live like some of us in small homes and don't do a lot of vacations or extras (and yes we save for retirement/max out what we can), its not that hard to put $10K away if you make $150-200K or more a year. We comfortably do it.

That’s what I would expect people who actually make a lot of money to say. If only people barely getting by made college savings more of a priority... I rent an apartment and I will never, ever make enough money to buy my own property. I make around $55K as a single parent. No amount of prioritizing will allow me to save money for college. Some months I have to choose which bill not to pay. I am glad you are comfortable on your income. I would be too since it is three to four times my own. You do realize people make MUCH less than you do, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a whole different ball game out there with respect to loans for tuition. For example, in the 1980's, tuition cost me less than $2,000 dollars a year at UVA. I was able to pay this with some assistance from my parents, summer jobs, and by working 10 to 15 hours a week. Now, tuition is over $13,000. A student would have to work about 60 hours a week at minimum wage to cover tuition, let alone room, board, and incidentals.

That’s why you take out loans while you are in school and not making much money. You repay them when you have a FT job. Do you understand that this is what the majority of college students do? People have enough trouble paying their bills let alone have extra money to put aside for college.

Props to everyone who has saved so much...it is a very hard thing to do these days!
For us and many others we know, our health care, housing, and own retirement savings eats up so much of our budget. It is harder & harder to save.

Its not hard if you make it a priority. If your priority is to live in a big or nice house and lots of retirement, then its hard to save. If you live like some of us in small homes and don't do a lot of vacations or extras (and yes we save for retirement/max out what we can), its not that hard to put $10K away if you make $150-200K or more a year. We comfortably do it.

Oh, to be so sheltered as to say something like this and truly believe that all there is to saving for college is living in a small house and not taking fancy vacations. I can only imagine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a whole different ball game out there with respect to loans for tuition. For example, in the 1980's, tuition cost me less than $2,000 dollars a year at UVA. I was able to pay this with some assistance from my parents, summer jobs, and by working 10 to 15 hours a week. Now, tuition is over $13,000. A student would have to work about 60 hours a week at minimum wage to cover tuition, let alone room, board, and incidentals.

That’s why you take out loans while you are in school and not making much money. You repay them when you have a FT job. Do you understand that this is what the majority of college students do? People have enough trouble paying their bills let alone have extra money to put aside for college.

Props to everyone who has saved so much...it is a very hard thing to do these days!
For us and many others we know, our health care, housing, and own retirement savings eats up so much of our budget. It is harder & harder to save.

Its not hard if you make it a priority. If your priority is to live in a big or nice house and lots of retirement, then its hard to save. If you live like some of us in small homes and don't do a lot of vacations or extras (and yes we save for retirement/max out what we can), its not that hard to put $10K away if you make $150-200K or more a year. We comfortably do it.

That’s what I would expect people who actually make a lot of money to say. If only people barely getting by made college savings more of a priority... I rent an apartment and I will never, ever make enough money to buy my own property. I make around $55K as a single parent. No amount of prioritizing will allow me to save money for college. Some months I have to choose which bill not to pay. I am glad you are comfortable on your income. I would be too since it is three to four times my own. You do realize people make MUCH less than you do, right?

Then, your child will qualify for aid. I don't work. I made less than you did with a masters degree so given child care costs for one were more than my take home it was an issue. You also realize that some, like my husband got his college degree later in life and only make a good income because he went back (thanks to the military) and got a degree in a well paying field. You can slam others for their choices but life is about choices and if someone has that much in income there is no excuse not to save. And, for all we know, you could be getting several thousand in child support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a whole different ball game out there with respect to loans for tuition. For example, in the 1980's, tuition cost me less than $2,000 dollars a year at UVA. I was able to pay this with some assistance from my parents, summer jobs, and by working 10 to 15 hours a week. Now, tuition is over $13,000. A student would have to work about 60 hours a week at minimum wage to cover tuition, let alone room, board, and incidentals.

That’s why you take out loans while you are in school and not making much money. You repay them when you have a FT job. Do you understand that this is what the majority of college students do? People have enough trouble paying their bills let alone have extra money to put aside for college.

Props to everyone who has saved so much...it is a very hard thing to do these days!
For us and many others we know, our health care, housing, and own retirement savings eats up so much of our budget. It is harder & harder to save.

Its not hard if you make it a priority. If your priority is to live in a big or nice house and lots of retirement, then its hard to save. If you live like some of us in small homes and don't do a lot of vacations or extras (and yes we save for retirement/max out what we can), its not that hard to put $10K away if you make $150-200K or more a year. We comfortably do it.

Oh, to be so sheltered as to say something like this and truly believe that all there is to saving for college is living in a small house and not taking fancy vacations. I can only imagine.

Its not sheltered at all. Its about choices. We could easily get a nicer house and new cars - hell, a car that started every time I turned it on would be nice but instead we put that money away. So, yes it can be easy for some if you choose life differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a whole different ball game out there with respect to loans for tuition. For example, in the 1980's, tuition cost me less than $2,000 dollars a year at UVA. I was able to pay this with some assistance from my parents, summer jobs, and by working 10 to 15 hours a week. Now, tuition is over $13,000. A student would have to work about 60 hours a week at minimum wage to cover tuition, let alone room, board, and incidentals.

That’s why you take out loans while you are in school and not making much money. You repay them when you have a FT job. Do you understand that this is what the majority of college students do? People have enough trouble paying their bills let alone have extra money to put aside for college.

Props to everyone who has saved so much...it is a very hard thing to do these days!
For us and many others we know, our health care, housing, and own retirement savings eats up so much of our budget. It is harder & harder to save.

Its not hard if you make it a priority. If your priority is to live in a big or nice house and lots of retirement, then its hard to save. If you live like some of us in small homes and don't do a lot of vacations or extras (and yes we save for retirement/max out what we can), its not that hard to put $10K away if you make $150-200K or more a year. We comfortably do it.

That’s what I would expect people who actually make a lot of money to say. If only people barely getting by made college savings more of a priority... I rent an apartment and I will never, ever make enough money to buy my own property. I make around $55K as a single parent. No amount of prioritizing will allow me to save money for college. Some months I have to choose which bill not to pay. I am glad you are comfortable on your income. I would be too since it is three to four times my own. You do realize people make MUCH less than you do, right?

Then, your child will qualify for aid. I don't work. I made less than you did with a masters degree so given child care costs for one were more than my take home it was an issue. You also realize that some, like my husband got his college degree later in life and only make a good income because he went back (thanks to the military) and got a degree in a well paying field. You can slam others for their choices but life is about choices and if someone has that much in income there is no excuse not to save. And, for all we know, you could be getting several thousand in child support.

I am supposed to get approximately $4K per year in CS but my ex rarely pays what he owes each month. I don’t have control over that. I would bet that most people making the kind of money you make does save for college. It not every makes that. Not even close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else a little nervous about trowing a lot of money into a 529 right now? I'm worried markets will plunge with some craziness from Trump. I've been putting money in a regular savings and bough chunks in Jan after the Dec dive (should have bought sooner! & wish I had put in more then). The market inflation worries me. Trump worries me. The effect of a transition (hopefully) to a Dem pres who enforces reasonable business regulations on the market worries me. Ahhhhhhhhhh!

It should worry you if there is a radical Dem president. If they are going for progressive reforms - the market will absolutely tank. Reasonable reforms, nobody has a problem with, progressive financial reforms and policies trying to achieve social justice - watch out.

I worry with reasonable reform because Trump has been so unbridled and anything goes when it comes to business, I am concerned that rational enforcement of epa, consumer based etc laws/statutes will affect the market. I keep hearing it's overvalued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a whole different ball game out there with respect to loans for tuition. For example, in the 1980's, tuition cost me less than $2,000 dollars a year at UVA. I was able to pay this with some assistance from my parents, summer jobs, and by working 10 to 15 hours a week. Now, tuition is over $13,000. A student would have to work about 60 hours a week at minimum wage to cover tuition, let alone room, board, and incidentals.

That’s why you take out loans while you are in school and not making much money. You repay them when you have a FT job. Do you understand that this is what the majority of college students do? People have enough trouble paying their bills let alone have extra money to put aside for college.

Props to everyone who has saved so much...it is a very hard thing to do these days!
For us and many others we know, our health care, housing, and own retirement savings eats up so much of our budget. It is harder & harder to save.

Its not hard if you make it a priority. If your priority is to live in a big or nice house and lots of retirement, then its hard to save. If you live like some of us in small homes and don't do a lot of vacations or extras (and yes we save for retirement/max out what we can), its not that hard to put $10K away if you make $150-200K or more a year. We comfortably do it.

That’s what I would expect people who actually make a lot of money to say. If only people barely getting by made college savings more of a priority... I rent an apartment and I will never, ever make enough money to buy my own property. I make around $55K as a single parent. No amount of prioritizing will allow me to save money for college. Some months I have to choose which bill not to pay. I am glad you are comfortable on your income. I would be too since it is three to four times my own. You do realize people make MUCH less than you do, right?

Then, your child will qualify for aid. I don't work. I made less than you did with a masters degree so given child care costs for one were more than my take home it was an issue. You also realize that some, like my husband got his college degree later in life and only make a good income because he went back (thanks to the military) and got a degree in a well paying field. You can slam others for their choices but life is about choices and if someone has that much in income there is no excuse not to save. And, for all we know, you could be getting several thousand in child support.

I am supposed to get approximately $4K per year in CS but my ex rarely pays what he owes each month. I don’t have control over that. I would bet that most people making the kind of money you make does save for college. It not every makes that. Not even close.

Sadly, most don't save and that is the issue. At your income you can get good financial aide, at our income its hit or miss depending on the school. So, you either save, your kid takes loans or they go military (I am fine with military after a degree but not before as my husband was enlisted and its a very different life). Most are instead buying $700-900K houses which is why the housing prices are insane and spending everything each month that we know. We could easily buy a bigger house at this point/past few years but I'd rather stay in ours and save for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a whole different ball game out there with respect to loans for tuition. For example, in the 1980's, tuition cost me less than $2,000 dollars a year at UVA. I was able to pay this with some assistance from my parents, summer jobs, and by working 10 to 15 hours a week. Now, tuition is over $13,000. A student would have to work about 60 hours a week at minimum wage to cover tuition, let alone room, board, and incidentals.

That’s why you take out loans while you are in school and not making much money. You repay them when you have a FT job. Do you understand that this is what the majority of college students do? People have enough trouble paying their bills let alone have extra money to put aside for college.

Props to everyone who has saved so much...it is a very hard thing to do these days!
For us and many others we know, our health care, housing, and own retirement savings eats up so much of our budget. It is harder & harder to save.

Its not hard if you make it a priority. If your priority is to live in a big or nice house and lots of retirement, then its hard to save. If you live like some of us in small homes and don't do a lot of vacations or extras (and yes we save for retirement/max out what we can), its not that hard to put $10K away if you make $150-200K or more a year. We comfortably do it.

That’s what I would expect people who actually make a lot of money to say. If only people barely getting by made college savings more of a priority... I rent an apartment and I will never, ever make enough money to buy my own property. I make around $55K as a single parent. No amount of prioritizing will allow me to save money for college. Some months I have to choose which bill not to pay. I am glad you are comfortable on your income. I would be too since it is three to four times my own. You do realize people make MUCH less than you do, right?

I would think you would qualify for a lot of financial aid. Your ability to pay will calculate very low unless your kid has a big account in his/her name or you have some hidden assets.

Those in much higher brackets will need to save because they will need to pay more. We all do what we can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else a little nervous about trowing a lot of money into a 529 right now? I'm worried markets will plunge with some craziness from Trump. I've been putting money in a regular savings and bough chunks in Jan after the Dec dive (should have bought sooner! & wish I had put in more then). The market inflation worries me. Trump worries me. The effect of a transition (hopefully) to a Dem pres who enforces reasonable business regulations on the market worries me. Ahhhhhhhhhh!

It should worry you if there is a radical Dem president. If they are going for progressive reforms - the market will absolutely tank. Reasonable reforms, nobody has a problem with, progressive financial reforms and policies trying to achieve social justice - watch out.

I worry with reasonable reform because Trump has been so unbridled and anything goes when it comes to business, I am concerned that rational enforcement of epa, consumer based etc laws/statutes will affect the market. I keep hearing it's overvalued.

I am not a Trump fan at all, to put it nicely but to blame Trump for everything, just like people blame every sitting president is a bit of a stretch. I am absolutely concerned with a 529 so we choose first to do a prepaid, and now 529 to guarantee we'd have at least 4 years at a state school. Years ago, when I went to college, maybe after, I remember families losing their entire savings including college so no way am I taking that chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else a little nervous about trowing a lot of money into a 529 right now? I'm worried markets will plunge with some craziness from Trump. I've been putting money in a regular savings and bough chunks in Jan after the Dec dive (should have bought sooner! & wish I had put in more then). The market inflation worries me. Trump worries me. The effect of a transition (hopefully) to a Dem pres who enforces reasonable business regulations on the market worries me. Ahhhhhhhhhh!

It should worry you if there is a radical Dem president. If they are going for progressive reforms - the market will absolutely tank. Reasonable reforms, nobody has a problem with, progressive financial reforms and policies trying to achieve social justice - watch out.

I worry with reasonable reform because Trump has been so unbridled and anything goes when it comes to business, I am concerned that rational enforcement of epa, consumer based etc laws/statutes will affect the market. I keep hearing it's overvalued.

I am not a Trump fan at all, to put it nicely but to blame Trump for everything, just like people blame every sitting president is a bit of a stretch. I am absolutely concerned with a 529 so we choose first to do a prepaid, and now 529 to guarantee we'd have at least 4 years at a state school. Years ago, when I went to college, maybe after, I remember families losing their entire savings including college so no way am I taking that chance.

I'm not blaming him for everything (though I honestly can't think of anything good about him). It's not even a blame thing. It's a matter of calculating. T has very openly dismantled checks on businesses. That makes people want to invest in business and makes stocks rise. I just don't want things to "correct" right after I invest a bunch of money or right before I need to use what I've invested!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a whole different ball game out there with respect to loans for tuition. For example, in the 1980's, tuition cost me less than $2,000 dollars a year at UVA. I was able to pay this with some assistance from my parents, summer jobs, and by working 10 to 15 hours a week. Now, tuition is over $13,000. A student would have to work about 60 hours a week at minimum wage to cover tuition, let alone room, board, and incidentals.

That’s why you take out loans while you are in school and not making much money. You repay them when you have a FT job. Do you understand that this is what the majority of college students do? People have enough trouble paying their bills let alone have extra money to put aside for college.

Props to everyone who has saved so much...it is a very hard thing to do these days!
For us and many others we know, our health care, housing, and own retirement savings eats up so much of our budget. It is harder & harder to save.

Its not hard if you make it a priority. If your priority is to live in a big or nice house and lots of retirement, then its hard to save. If you live like some of us in small homes and don't do a lot of vacations or extras (and yes we save for retirement/max out what we can), its not that hard to put $10K away if you make $150-200K or more a year. We comfortably do it.

That’s what I would expect people who actually make a lot of money to say. If only people barely getting by made college savings more of a priority... I rent an apartment and I will never, ever make enough money to buy my own property. I make around $55K as a single parent. No amount of prioritizing will allow me to save money for college. Some months I have to choose which bill not to pay. I am glad you are comfortable on your income. I would be too since it is three to four times my own. You do realize people make MUCH less than you do, right?

Then, your child will qualify for aid. I don't work. I made less than you did with a masters degree so given child care costs for one were more than my take home it was an issue. You also realize that some, like my husband got his college degree later in life and only make a good income because he went back (thanks to the military) and got a degree in a well paying field. You can slam others for their choices but life is about choices and if someone has that much in income there is no excuse not to save. And, for all we know, you could be getting several thousand in child support.

I am supposed to get approximately $4K per year in CS but my ex rarely pays what he owes each month. I don’t have control over that. I would bet that most people making the kind of money you make does save for college. It not every makes that. Not even close.

Sadly, most don't save and that is the issue. At your income you can get good financial aide, at our income its hit or miss depending on the school. So, you either save, your kid takes loans or they go military (I am fine with military after a degree but not before as my husband was enlisted and its a very different life). Most are instead buying $700-900K houses which is why the housing prices are insane and spending everything each month that we know. We could easily buy a bigger house at this point/past few years but I'd rather stay in ours and save for college.

Where do you live? When did you buy? How much is your healthcare? How much do you save for retirement each month?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have 20,000 so far and I know we are very behind. How much do you have and what is your strategy?

As a point of reference for you:

My DD is OOS, at a state school. She is finishing up her sophomore year. We started out with $80K, she has $14K left in her 529. As you can see, not nearly enough to get her through even one more semester.

Would the $80K have been enough to go to an in state public college?

Yes, but not by much. We're in California where in-state tuition is high AND where schools tend to give preferential treatment to OOS/OOC students - so she would have likely had to go OOS or go to a lower-tier public than where she is currently.

NP. I’m in California too, that’s such a bummer to hear. I know the UC’s are competitive to get into, but I actually thought only UCLA and UCB have a significant percentage of OOS students. I hate that they’ve gotten so expensive

California PP here. I'm a native Washingtonian, have only been in CA for 6 years. Because of how ridiculously competitive it is to get into pretty much any UC school, it is very common to see many HS grads go straight into community college and then matriculate from there into their 4yr UC of choice. I know that in the DC area going to CC is considered a "scarlet letter" - but out here it is not at all seen that way.

This Forbes article is a good example of what I'm talking about:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristenmoon/2018/11/15/uc-admissions-why-being-an-out-of-state-student-might-just-work-in-your-favor/#2f5ee17527bd

Native Californian here and I agree...I don’t understand the stigma around here for having your kid go to community college and then transferring. I did it and graduated from a UC and it worked out well. What’s the big deal? It’s not like as an adult if you say you graduated from UVA people ask if you transferred in. No on cares! Seems like just another reason for people to be elitist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$0 I'm a professor and DS can go to school free where I work. It's an amazing benefit!

Don't you still have to pay for room and board? That is about $12K per year. Also, what if they children do not get into your school? Can they go somewhere else for free or a discount?

He plans to live at home and he'll definitely get into my school, but let's say he doesn't - I can apply the benefits to other schools and with my income we'll qualify for financial aid as well.