If you asked a grandparent for help with tuition?

[Anonymous]

That is such a blessing. My grandfather paid for all of his 29 grandchildren to attend Catholic Schools all the way through high school. None of us could have afforded it otherwise. We know his Irish eyes are smiling down from heaven.

[Anonymous]

Your grandfather sounds like an incredible man! I hope to be in a position to do something similar for my grandchildren one day.

Anonymous wrote:That is such a blessing. My grandfather paid for all of his 29 grandchildren to attend Catholic Schools all the way through high school. None of us could have afforded it otherwise. We know his Irish eyes are smiling down from heaven.

[Anonymous]

Thank you pp. Yes, my grandfather was actually the most honorable man I have ever met. I too hope to do the same for my grandkids someday and front their tuition. I'm afraid private schools are so expensive that only the really super rich will be able to afford them by the time I have grandkids. I guess we can only hope for the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your grandfather sounds like an incredible man! I hope to be in a position to do something similar for my grandchildren one day.

Anonymous wrote:That is such a blessing. My grandfather paid for all of his 29 grandchildren to attend Catholic Schools all the way through high school. None of us could have afforded it otherwise. We know his Irish eyes are smiling down from heaven.

I agree. That's one of the nicest things I've read on DCUM! Your grandfather reminds me of my best friend's grandfather!

[Anonymous]

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but this is a really eye opening discussion for me and I appreciate the honesty. It is sometimes frustrating when we see families who appear to be similarly situated (in terms of jobs) yet they seem to be able to afford private school and annual giving and other expenses relatively effortlessly with no FA. You are all very fortunate. Our parents paid for us to attend private school and cannot afford to give us this kind of assistance. I hope one day I will be able to do this for my grandkids (although the rising tuition costs are threatening my ability to continue paying tuition for my own kids).

[Anonymous]

A bunch of entitled, pretentious bitches. I bet all of you parade around the school as if you are doing it all on your own looking down on people who get financial aid. You are all disgusting.

[Anonymous]

While I disagree with the incendiary tone of your post, you have touched on an interesting point. I wonder if those who receive "financial assistance" from family and friends identify with those who receive "financial assistance" directly from the school?

[Anonymous]

Of course they do. I receive aid form my parents for my kids to attend private and identify with those who receive aid from the school. How could I not. We would not be their without the generosity of others too.

[Anonymous]

Families help each other. "Help" can manifest itself in so many ways. Why is everyone such a hater?

To answer OP's question, I agree with PPs who have wondered if your parents/in-laws wouldn't suggest this option first? It seems if they are able and open to it, they are also aware of the tax benefits to them. If you have a little time, I would see if they offer first. But only you can make that decision based on your family relationships/dynamics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband's parents pay the school tuition directly so it doesn't trigger the gift tax. That way, they are also able to give us the $26k a year.

Wow, might they want to adopt any more? I hope you realize how incredibly lucky all of you are.
signed, single mom facing possible homelessness due to layoff and cutback at ex-H's job

[Anonymous]

I can only speak for my husband and I but, yes, we do realize how fortunate and blessed we are to have such generous grandparents. In our case, one set of grandparents has the ability to pay for their grandchildren's tuition and the other set doesn't. The set who can't help with tuition is also very generous relative to their income and we let both sets of grandparents know how very much we love and appreciate them. We also do not take it for granted. I am someone who paid my way through school and have gone through times where I did not have any money to buy anything other than pasta and peanut butter. I do not take anything for granted and probably identify more with the people on financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Something to consider: What is more important/useful -- having the grandparents help out with tuition for kindergarten or for college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Something to consider: What is more important/useful -- having the grandparents help out with tuition for kindergarten or for college?

It depends, I think, on whether your child gets into a need-blind college like Harvard that offers generous FA or a college that offers a full scholarship, but in general I think education at the K level is less differentiated in quality among schools, both public and private, than education at the middle-school, upper-school, and college levels. If I didn't have enough money to send my kids to private school K through 12 and college, I would send them to public school in the early years and apply later to private school. In fact I did send my kids to private schools only starting in the 7th grade. However, you do have to consider whether the kids are academically strong enough to get accepted to a good private school later on; if not, then gettign them into a good K-12 private school in the early years would be my choice.

[Anonymous]

This is a silly thread. Grandparents have paid enough to get the PARENTS situated.

[Anonymous]

Amazing how many people live beyond their means...