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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My first is a senior and going through the college search and application process. We have saved about $70,000 in a 529 for her and make about $175,000.

We have filled out the FAFSA (EFC of $46,000) and gone through the net price calculators that show us how much we can expect to pay, but I don't have an idea of how much we can [i]afford.[/i]

When we bought houses and got a mortgages there will all sorts of calculators and rules-of-thumb that gave us an idea of how much house we could afford. I can't find anything similar for college.

Any guidance that worked for you all?[/quote]
I think people are hopeful as opposed to realistic regarding what the school is going to provide.  How much can you afford?
How much retirement savings do you have? How old are you?  What is your absolute fixed expenses each month? 
How many other children do you have?  How old and how much saved?
(The financial aid calculator changes when there are more than 1 child in college)

You need to work it and put it all on the table to see what your next 6 years of cash flow looks like.  
My guess on how much you can afford: 
17.5 per year from 529 
3 K per year from child earnings 
12K - 18K (1K- 1.5K a month from other family sources)
5K loans 
You can afford ~37 to 43 K
[/quote]

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