Anonymous
10/29/2025 22:54
Subject: If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:What do you consider donut hole? It’s something of a subjective term, even if it’s not meant to be. Our HHI is currently $375k, we have about $380k in 529s, and another $600k in regular brokerage. We have $3M saved for retirement. We live below our means, so that $375k leaves plenty for savings. We can clearly afford to pay for our 2 kids to attend college without any aid. By that definition, we are not a donut hole family.
For the record, I agree we are not a donut hole family. But when you look at the situation subjectively, you would consider where our kids end up - in state or at a private paying full freight? And I know that it’s likely our income will drop significantly before the kids finish college. We’d also like to retire early, be able to help the kids get started professionally, and continue to take care of an aging parent. I think a lot of families in a similar situation may *feel* like a donut hole family, even though objectively they are not.
You can't have it all - you'd like to retire early? Well, that's a trade off. I don't really like my job but my younger one will graduate from college when I am 61 so I have realized that, assuming he is basically self-supporting after college, it will be in my early 60s when I can resume really saving - I have two kids four years apart so will have eight straight years of college. A few of those are covered in 529 but some will come from cash flow so less saving.
Anonymous
10/29/2025 22:52
Subject: If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:HHI is $240,000 before taxes. We have some equity in our home, a savings account around $60,000, a small amount of stock in husband's employer, and our retirement accounts. Haven't done FAFSA, but NPCs have had us paying $60,000 at oos publics. That is not something we'd be able/willing to do. We have another child 2 years younger who will also be going to college.
We are fortunate that each kid has a 529, but these wouldn't even pay for one year at a private (or possibly even an oos public).
Our income only jumped recently. In the past we dealt with children care x2 in Boston, high rent plus saving for a house in hcol area, and our own big student loans plus cancer and some job disruption.
The oldest is 2 years out from college, so we're focused on saving more and expecting to cash flow the rest. We've never lived extravagantly but we really have cut back on things like going out to eat and we wont be taking a vacation this year. But the house needs painting and our cars need repairs...its always something.
Looking at in-state or possibly a state school with merit.
Just to be clear, most public schools, with a few exceptions, don't offer need based aid to OOS students. When we started running the NPC's for my oldest, our numbers were significantly lower than yours and the NPC's also came back at full pay. Full need private schools came back significantly lower (for us) and beat our instate, which is UMD. Of course many privates aren't full need either. Many of those give merit which can mean that NPC's aren't that helpful.
Anonymous
10/29/2025 22:20
Subject: If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:What do you consider donut hole? It’s something of a subjective term, even if it’s not meant to be. Our HHI is currently $375k, we have about $380k in 529s, and another $600k in regular brokerage. We have $3M saved for retirement. We live below our means, so that $375k leaves plenty for savings. We can clearly afford to pay for our 2 kids to attend college without any aid. By that definition, we are not a donut hole family.
For the record, I agree we are not a donut hole family. But when you look at the situation subjectively, you would consider where our kids end up - in state or at a private paying full freight? And I know that it’s likely our income will drop significantly before the kids finish college. We’d also like to retire early, be able to help the kids get started professionally, and continue to take care of an aging parent. I think a lot of families in a similar situation may *feel* like a donut hole family, even though objectively they are not.
+1 Thats us as well. The value without merit aid is not there. Not wealthy enough to not care.
Anonymous
10/29/2025 22:10
Subject: If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:We are $300k HHI, and NPC shows well above full pay.
What kind of resources?
Can I ask which schools?
Anonymous
10/29/2025 22:06
Subject: If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:We are $300k HHI, and NPC shows well above full pay.
same
Anonymous
10/29/2025 21:57
Subject: Re:If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Not donut hole; but $475k HHIwith both our incomes—but with more than one kid in college and another as a private HS it feels like it. Not in-state 2 kids at same time in college is $185-195k/year tuition (same college; no aid). 3rd kid $35k HS (last year). It’s more than 1/2 our salaries
What assets/retirement/equity?
Too many. Having a Rental house killed us in the calculations. We would have been better off blowing all of that $ on frivolous things for FA purposes.
Imagine wishing you were broke so you didn’t have to pay for your child’s education. I’d rather actually have so many assets I don’t qualify (which is what I do have.)
Those poors have all the luck!!!
Americas most crazy UMC parents never fail.
We both grew up poor so it took A LOT of hard work and long hours and frugal living to get where we are—certainly not living the high life with a 2006 Toyota.
I think it's interesting that you refuse to give even estimated amounts.
It sounds like you have significant resources, but seem to think you should be able to cash flow your college. Most people do not cash flow college.
Anonymous
10/29/2025 20:25
Subject: Re:If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:Not donut hole; but $475k HHIwith both our incomes—but with more than one kid in college and another as a private HS it feels like it. Not in-state 2 kids at same time in college is $185-195k/year tuition (same college; no aid). 3rd kid $35k HS (last year). It’s more than 1/2 our salaries
Brutal!
Anonymous
10/29/2025 20:14
Subject: If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:Donut hole family is cope from people who didn’t save and also just don’t like the price tag. It’s not a real thing.
Thanks for this awesome contribution. Get a life.
Anonymous
10/29/2025 20:06
Subject: If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:Donut hole family is cope from people who didn’t save and also just don’t like the price tag. It’s not a real thing.
Or a family who spent their kids' college savings taking care of their parents or in-laws, which is what would have happened in our family had I not set up automatic 529 paycheck contributions from my paycheck.
Anonymous
10/29/2025 19:59
Subject: If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:Donut hole family is cope from people who didn’t save and also just don’t like the price tag. It’s not a real thing.
This. It’s people with upper middle class incomes who can’t be bothered to save money and live above their means.
Anonymous
10/29/2025 19:12
Subject: Re:If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Not donut hole; but $475k HHIwith both our incomes—but with more than one kid in college and another as a private HS it feels like it. Not in-state 2 kids at same time in college is $185-195k/year tuition (same college; no aid). 3rd kid $35k HS (last year). It’s more than 1/2 our salaries
What assets/retirement/equity?
Too many. Having a Rental house killed us in the calculations. We would have been better off blowing all of that $ on frivolous things for FA purposes.
Imagine wishing you were broke so you didn’t have to pay for your child’s education. I’d rather actually have so many assets I don’t qualify (which is what I do have.)
Those poors have all the luck!!!
Americas most crazy UMC parents never fail.
We both grew up poor so it took A LOT of hard work and long hours and frugal living to get where we are—certainly not living the high life with a 2006 Toyota.
Would you rather financial aid be given to kids like you were then, so they have the opportunity to work hard and achieve like you did, or to kids like yours?
Anonymous
10/29/2025 18:25
Subject: Re:If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Not donut hole; but $475k HHIwith both our incomes—but with more than one kid in college and another as a private HS it feels like it. Not in-state 2 kids at same time in college is $185-195k/year tuition (same college; no aid). 3rd kid $35k HS (last year). It’s more than 1/2 our salaries
What assets/retirement/equity?
Too many. Having a Rental house killed us in the calculations. We would have been better off blowing all of that $ on frivolous things for FA purposes.
Or if grandparents are still alive and around, send it to their 529, that doesn't count apparently in calculations
529s count against you.
I don't think grandparents 529s count in the calculation.
Anonymous
10/29/2025 18:22
Subject: Re:If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Not donut hole; but $475k HHIwith both our incomes—but with more than one kid in college and another as a private HS it feels like it. Not in-state 2 kids at same time in college is $185-195k/year tuition (same college; no aid). 3rd kid $35k HS (last year). It’s more than 1/2 our salaries
What assets/retirement/equity?
Too many. Having a Rental house killed us in the calculations. We would have been better off blowing all of that $ on frivolous things for FA purposes.
Imagine wishing you were broke so you didn’t have to pay for your child’s education. I’d rather actually have so many assets I don’t qualify (which is what I do have.)
Those poors have all the luck!!!
Americas most crazy UMC parents never fail.
We both grew up poor so it took A LOT of hard work and long hours and frugal living to get where we are—certainly not living the high life with a 2006 Toyota.
Anonymous
10/29/2025 18:20
Subject: Re:If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Not donut hole; but $475k HHIwith both our incomes—but with more than one kid in college and another as a private HS it feels like it. Not in-state 2 kids at same time in college is $185-195k/year tuition (same college; no aid). 3rd kid $35k HS (last year). It’s more than 1/2 our salaries
What assets/retirement/equity?
Too many. Having a Rental house killed us in the calculations. We would have been better off blowing all of that $ on frivolous things for FA purposes.
Or if grandparents are still alive and around, send it to their 529, that doesn't count apparently in calculations
529s count against you.
Anonymous
10/29/2025 18:20
Subject: Re:If you consider yourself a “donut hole” family
Anonymous wrote:Not donut hole; but $475k HHIwith both our incomes—but with more than one kid in college and another as a private HS it feels like it. Not in-state 2 kids at same time in college is $185-195k/year tuition (same college; no aid). 3rd kid $35k HS (last year). It’s more than 1/2 our salaries
you are supposed to have saved for this. you are not expected to be paying for this out of your current earnings.