As parents, almost all of us want our kids to go to college. However, only about half of us can find room in our budgets to save towards college. Everyone seems to be stressing out, asking, “How am I going to pay for college?” that we forget that that’s only half of the equation.
It’s not just how to pay, but what to pay as well. Instead of just trying to figure out how to cover the bill, we should seek out ways to reduce the bill itself, so we will have less to worry about paying. Below are three ways you can prepare your kids (or yourself) for an affordable college experience.
1. START WITH WHY
When it comes to college, you have to start out by looking at the big picture. As Simon Sinek says, you need to start with why. Why is your son or daughter even going to college in the first place? Is it career preparation? A coming-of-age experience? To broaden their horizons and expand their minds? To find a spouse? Everyone may have a slightly different answer, and your “why” will have profound effects on the college you choose and how much you spend on it. Once you figure out your goal, you can assess the best and most affordable means to achieving that goal. Community colleges can be a great way to earn credits cheaply if you don’t mind missing out on “dorm life.” Local state universities provide just as good of preparation for many careers as do US News’ highest ranked schools.
A lot of the benefits of college, such as gaining independence, meeting different kinds of people and even certain careers, don’t even require college. Things like moving out of a parents’ house, going on a mission trip or learning a trade may be more appropriate ways of reaching your goal than a college education. Don’t waste your money on a degree you don’t even need!
Match your whys.
One key, though, is to make sure you and your kids are on the same page. The younger you start instilling in them the purposes of going to college, the easier it will be. If you don’t, you could find yourself with an 18-year-old ready to borrow $100,000+ in order to go to a private school with an undeclared major, just because that’s where her best friend (or boyfriend) is going.
This is the first article in a three-part series. All articles in the series can be found on newsletter page as of their release date.
Article by Amy Monday – The Pastor’s Wallet
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
3 *FREE* WAYS TO HAVE AN AFFORDABLE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE