Reading is vital. It cannot be stayed just how important it is.
Many kids today cannot read. At all!

Good job to you and yours.

My oldest grandson is getting what amounts to a full ride on academic scholarships. It pays to keep the grades up through high school and keeping your nose clean at the same time. Colleges look at pretty much every aspect of a students life that is applying for scholarships.

I'm not so sure. When I started college 20 years ago the school I went to was around $12k per year, now it's over $37k. Tuition at UT has more than tripled in the last 20 years as well.

Son is Freshman at A&M first semester so far all in $14,000 expecting total first year cost to be 28-30K. Get to saving those pennies.

Wow not sure how that's possible. My oldest daughter graduated from A&M College Station in December and my youngest started there in August this year as a freshmen.

I have paid for all their college out of my pocket not using any savings, I will give you some real numbers of what it costs, at A&M tuition is locked at the same price after the first semester.

This year tuition for both fall and spring semester will be $11,962.70 this includes the full sport pass for all games and a $515 parking pass.
I have her living in a townhouse/apartment across from Kyle Field for $585 per month plus electric which runs about $30-$50 per month which in $7,500 for 12 months.

Total cost is $19,462.70 a year plus whatever she spends on groceries. These are real numbers.

I did save money for their college but did not use any 529 plans or anything, I saved money on my own terms so I could control it, I still have it and have not touched it. I had two plans actually, the money I saved was the backup plan, the real plan was to pay off all debt including house, cars, boats, while the oldest was in high school so we could pay college out of pocket when both went which is what we are doing now.
Its probably not the most popular plan for most people that want to "keep up with the Jones" but it is working for me.

You didn't include books, fees, meals, or any other living expenses. Books can easily be several hundred dollars per semester, food cost is gonna be a several thousand per year. What about internet/cable/phone/computer, auto expenses, living expenses, etc., as well?

The $28-30k all-in seems pretty accurate when you add everything up.

Tell those kids to get a full athletic scholarship. Worked pretty well for my parents!

I am giving real world numbers here, this is my 5th year paying for it so I have a pretty good idea what it costs, not just throwing numbers out there.
My kids have never spent more than $500 for books, usually no more than $200, not many classes even use actual books anymore, there are other options. Fees are include in the tuition figure I gave earlier.
Internet/cable, water, furniture, utlitiies except electricity are all included in the apartment monthly fee.
As far as food, car expenses and gas those are normal expenses they would have anywhere so I did not include those, if I did my girls spend about $200 in groceries a month.

My point is most numbers you see are over inflated in my opinion.

I think struggle is good for you, its at least a damn fine teacher. Mine didn't pay for all of mine and im not going to pay for all of my kids either. I guess as you make more and more money it becomes less and less important. I want good for my kids I help and support them. I would forego hunting, fishing, eating etc. to put food on the table and a roof over my kids heads, but well provided for their needs and a bit of their wants im not going to short change my plans and dreams to turn them into a trust fund baby. If you got more money than you can spend the eh whatever, I have no experience in that.

For the same price as expensive US college, send your kids to study overseas for a year or two.
They will learn 1 or 2 languages, different cultures, grow up faster, etc. looks good on the resume as well.
Just dont send them to party cities such as Barcelona though.

[/quote]

You didn't include books, fees, meals, or any other living expenses. Books can easily be several hundred dollars per semester, food cost is gonna be a several thousand per year. What about internet/cable/phone/computer, auto expenses, living expenses, etc., as well?

The $28-30k all-in seems pretty accurate when you add everything up.[/quote]

I am giving real world numbers here, this is my 5th year paying for it so I have a pretty good idea what it costs, not just throwing numbers out there.
My kids have never spent more than $500 for books, usually no more than $200, not many classes even use actual books anymore, there are other options. Fees are include in the tuition figure I gave earlier.
Internet/cable, water, furniture, utlitiies except electricity are all included in the apartment monthly fee.
As far as food, car expenses and gas those are normal expenses they would have anywhere so I did not include those, if I did my girls spend about $200 in groceries a month.

My point is most numbers you see are over inflated in my opinion.[/quote]

My number is ALL IN right down to the two fishing poles I discovered I paid for that is MY REAL WORLD NUMBER!

Teenagers are not cheap in Highschool.

Education is the most important thing you can acquire in life. That does not necessarily mean a college degree.
A good college education, with a good work ethic, in a good field can provide a life of financial stability.
I paid for my sons education at A+M and am thankful I could. It is up to him now. Those that choose to not help their children pay for college have every right to make that call.