Depending on the child sometimes not doing for them is the best help you can give them. For me, I want my daughter to finish school with no debt so I made some rules. I'll pay for everything to do with college the whole 4 years as long as she never takes a student loan and doesn't open any credit card accounts. She is responsible for making enough money for all her entertainment. Teaching her to live frugally and not take the easy way out is the best help I can give her, in my opinion. Some Kids need to be completely cutoff to ever learn those lessons.

The wife and I were sitting on the porch a couple weeks back talking about life...I told her I knew that no one has mentioned anything to her about it, but, I wanted her to know how proud I was of her....... and me too... That somehow, we raised 2 wonderful daughters and how Proud I was of us, to be able to get both of them thru college with good degree's and not owe anyone one red cent for their education....That I was a proud Dad, and proud of her too, for us to be able to set our girls up for success, and for them not to have to start out in adulthood with thousands of dollars worth of debt hanging over them like we had on us...You may not think its your responsibility to have to pay for your kids college, and thats fine, more power to ya....But, we felt like it was ours, and somehow, thru the grace of God we got it done....

I paid for my daughter's college and just found out she shoots a creed. Damn where did I go wrong?

Well, the OP has disappeared after posting this thread.

He only post Monday through Friday 8 to 5 and it's usually stuff stirring up controversy or supporting liberal agendas. Almost like it's his job.

Bama Earl breaks the Internet.

I paid the bulk of mine due to a rough start academically and my parents cutting me off. They helped some, and when I needed it. I’m glad they cut me off. It made me grow up. It cost a LOT less back in the early 80’s. I worked a LOT. We paid for our three but made them work, and pay part of their living expenses. It was not easy but glad we did. They all have good jobs. One did not finish college, and he’s doing fine. There are plenty of ways to make good money. There are some great trades to get into (welder, plumber, electrician, lineman, etc). I agree that it’s a parents responsibility to pay if you can, help where you can, etc. No matter what route you go, you have to want it and work to get it. We have people in our extended family who don’t want it that bad, and it’s tough to see them struggle, but a lot of it’s on them.

Actually he is right. We are not responsible but help out as we can. Had to cut my son off with tuition but he found his way and excelled.

That’s because he teaches a parenting class at night school and on the weekends.

thats what I said

Is Earl really JBC?

Not nearly condescending or sarcastic enough. I doubt it.

I don't know that I think college is the best investment for a job. I think certain degrees are better than others, but the cost is ridiculous now. When I took my first quarter at Auburn, 15 hours cost $432. Heck the books cost about half that much. Now a semester is over $6K. So let's just settle on 20K a year for 4 years for a batchelors degree. That doesn't include housing or anything else.

It's $2000/semester at Wallace state in a technical field.

You could get a 2 year technical degree from Wallace State for $6,000 a year. So $12K versus $80K. You would be 2 years ahead from a wages perspective and owe $68K less.

Some jobs, like Fireman, where you do 24 on and 48 off, you can have a side hustle.

I think I could have made way more money in a technical field than I make now. And I would probably enjoy it too.

You are right, I only post some during work hours. After that I am hunting, fishing, working out, chores... etc. Just not on the internet much after 5 or on the weekends. And yesterday I had to run to the hospital and see my grandmother. But I am back.

The reason for the post is so many parents have anxiety and worry about paying for their kids college education. And if you and your wife have done well in life and have $100,000 to pay for 4 years at Alabama or Auburn that's great. If I had that kind of disposable income I may do the same. However, 99% of families in Alabama don't. Most of us are pay check to pay check.

My friend with the lake house and myself look at letting our kids foot the bill is helping them as it helped us. I am so thankful I paid my own way because it forced me to grow up and man up quickly. I also went from a B/C student in high school to an A student in college, because I was the one writing the checks. Worked great for my kids too, because my son was footing the bill he was working his butt off. In the summer he was running grass cutting crews. At 19, I would see him ride threw town in a dulley with 5 dixie choppers on a gooseneck. He was the driver and was running the crew, making bank! But if daddy is giving handouts then maybe he is at home playing Xbox. He graduated with a BSN in Nursing, is a charge nurse at a local hospital, has a really nice house, married with 2 kids.

Is he paying off some college debt, yes. But he said it was about $15,000 when he graduated. Could I have wrote him a check and paid for it when he graduated?? Yes, easy. But then you loose confidence of "I did it myself". No better feeling than to know I did it myself.

40% of Freshmen never graduate with a degree. Parents are taking out loans and 2nd mortgages on their homes because they feel society has obligated for them to pay for college. I helped my kids some with college but it was always within my budget and it was never enough so they had to have skin in the game.

If you balled out in life and you got it, plenty of great kids who grow up productive have their parents setting them up. Car, cash, meals, dorms, tuition.. etc. Total at Alabama that can run $50k a year. And I think that's great, if I was really balling out then I may do the same.

It's just not required... there is other ways to parent and help your kids be successful.