| It doesn't take long to bring a smile to our faces when | | | | and fees increasing at an alarming rate who knows |
| we think about our children; the day they were born, | | | | what that amount will become. Do you think "paying |
| first steps, first birthday party, first day of school, first | | | | for college" looks impossible. Now, add multiple siblings |
| dance lessons and or music lessons, first car, first | | | | to the equation. It is hard enough sustaining an average |
| prom dress or tuxedo...... and the list goes on. But you | | | | live style with two incomes, living from pay check to |
| know we wouldn't change not even one split second. | | | | pay check, always having more bills left at the end of |
| We also know that as they get older the price of the | | | | the month than money and now I have to add college |
| items they need goes up. We only want the best for | | | | into the mix. |
| our children and a college education is among the best | | | | Funding college tuition is one of the top 5 concerns |
| for our children. | | | | facing parents today and it's no wonder why. So what |
| Preparing and paying for college can be a very | | | | do we do? There is always the options of taking out a |
| stressful time. Sometimes we think ahead and put | | | | second mortgage and paying for college education for |
| money away as we go, but sometimes that is not an | | | | another 15 or 20 years. What about all the little extras |
| option. Even when it is we may still have to dip into | | | | that add up to big $$$ that we haven't included? Like |
| that fund for the unexpected. There are scholarships | | | | dorm room accessories, computer, food and of course |
| out there but that is not always enough. Countless | | | | visiting your out of state college student and bringing |
| hours go into searching, applying and locating sources | | | | them home for the holidays. That normally goes on the |
| for scholarships. Then you must gather | | | | credit card with that high interest rate. SO, is there a |
| recommendation letter, write essays, meet application | | | | solution to this real concern? Yes there is, start now, |
| deadlines, oh yes and then wait........ | | | | research what college your child wants to attend, |
| As you know college education even with scholarships | | | | what scholarships are available and what is expected |
| is expensive. If you haven't researched it yet let me | | | | of you as an out of pocket expense, then decide |
| enlighten you just a bit. A 4 year state supported | | | | where the money will come from. |
| college can still cost in excess of $50,000 with tuitions | | | | |
