My son decided he wanted to go to a college that I can’t not afford. I tried to talk him into go to a school closer to us and that will be paid for by a grant. Do you think I’m wrong for telling him to get a job so he can pay for his own college tuition? Mind you we give him gas money everyday which is about 200 a week apay his tolls that have been 500 twice already.
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I had to pay for my own tuition and I definitely wasn’t getting a gas allowance either! I don’t think that’s wrong at all. My parents did help here and there with books and uniforms and things like that. That was appreciated but never expected!
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I paid for my own education. Granted I did qualify for some grants, but anything else came out of my pocket. Just guide him in the right direction. Make sure you go over the risks of loans and how not misuse them. He may at that point decide on another school.
So with my kids I try to put away a little bit towards a college fund for them just to help them out but I know that they would still have to apply for scholarships and loans and save money themselves I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that I think it’s just a personal choice between what you can afford and what you can’t 
I don’t think there’s really a right or wrong answer. I’m trying to help them save just so it’s less stress on them so they can focus on school but I know it still won’t be enough and they would have to pay for part of it or try to get scholarships to help them out as well. It teaches responsibility and how to sacrifice for something they really want 
He will value his education more if he pays for it.
I support your decision. I told my son if he didn’t go to the State university that gave him the free tuition he was responsible for any and all costs if he chose another university. Life is about choices and choices have consequences
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If he was given other options and made the choice to go elsewhere he can be responsible for his own bills.
Help pay as much as you can. A good college education is worth the cast. Maybe he could go the first two years where the grant would cover the cost and then graduate from the school of his choice. He could work a part time job to help with expenses.
His choice to go to college no matter where it is. He should be ready to pay his way. It is nice that you help him with gas money. Any little bit helps a person going to college but sooner or later he will need to start paying his way in that respect also. Proud of him wanting to further his education. Student loans should help him as well.
It’s very unfortunate. Every families financial situation is different, so no one can say if you are wrong or right. Regardless, I hope you’re able to help him in anyway he can. At least he’s going to college and wants to further his education. Don’t not help just bc it’s not the school of your choosing.
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My son paid his own way with scholarships and student loans along with working.
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I paid my own & so did my husband we didn’t have help or extras funds from any family.
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I paid for my own college tuition 
Nope you’re not wrong. It can be his first bill that he can pay for and feel accomplished. If he’s paying, he’s more apt to do well. I know from experience with my kids.
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my kids paid for their own
Not wrong at all. I think if more kids had to actually pay for their college, they’d do a little better research, spend more time with the counselors instead of just assuming they can do whatever because they don’t have to pay for it. They may even be more apt to get a useful degree.
If he wants it, he should pay for it. He will value what he earns.
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Look into scholarships too! There should be some to apply for each semester.
It’s the real world now. Make him get a job to pay for college he might think twice about goofing off. Kids these days think everything should be handed to them. He’ll be a better person if he does it himself. You can still help but let him show himself he can do it
As long as you don’t claim him on your taxes he should get a loan no problem. If you claim him, he may have trouble getting a loan because they take what you make into account.
It’s about what you can afford. Some can afford to fund all college tuition and living expenses, and some families cannot afford to contributing anything towards college education. Don’t feel bad. Do what you can afford. Mr personally I paid for my son’s college tuition, living expenses, gas, car, everything. I just didn’t want my son to start his life with student loan debt. Did my decision teach him any life lessons, 
, probably not at his age… but I could afford what I chose to do
Let him go where he wants so he can succeed. There’s nothing like going to a college he isn’t proud of. He can get his own student loan and apply at https://studentaid.gov
He won’t have to pay it until he’s finished college. Don’t hold him back. He can get a small part time job to pay for his other expenses in the meantime.
I got student loans and my dad charged me gas money to drive me to college everyday and pick me up.
I mean you should be teaching responsibility before they hit college and how to pay things themselves.
You told him you couldn’t afford it now he can put on his big boy pants
Not at all. He’s an adult.
I didn’t go to college but I went to a technical trade school. I enrolled right not long after I turned 18. I applied for grants and loans, 4k worth of Grant’s and 4k worth of loans, I had 875 to pay off throughout the time I was going to school. I still worked while in school also.
I think for the majority of the population, we just cant afford to live and pay for our kids college, just the unfortunate truth. And my mom had never even talked college or savings to me or anything so I never expected anything like that from them. She could barely afford rent so how was I supposed to expect her to pay for my schooling…
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I paid for my own my daughter is 4 and I’m already instilling acceptance and academic in her so she can get a scholarship for school and high school as she will be starting out kindergarten at a private school as I only see things getting more expensive unfortunately
My husband paid his own worked and went to school at the same time no you are not wrong
Nope. I had the same dilemma when I graduated high school. I had a full ride to UIUC and a partial ride to Spelman which is where I wanted to go. My parents told me I could go wherever I wanted to but they had x amount of dollars monthly to contribute either way. So I could go to the free school & pocket the money or go to the partially free school & that money would go to them & I’d have debt when I graduated. I had to determine which one was a better fit for my future & my wants.
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Nope … my daughter paid her own way through her 2 yrs of college got a job in her field … which is a surgical technologist… now paying her way back In getting her nursing degree… .and she is only 22 !!
If you can’t afford it then you can’t afford it. You let him know the situation and if he decides he wants to go to that different school then it’s up to him to pay for it.
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I’m sure he will be fine. Just remember to never tell anyone you paid his way. You’re wanting attention by saying you pay for his gas.
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I help my daughter… if she is trying her hardest then she deserves help
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I think kids that have their parents pay foe their post secondary education are privileged. Most of us have/had to pay for our own.
I’m in Canada, everyone I know that has gone to college or university took out an osap loan and pay it off on their own.
If he chooses a different school that isn’t covered or you can’t afford ( if you really want to pay for it ) then he’s choosing to pay for it on his own.
No. If you can’t afford it ya just can’t. I had my son go to the university here close to my house. Told him he would pay for absolutely nothing. We both had taken out small loans for him but this worked for him even thought he wanted to go away to college
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I told my daughter she needed to get a job to fund her lifestyle I can no longer afford it. I also told her to apply for scholarships it’s not hard to write an essay. There’s millions of scholarships out there to help fund school but she rather be lazy. I did it when I was in school.
You can’t afford what you can’t afford.
I have two adult daughters (twins), who graduated in June 2021. They wanted to attend college in a neighboring state, approximately a 25ish minute drive from home.
They applied and were accepted. We toured the college, the picked their classes and their dorm. Then we got a bill in the mail. On top of FAFSA and grants, we would have needed to pay an additional $30K per year, per kid. We couldn’t afford that and we told them so. We told them that they could live at home and commute, so they could still attend. They didn’t want to do that. So we worked it out to where they would stay at home for 2 years and attend community college. They could get all of their general studies courses out of the way, for a fraction of the cost, and then transfer to complete their degrees. In the meantime, we agreed to help them build their credit, so that when the time came, they could take their own loans for the additional costs, if need be.
It never came to that for us because both girls did a semester at community college and decided that college wasn’t for them.
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He made the choice to go to a different, more expensive school. If you can’t help, then he has to figure it out on his own. Welcome to the real world
Not wrong there’s no law saying you have to pay
Nope he’s an adult and wants this over needs it. He pays for it bc he made a choice over grants or wants.
My daughters all paid for thier own
If he can go on a grant and refuses then yeah get a job and pay for it.
No that is what student loans are for
He will have to fill out a FAFSA. Which he will have to submit your income info.
I paid my way through school.
My parents could not afford to put two kids through school so I worked during the day and went to school at night.
Do not worry about the tuition. Lets go Brandon is going to pay for all the student loans.
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In todays economy? No pay your own way.
It is not a parents job to fund college. Yeah… I said it.
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Your son must be a Republican he feels entitled to have free stuff . The fact that you pay for his gas he should be thankful
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Definitely sounds like he needs responsibility, I agree with your choice
Nope you’re not wrong. College is not a necessity and if we are being honest, so many people that have went and even got degrees in specific things even say it does nothing. If he won’t go to one that will be paid for I think it’s right for him to get a job to pay for it. That’s what millions of people that go to college do anyway.
That’s a lot of gas money. What’s he driving?
You do not owe your child a college education. If he really wants a college that you can’t afford, then he should figure out how to pay for it. Maybe he needs to work a year first .
At at all, he can pay for it, or take out a loans, Mikey eh test of us did. He has the option for it to be free, and he chooses another option, so this is on him.
Also, would he be interested in a trade school? Those are usually free or cheap, you get an AA or AS that is paid for, and on the job training. He will be making more money a lot sooner and have a degree.