Considering "Fairness" When Paying Sibling College Costs

dentmom4
Sun, 15 May 2016 22:41:30 +0000

As an aside, S2 has autism. We have spent far more on his therapies and K-12 private aide than we will spend on college for each of the other 3 kids. There was never a question of fair or equal; we provided for his needs.

S1 was/is a spender. He worked a lot over the summers in high school and college to support nice clothes, meals out, gas, electronics as entertainment is our kids’ responsibility. He blew through our study abroad gift money in 6 weeks, so he didn’t travel much because his pot was empty. We made him take loans for grad school (though we could afford it) to learn budgeting and living on his own dime. He scrambled, but eventually came around. A year ago, we paid off his loans. He is getting married this summer and we intend to pay off FDIL’s loans at Christmas. Thankful we can afford it.

D1 hoards her money. She works less than S1, but she spends less. We increased her study abroad gift at the rate of inflation and she managed a lot of travel.She wants to go to dent school; we will cash flow her living expenses and have her take out loans for tuition, fees, books, and equipment. When she finishes, we will help her pay them off (but she doesn’t know that yet.)

D2 spends very little. She doesn’t have a license so no gas or many random times out with friends. She starts college this fall and will probably have about $3000 in her account from gifts and working.

Our kids’ skin in the game has been to achieve the minimum GPA needed to maintain the merit scholarship.