<p>@2016BarnardMom Thanks for the reply. It is really helpful to be able to discuss this with others! Answers: it is $7k per year. The sale of the boat should cover the entire 4 years. I think -hope!- you may be wrong about the increased income affecting the EFC, because since last night I have read a lot and I believe that since we actually have more money invested in the boat than we will be able to sell it for, it is a loss of a (personal) capital asset and as such does not count towards income. In fact you do not even claim it if it is a loss or zero gain. We would put the money immediately into a 529. (If there is something incorrect about my understanding of this, someone PLEASE let me know!)</p>
<p>The 7k would go towards room and board and the college health insurance. My D is already being asked (by the school) to contribute $2500 this summer and that will be working full time at her retail job. However, she pays for her own gas and phone plan, so even that much is going to be difficult! She is right now setting up an Etsy store to try to sell some artwork and vintage clothing, but I’m certainly not counting on her being able to make much more than the $2500. </p>
<p>We already rent the boat as much as we can. There is a very short sailing season here in Maine! </p>
<p>I really appreciate hearing about expenses going down when the child is away in college. I hadn’t thought about the water bill! Yay! I was wondering about car insurance. She is close enough that she’ll be home 4-5 times per school year and will want to drive her car those weekends. I wonder if there is some way to sort of turn on-and-off the insurance for those short periods???</p>
<p>The CSS questions we filled out for the schools she applied to never asked about boats or snowmobiles or other personal assets like that. I think Skidmore asked about cars only.</p>
<p>Finally… what do you mean about bringing in $$ from a grad party? I have never been to a grad party so I don’t know what it’s all about… I was just wondering if that was something people did around here or not. I never heard of graduation announcements either. Do we send those out? I think maybe I should ask the grandmothers what they think is appropriate!</p>
<p>Definitely call your insurance company and let them know your child will be at college without a car. Our insurance went down quite a bit over that.</p>
<p>Also, it is cheaper to live without your kids - lol People think I’m joking, but I’m dead serious - it is cheaper to have my son at school on the meal plan than it is to feed him at home. Our grocery bills are really down now. And don’t forget all the little miscellaneous things you won’t be forking over money for - school pictures, back sales, sports fees, in our case mani/pedi’s Probably not 7k worth but certainly enough that you feel a difference. </p>
<p>I don’t know much about financial aid or finances beyond my own - a question - would it make more sense to take a loan against the boat than to sell it? </p>
<p>And yes, it would drive me nuts when my kids private school would dole out ‘scholarship’ funds to families with large houses, cars, etc when we made decisions to enable us to pay full price. I have no issue with a well rounded student body, where I struggle is the definition of “disposable income”</p>
<p>I agree with eyemamom on car insurance. Call your company. It will drop significantly if you do not take a car to college. With my older son, we paid about $250 a year to keep him on the policy. Son '14 is looking forward to the reduction, too, since he pays one-half of his insurance. We could also help ourselves out if we drop down to two cars from three. That would be a bit of a savings. We, too, drive older cars. Someday, we’ll have the money for new ones. I keep saying that. </p>
<p>I am looking forward to the day that the two boys are not home full-time, because I do know we will save a bit. Son '14 must cost us $30 a week in Greek yogurt, cereal and milk! Not to mention the water bill because he often showers twice a day. We also help out the older son with groceries, especially when he does not have time to pick up what he needs. He is known for taking my leftovers home with him. But I’m sure we’ll see him once in a while when he’s at UVA Law. Meanwhile, Son '14 liked the food at UAH. He also will live in a four-person suite, so he can stock up on his cereal, milk, water, Greek yogurt and diced mangoes (yes, he just loves them) when the guys make a grocery run every week or so.</p>
<p>Waiting for the train to Boston for our flight to Miami, after our Brandeis visit. 29 degrees, w fresh snow on the ground. We, as Northern Californians, are not dressed for the occasion. I think Brandeis (and the Tufts waitlist) may be a tough sell after this. </p>
<p>Gotta get my hands back in my pockets now. </p>
<p>@AsleepAtTheWheel …you gave me a laugh this morning as I head out the door for work…skiff of snow here as well…son definitely won’t miss in NOLA next winter…</p>
<p>@asleepatthewheel - the Boston train station in February was what convinced my d that a cold snowy climate was probably not for her. Kind of poetic that a decision could be made in a train station - lol </p>
<p>@staceyneil Won’t the people who come to the grad party bring gifts? Our oldest probably got $2500-$3000 at the party. If the party is 10-15 relatives and few friends, maybe not, but around here I think “open house” is probably a better descriptor than party. </p>
<p>@ordinarylives So, who comes to the party/open house that brings gifts? I am wondering if maybe that is a regional thing. I could see close relatives, like grandparents, giving a graduation gift, but I never thought it was a common thing for acquaintances or whatever. I have never heard of such a thing, but that may be because D is our only kid and we don’t have friends with older kids who’ve graduated so we’ve never been to such a party. This is totally unknown territory!</p>
<p>@Mrspepper On Monday it was 66 degrees and the lawn was greening up fast. Woke up this morning to new snow. (I am trying to ignore it by not looking out the window!) But this is Maine where, “if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute…”</p>
<p>@staceyneil Family, family friends, parents of the grad friends, folks from church, most adults who would come to the reception, basically. And yes, we do reciprocate. My h is a pastor at a large church, so we get a fair number of invites every year. Most gifts are small, $10-$20 in cash or on a gift card (usually Walmart). There’s no expectation that people come with anything elaborate or expensive.</p>
<p>@moonmaid I did the FAFSA updates last week after our taxes were filed, and my 2 kids’ EFC came in about $3,000 difference. Not placing much stock in it. We’ll have 2 in school next year so 2 tuitions for the first time. It will be interesting to see if Univ. of MD (where D is a junior now) comes up with anything beyond the Stafford loan as that’s all we have ever seen before from them.</p>
<p>Yes!!! Absolutely save $ at home with kids in college… I’m sure all my boy moms will know this fact as a given. I just went back and looked through my accounting this year and SO money for DS that is still in HS… It’s always something they need or checks for tons of piddly stuff to his HS. Other than tuition and airfare NOTHING for DS in college. It’s do refreshing to not have constant emails wanting my $. He does have a job at college that pays really well (EMT), so that definitely helps too… You will be pleasantly surprised I think!</p>
<p>avonhsdad – just caught up and read your good news – congratulations!
We had snow here too last night. Charleston’s looking better and better. I sent in the deposit. I’m not going to wait for H to screw things up here. I’ve done that before and now I wonder why.</p>
<p>Forgive me it wasn’t mentioned on this thread…but way back when somewhere we were discussing “must have” for college… some sort of flashlight/phone charger for when the power goes out…anyone know what I’m talking about? Thanks friends :)</p>
<p>Graduation party advice sought: are e-vites tacky or is that an accepted method of invite these days? It would be so much easier for me when I’m swamped but don’t it to look cheap. I am not one of those parents that need a fancy keepsake invitation. Thoughts?</p>
<p>It’s official- S14 is a Bruin! He submitted his SIR this morning, declined his other acceptances. We bought the UCLA. Swag this weekend. Now I will put on my apron, grab my tray, and serve up some drinks. Special today is fresh mango margaritas! :D/ </p>
<p>Just remember, our party is huge, and because of h’s work connection, lots of people know us. Also, the party thing is kind of what we do here. H and I will easily have 10 to go to ourselves. </p>
<p>We don’t do evites. It wouldn’t go over well. D’14 made hers in graphic design class, saved the work as a JPEG, uploaded/printed from Walgreens. They had a sale last week, so they were less than 50 cents a card. D did do a facebook invite for all her own friends. Only adults and families get the photo version. </p>