<p>I think SamK gives some good ideas to consider. I also make a comment (not criticism or suggestion), regarding those travel issues. Assuming that the money is there to pay for them out of the “fund”, is it possible that some of the perhaps “resistance” is the destination of the travel? The OP did not say (and PLEASE, I am not asking) whether the Dad lives in a different city. Rightly or wrongly, when two parents are not together, one may not want to pay for travel expense for a child to visit the other parent during breaks, etc.</p>
<p>If the source of funds is adequate for travel costs, and not otherwise legally restricted, yes, I would consider travel (at least the minimum) a legit expense. If there is resistance, try to figure out what it really is begin caused by. IMHO, it doesn’t matter to me what others choose to do in planning these types of things. The legality (eg 529) and the adequacy would be the primary concern, and then the personal issues.</p>
<p>I’m with those who think it depends on how much money is in this college fund and what happens to leftover funds once your daughter is finished with her education. If there is plenty of money there to cover college and graduate school (if that’s in the future and intended to be covered by this fund), then I don’t see why your daughter’s travel expenses to and from school wouldn’t be covered by the fund. Most colleges include travel in their list of expenses, along with tuition, room and board and books. On the other hand, if the fund is not large enough to cover everything, then I think it is appropriate to split the travel expenses. When the fund was set up, were there any guidelines established?</p>
<p>I would say the college fund should be used for expenses directly related to the student. That includes tuition, room, board, books, travel to and from school, etc. </p>
<p>I would not spend the college fund on parents’ expenses related to going back and forth to campus. That includes stuff like gas, hotel, dog sitter, etc.</p>
<p>Our college fund is a Grandchildren’s Educational Trust. There are six grandchildren. One family has one, one family has two, and our family has three of the grandchildren. The trust is administered by an attorney and a surviving grandparent. All tuition, books, and room and board are covered, although the students can choose between a dorm or car and insurance payments. If the school is not local, two roundtrip airline tickets are included. Legally, the move in expenses would also be covered, under the terms of our trust.</p>