Tax Refund. What are you going to buy?

Student loan. Always the student loan...

I might actually have to pay his year though, which I'm a bit excited about even though I know that's crazy. There are programs that helped my family a lot growing up and I want to support them so that others get the same opportunities/ so that they're still there if I need them again. Repay the karma and all that.

It's too bad that college costs have risen so much.  Back in the 1970's when I was in college there were the expensive big name private schools but the state schools were affordable. not cheap but affordable for a working family.  

Denice said:

It's too bad that college costs have risen so much.  Back in the 1970's when I was in college there were the expensive big name private schools but the state schools were affordable. not cheap but affordable for a working family.  

Click to expand...

It's predicted that when my son goes to school it's going to cost $150,000. I did an 8 month program and it didn't cost me anything but the tuition cost was over $10,000.The government paid for it for me because I was a laid off worker looking to go back to school.

I haven't gotten our T4's yet. Hopefully we do get a refund, we have a reno to do. Replace an exterior wall, blahhhhh....

I go to a cuny college and believe me it's so expensive for me that sometimes I have to force myself to go on and continue. Who can afford education when you can barely pay your bills? Things are just getting worse. Ppl have no money yet cost of everything is skyrocketing. MTA wants to raise fare again!

Sorry I didn't mean to turn it into a rant but I'm so frustrated. I can't find a job so I have to ask my parents to pay my tuition. I'm not the only child so it all adds up. I want to cry so badly! It sucks being poor

QueenOf3 said:

I go to a cuny college and believe me it's so expensive for me that sometimes I have to force myself to go on and continue. Who can afford education when you can barely pay your bills? Things are just getting worse. Ppl have no money yet cost of everything is skyrocketing. MTA wants to raise fare again!

Sorry I didn't mean to turn it into a rant but I'm so frustrated. I can't find a job so I have to ask my parents to pay my tuition. I'm not the only child so it all adds up. I want to cry so badly! It sucks being poor

Click to expand...

I understand completely. My DD is a college student. We get financial aid (just finished this year's FAFSA) and it's ridiculously expensive. The financial aid covers her tuition but there's still housing ($3,000 per semester), Meal plan ($1,700 per semester), books (avg $500 per semester) and then of course, supplies, extra food and goodies she wants on top of that. I thought ahead and saved her Social Security survivor's benefits (GO ME!) and that's been paying for the meal plan and housing. I pay for the rest out of pocket. We should be able to get through at least her bachelor's without having to take any loans out.    it's a struggle though for sure. 

She is my only human child. If the furkids want to go to college, they can get jobs to pay for it. 

That's a good plan! It's really difficult to find a decent paying job with just a bachelor's degree, and If u have loans to pay back, forget about it! I have a bachelor's in biology and i hunted high and low for a job with no luck. I even tried to get into a research lab as an intern and nobody wanted me. Obviously I want a job in my field. If I wanted to work in the supermarket down the block, I wouldn't spend all this money on education. I am told I have to be more competitive and for that I have to get schooled for a few more years! So now I'm doing the PA program --I've only just applied and I'm hoping i get in so I can put an end to my misery.

There are 4 others besides me, and both of my parents work to foot the cost of our college education. And you're absutely right...everyone wants goodies on top of what they are already getting. Multiply that by 5! My dad is a small business owner and for some reason the state thinks we don't need the extra help so some of us don't get any financial aid. Luckily my sister has a nice job so she's able to carry most of her financial burden. The rest of us have not been so fortunate in the job market

It's good that you have only one child to take care of. Believe me you don't want to know some of the madness that exists in my house! Lol
I am never having kids Very happy with just the cats.

QueenOf3 said:

That's a good plan! It's really difficult to find a decent paying job with just a bachelor's degree, and If u have loans to pay back, forget about it! I have a bachelor's in biology and i hunted high and low for a job with no luck. I even tried to get into a research lab as an intern and nobody wanted me. Obviously I want a job in my field. If I wanted to work in the supermarket down the block, I wouldn't spend all this money on education. I am told I have to be more competitive and for that I have to get schooled for a few more years! So now I'm doing the PA program --I've only just applied and I'm hoping i get in so I can put an end to my misery.

There are 4 others besides me, and both of my parents work to foot the cost of our college education. And you're absutely right...everyone wants goodies on top of what they are already getting. Multiply that by 5! My dad is a small business owner and for some reason the state thinks we don't need the extra help so some of us don't get any financial aid. Luckily my sister has a nice job so she's able to carry most of her financial burden. The rest of us have not been so fortunate in the job market

It's good that you have only one child to take care of. Believe me you don't want to know some of the madness that exists in my house! Lol
I am never having kids

Very happy with just the cats.

Click to expand...

Yeah it is. It's really sad but  a bachelor's is today what a HS diploma was back in the day. Not worth the paper it's written on. She'll be in school a while. The goal is a PHD. She wants to do work study when she starts grad school but she should continue to get financial aid and I may have to move closer to the school to eliminate the housing and meal plan costs but one does what one must in life

We do get a refund, but since DH's salary varies wildly, it may or may not be very much this year.

Normally, I save my half ; he always blows his on "toys".  However, this year, we plan to put down tile through most of the downstairs (the laminate flooring in the study has been bulging up in the center of the room, due to humidity), and we may modernize the 70's fireplace surround and mantel with faux stone, and build built-in bookcases beside it. I've wanted those for 10 years now! We also plan to install a ceiling light in that room ; it's so dark (it's where I post on TCS!). So, that means tile in the bathroom, foyer, kitchen, and study. We plan on doing the work ourselves, as usual, but with some help from his contractor friend.

Kat0121 said:

Yeah it is. It's really sad but  a bachelor's is today what a HS diploma was back in the day. Not worth the paper it's written on. She'll be in school a while. The goal is a PHD. She wants to do work study when she starts grad school but she should continue to get financial aid and I may have to move closer to the school to eliminate the housing and meal plan costs but one does what one must in life

Click to expand...

Kat0121 said:

Yeah it is. It's really sad but  a bachelor's is today what a HS diploma was back in the day. Not worth the paper it's written on. She'll be in school a while. The goal is a PHD. She wants to do work study when she starts grad school but she should continue to get financial aid and I may have to move closer to the school to eliminate the housing and meal plan costs but one does what one must in life

Click to expand...

Yep, a bachelor's degree is not considered anything. But don't worry too much about the next step. Many universities have stipends for students interested in doing masters and PhD's. I think your daughter will be fine. I have friends who were able to get their masters without spending a dime. The universities often have other positions for such students to earn extra cash also, so I wouldn't worry so much. good luck to you and your daughter in her future endeavors!

Uggghhhh.  College expenses.  

I have a Junior in college.  At a "private" school.  I know, you aren't supposed to do them.  Dd wouldn't have succeeded as much as she has if she was at a public school.  Her scholarships pay for about half the tuition, we cover some and she's got student loans (ugh).  Not thrilled about the loans, she'll have about $20,000 in loans when she graduates (there's her new car LOL).  Music Ed and I pray she can find a job in another year.  

The youngest is a senior in high school- graduation is 4 months away.  She's gotten into 1 state university, and she's looking at 2 others.  I think she'll be fine at a big school.  I think.  You know the sad thing- the cost for her to be at the state school is as much as we pay for the other's private school.    I'm just thankful that we saved something and MIL helped too so that we can send the girls to college.  There's kids that graduate with $50,000 in student loans, it will take a kid years to pay that off (providing they can find a job).   

Cheryl

Put some money towards the youngest's graduation present, an upgrade to her viola.  

One year we got to spend the tax money fixing the car.  That was fun................... NOT!  

I should probably change what I have withheld when I do temp jobs.  As it stands they take out the maximum in taxes in my paycheck.  Which is more than should be taken out- we typically wind up getting everything I pay in taxes back.  

Cheryl

I bought the water fountain, cat tree, cat carrier, took them to the vet, bought valentines presents, bought a phone for my mom, paid for college registration, sent documents to be evaluated i think thats what cost the most. i didnt get a a lot done but im glad i got my babies their stuff.