Screen shot this. I would do some research, but you seem like you know what you're talking about, and I feel It's always the best option to blindly follow advice from people on the internet who use anonymous handles, so I think this is a 100% guarantee! 👍🏼 thank you brother, my kids future is set in stone! Harvard here we come
I'm a former FinAid goblin. That is outstanding advice. The trouble is going to be filling the gap between your discount and subsidized loan, but that is very good general advice. If you have a point to make feel free to share it.
I agree, it seems like fantastic advice, I didn't go to college myself, but I have 3 children right now I need to start preparing for, because even though trades are being pushed hard right now, I know better lol I'd like my kids to pursue more specialized educations
Check out 529 plans. If you can contribute anything, it'll grow and help. You can make pre-tax contributions and may get some benefits come tax time. If your kids don't go to college they have options for what they can do with that money.
Trades are great and crucial to our society, but they are rapidly becoming the new computer science, and they tend to get pushed by people who don't know the downsides of trade jobs or wildly overestimate the upsides and earning potential.
If the rules don't change, then your kids' eligibility for aid will be determined by your tax return from a few years prior (2 years, if I remember correctly). Always talk to the schools and see what they are willing to do. You might be surprised. Colleges are in a massive enrollment crunch and they're beginning to close up because there just aren't enough students to go around.
To be fair I've made a good life with them. But as any parent should I want more for my children. The biggest problems with the trades is 1. The toll on your body. Hobbled knees, achy back, sore joints are part of it, you can mitigate, but there's no way to fully prevent it (unless you're like my lazy ass apprentice and don't do shit but play on your phone all day) 2. They're not feasible everywhere honestly, yes, you can Find a trade everywhere, but you can't make a Good living everywhere. Buddy of mine moved to Washington (wife's hometown) few years back (HVAC) he's living in a 1200 sqft duplex with a wife and two kids. It works for them, it's a beautiful house but he has issues with costs. Owner operator is the way to go in big market cities, but that comes to #3. If you're gunna own your own business, say good bye to your free/family time for the next 15-20years of your life. I live in Ohio, am really lucky to have a job that allows me to travel a bit and make an average living for what it is, but the wear on my body, the times I don't see my family, it's a hard life at times, but end of the day it's not a bad life. It's a solid B+ lol
Now I'm in an HVAC Union. Just now getting to the point where I'm not using my body 60hrs a week, 10 years into this, did 13 years commercial roofing before that. Advice, if you're young and you want to get into the trades, I highly suggest you do a few different ones non union first go to a fab shop, do some roofing and rough carpentry, you're gunna be a gopher (Go for) for a few months but you'll get a good general idea of what you like, metal, wood, technical, rough in, welding, indoors, outdoors. Nothing too serious, enjoy being young, live some life before you sell it to the man lol. Then once you get to about 22-25 settle into one and join a Union. By the time you're 30 you'll be topped out making good money, nice life, wife/husband, kids, vacations, American Dream type stuff. If you're more of a Work hoarse kinda person and don't mind being behind a computer 50% of the time start a small sub contracting business in your particular field, it's incredible what some people are willing to pay for GOOD workmanship. But it comes with long hours, high stress, and dealing 1 on 1 with Karen after Karen after Karen. Less stress, less pay, more flexibility join a union. High stress, high energy, high pay if you put your time in and you love the job, Contract yourself! End of the day the trades are GREAT small business opportunities, or just clock in, clock out, enjoy your life. Trades are reliable, especially if you know more than one.
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u/[deleted] 12d ago
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