<p>Do check the benefits thing. If you are currently paying for separate health insurance policies that aren’t covered by your work places, run the numbers for the new ACA insurance plans both ways - married and unmarried. There may be significant differences in those figures that also need to be accounted for in your planning.</p>
<p>very good`points in the 2 previous posts. I hadn’t even thought of it from that perspective.</p>
<p>In addition to health insurance and other benefits, I would also humbly suggest that you consider in your calculations the social benefits of marriage as well. This contract of commitment has significant (although difficult to quantify) value, especially when you or your fiance experience life’s inevitable problems.</p>
<p>I am in the same boat. My fianc</p>
<p>“Forced”?! Who is “forcing” anybody to do anything? </p>
<p>If you’re both legal adults, go get married. No one is stopping you (well, provided that you live in a state with marriage equality or you’re a heterosexual couple, but I digress). Yes, the trade-off is that you might lose FA, but that is certainly not “forcing” you to not get married.</p>
<p>I hope the third times the charm GG, but maybe waiting is for the best.</p>
<p>not be cynical or wary of marrying an attorney when you are so young BUT…his already honest attitude in being unable to help with financial support for college costs, despite his income, may set the tone for your entire marriage. Not to mention the possibility of getting wrapped up in married life and being the wife of an attorney who sometimes must entertain and socialize for the sake of his practice, would make me pause. Do not put his needs before your own. What’s the rush? You are very young. Finish your own degree and become the person you are meant to be BEFORE marrying anyone. If your relationship is meant to last, he will be there when YOU are financially ready to make the whole commitment. Marriage is a 100-100% deal… Divorce is 50-50% (and sometimes not that good) And If he makes you sign a pre-nup…RUN!</p>
<p>Also keep in mind that once you get married, your income will count as far as his law schoo loan payments and any undergrad debt that he may have. </p>
<p>If he is repaying his law school loans through IBR or PAYE, those payments will increase once you start working as they must take your income as the spouse int consideration. Depending on how much money you make when you start working, if you are married, he may no longer be eligible for IRB because there is a cap on income. Then the two of you will be struggling to pay off both yours and his educational debt</p>
<p>“Forced”?! Who is “forcing” anybody to do anything?</p>
<p>If you’re both legal adults, go get married. No one is stopping you (well, provided that you live in a state with marriage equality or you’re a heterosexual couple, but I digress). Yes, the trade-off is that you might lose FA, but that is certainly not “forcing” you to not get married. "</p>
<p>There are tradeoffs to being married. You do know that you will likely be paying more taxes, for example and may lose some low income benefits. The whole idea of getting married is that the two of your will be making commitments to each other, financial certainly included. At what point does one draw the line? If someone marries a person with high income, you thing that fin aid should still be offered? I don’t feel one bit sorry for you. </p>
<p>For those getting huge aid packages, such as from private schools, because your family is considered in need, and if you marry, it means an insufferable amount that has to be paid, then you wait. For a few thousand, you consider it doable.</p>
<p>The OP is currently a sophomore, and will be a junior next academic year. See post 5 Axand.</p>
<p>And many posters upstream DID consider this.</p>
<p>I love it that you and your boyfriend want to get married. That is refreshing in this day and age and I hope you have a wonderful, happy marriage.</p>
<p>That said, don’t start your marriage without a plan to deal with his law school debt and without a plan to ensure you finish your degree. There are far more important issues than whether you will still qualify for your current financial aid. And as nice as his salary is, $80K does not go as far as one might think, especially with a lot of debt.</p>
<p>You both need to sit down with a financial counselor and get everything on the table and look at what your finances are today and what they will be once you join your finances. Get a Dave Ramsey book or attend a Dave Ramsey class somewhere (or some other financial advice, but I recommend Ramsey.)</p>
<p>You need to make sure you are on the same page when it comes to spending money and saving money, and if you both want to get married so badly, then you both will be willing to open up all the bank statements and loan statements together and come up with a plan to pay off his debt as soon as possible and for you to finish your degree. You need a very specific money plan and budget in place - and you need this individually even if you don’t end up getting married.</p>
<p>Your decisions now about your joined financial household will have so much impact later on your marriage and your future children. Finances are the number one threat to marriages these days, and if you and your boyfriend can do everything you can before you are married to deal with these questions, the better for the success of your marriage.</p>
<p>Ah, I see someone deleted a post Thumper was commenting on. I was wondering why all these two week old posts were coming back.</p>