<p>Thanks for all your help....last question - does anyone know if non custodial parent gets to see all too when he logs in to complete his part?</p>
<p>Are we seeing a bit of a pattern emerging? Does it seem that most folks who know they have zero need, and are filing for other reasons (merit aid, qualifying for loans), are more unlikely to want their kids to get the detailed picture that Fafsa would allow (not that it's that detailed) ?</p>
<p>I wouldn't make my kid waive health privacy. I'd be worried that they might want to see a mental health professional or something but be reluctant to have me find out.</p>
<p>curmudgeon - Well, that is part of my reason for not caring if the kids see my finances or not, nothing to see. But even if I did...I would want to be able to trust my kids so they know I can afford to go to the nice nursing home.</p>
<p>In our case we established the position almost 2 decades ago that we are the parents, they are the kids. Everything is on a need to know basis. Frankly I don't believe any person who hasn't done his/her time paying rent, paying utility bills, paying taxes, buying groceries, paying for transportation, and the myriad of expenses it takes to just live has any appreciation for the dollar. Since kids have not done much of the above, they don't need to "see" our financial situation because they will not have any benchmark to even understand what it really means. They will have a much greater understanding when they are really adults and standing on their own two feet. Right now they only need to know that we will spend XX amount on thier college education and we can afford to house, feed and clothe them and occasionally put gas in their car and support ourselves in our dottage. And all of that is very close to the truth.</p>
<p>curm-- we did not have zero need. We had quite a lot, especially the last few year. S could see if he wanted to, and knows what our basic state is. he just didn't need to, because he does not have any reason to doubt what we tell him ( and wouldn't it be sad if he did?)</p>
<p>garland, I know that it is not a perfect 1 to 1, but doesn't it seem that more folks above the need line are of one opinion, those below of another? Not all. Just that there seems so far to be a trend.</p>
<p>To counter the trend - I think we are below the need line (or above? i'm not sure which is which), anyway, we probably won't fill out the FAFSA this year. But we're okay with our kids knowing our financial info - we talk about money in front of them, leave documents around the house when waiting to be filed, etc. Mostly we do this because it would feel strange to do it any other way. But also I can remember how competent I felt when I filled out the financial forms for myself as a college student. My newly-divorced mom was too busy to help, so she gave me her tax forms and left me to it. I learned a lot, felt well-informed, and probably was more careful about money during my college years as a result. After the college years, well...</p>
<p>Good idea calreader - I think I will let kid fill out forms; we aren't getting any aid anyway (but I think I should file them because I'll have three in college at the same time eventually and then maybe get aid) so she can't really mess up too much.</p>