<p>@ Niquii -</p>
<p>Of course that’s the ‘right’ way to do it. We’ve all been told that for well over a generation. Everyone should know to start saving for college as soon as their child is born, but for many it doesn’t happen.</p>
<p>Some parents just don’t envision their kids going to college. Perhaps they didn’t go to college themselves and don’t believe their children will take that path. Perhaps they struggled in school and think their children will do the same. Sometime even if those parents could afford to put a little money away, they just don’t think it’s necessary until it’s too late.</p>
<p>For others, it’s just not a financial possibility. For myself as a single mom, I paid all my bills, but didn’t have a lot left over at the end of each month. Could I have lived a less expensive lifestyle - I suppose I could have, I don’t have to own my own home, I could have rented a small apartment or lived in a trailer, but I’m pretty frugal as it is so at some point that would have meant sacrificing my son’s current lifestyle. But for some parents they are JUST getting by with their income and they really can’t manage to put anything into savings. I happen to live in an area with a fairly low cost of living and can cut corners and get by, but for those in high cost of living areas, the money really just isn’t there.</p>
<p>For others they have good intentions, but then…life happens. Some parents start saving, but then lose a job and have to use that money to provide food and shelter. Or someone in the family develops health problems and there are related bills. Although they have good intentions and often have a plan, suddenly they just can’t make it happen.</p>
<p>But even for the parent’s that didn’t or couldn’t save a single penny, yet still don’t qualify for any need-based aid, if they want to put forth the time and effort and start making efforts as soon as their students enter HS there are options out there.</p>
<p>My S’s senior year was a little more stressful than I would have liked, but it was WELL worth it…he is WELL worth it. Besides I’m very type A and after he went off to college, I found myself VERY bored and now volunteer for 3 different organizations on top of my full time job. Helping him navigate everything he needed to that year gave me something to do. :)</p>