I wish we could post pictures here. My leather sectional is a hot mess. A new one would cost close to what many of the cars we’re talking about are worth (or more!). I kept putting off replacing it because of the dogs. At least BS is taking the heat off of them on that one now.
Love hearing about these high mileage Hondas! Mine has 115K and I am hopingto squeeze out another 150-200K from it.
My 2003 Odyssey died suddenly in January in back of my daughter’s dorm. It was quite an adventure. I replaced it with a 2017 CR-V that I hope will also last 15 years.
We have sacrificed any pretense of financial security. In a sense it was worth it, but we know that if we weather the next 4 years and our health holds up, we will both be working well into our 70s.
Gathering my materials to begin applying for jobs this week in my old field. The pay won’t be much, but I’ll sacrifice to ensure job flexibility.
Best of luck in your search, @vwlizard !
Good luck @vwlizard !!
I’ve met my twin soul in @twinsmama 
My fear: Will we find employers willing to employ us in our 70s?
@calimex certainly not in my field of IT! I need a reboot once I get to retirement age. Real estate has always been my love…well HGTV!
Luckily a large number of my colleagues are over 65…with a few being over 70. I think they work to keep busy, but no one will need to know that I will still be there trying to pay for education. We’ve just told our kids they’ll have to come back and take care of us once they’re successful!!!
Luckily, both of us have jobs that can be continued as long as our brains and typing fingers hold out. I may eventually be able to work from home, too. But @buuzn03 I have probably told our kids the same! 
^^same here. I think I’ve told my oldest I just expect a grilled cheese sandwich once a week, thrown down the basement stairs of her house where I will be living, so many times, she actually believes it.
@preppedparent :)) I just hope she doesn’t couple it with tomato soup!
@vwlizard You should keep in mind that people in the $150k-$350k who don’t qualify for FA will also not get FA for all of the school sponsored study abroad and vacation trips. You will see kids on full or nearly full FA taking those trips as well as kids whose families have greater income. It’s a strange dynamic. Even at $350k, a $75k tuition is going to be 25-35% of your post-tax income. That’s steep. FA of any amount is a real gift just from the tax-avoidance aspect.
So, your kid may have to sacrifice the fancy trips that most other kids are enjoying.
We just received our taxes and tuition (1 BS 1 college- no FA) is indeed about half our income. I doubt we are alone. And my oldest makes a mean grilled cheese thank G-d.
Us, too @chemmchimney -just the first in BS and 1/2 our income is gone…my kid DSs are well-versed in Mac n cheese, although that is clearly not my fave. And DS has a special ramen cooker for the microwave…although I didn’t think I’d have to see anymore of that since college.
Won’t work in our house between the gluten free bread and vegan cheese (due to celiac and allergies), we’re pushing into prime rib territory on price. It’s going to be rice and beans over here.
Resumes being sent out this week.
Lizardkid has been in DC all week on a school trip. Not one text and I can tell his phone isn’t charged through our tracking app. So this is what my future holds…
@vwlizard I have celiac as well and much of husband’s family is dairy intolerant so maybe we should start a commune for not-quite-wealthy-enough-food-challenged BS parents.
Ps I make a dairy free gluten free vegetarian friendly Thanksgiving every year- your rice and beans make the cut!
@chemmchimney - I secretly think my son is going to BS for the food.