Comments on: Employees face tough saving choice: College or retirement

By: Alison Farrin

Alison Farrin — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:38:44 +0000

Education is important, but here in California, if you can afford childcare out of pocket, you can afford college out of pocket. A child can do 2 years of community college for $1500 on an auto transfer into the UC system, which costs about $20K for the last two years. The child can earn 1/2 of that just working a summer job, so parents are on the hook for $52 a week for 4 years. Worst case, slow your 401(k) deferrals down for the duration of the time they are in college – but don’t save for college when you are young at the expense of your 401(k)

By: Gary Czachor

Gary Czachor — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:54:08 +0000

There are additional choices in paying for college that you are not taking into account. Service in the Armed Forces will give you an education in itself as well as help pay for college. Or more basically yet….get a job and work your way through. Teach self sufficient behaviors to your kids so that you are not still supporting them when you want to retire. The other option is to pay for everything for the kids then when they can not retain a position due to having to do actual “work” at work, you can pay for a therapist to help them understand how rough they have it!!

By: Lilly

Lilly — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:03:16 +0000

Education is important & having the applicable experience is more so on a resume.
I’m already discussing the college options with my 13 year old. Community college for the basics, then transfer to state or U. Work through college, so when she’s ready to hit the big time, she’ll already have work experience to give her the advantage. With luck she’ll have a great job early on.