alabamagal
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 23, 2010 11:30:29 GMT -5
Posts: 8,118
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Post by alabamagal on Nov 9, 2016 15:20:19 GMT -5
I have a coworker who is already either $120k or $200k into parent plus loans, his daughter has been going to school for five years, and does not yet have an associates. There are some scary stories out there.  Holy crap. I would have cut that kid off a long time ago! Whenever I think I am being easy on my kids, I see a story like that and think I am doing ok! |
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alabamagal
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 23, 2010 11:30:29 GMT -5
Posts: 8,118
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Post by alabamagal on Nov 9, 2016 15:30:09 GMT -5
One more nugget of advice for when your kids are in college. When it gets near graduation time PLAN EARLY, especially if they go to a large school in a small town.
For FDIL's graduation 3 years ago, we started looking for hotels about 2 months in advance. We could only find ones an hour away, but in the opposite direction from where we were. We decided to leave home at 4am, drive 3 1/2 hours, spend some time there (both DS were students there so had place to hangout) and return home.
For FDIL's Masters graduation, we moved farther away so driving not an option, we stayed an hour away in the opposite direction.
You'd think I would learn.....
So 3 weeks ago my Mom and I were talking about DS's graduation. He goes to a large university about an hour away from Atlanta. They have close to 100,000 attend football games, so i didn't think getting a hotel would be a problem for graduation. When we looked 3 weeks ago for early May 2017, we could only find a few places within an hours drive that even had spots. Some were $500 per night for rooms that would normally be under $100. My mom did find 2 rooms for decent price, but she just realized that they were smoking rooms. I am thinking we are back to the 1 hour away places.
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debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,349 
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Post by debthaven on Nov 10, 2016 18:23:53 GMT -5
Point being, the Brits talk funny. Your kid's gonna come back talking like that, so be prepared.
My DH, his Dad, already talks like that. I'm used to it. 
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debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,349
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Post by debthaven on Nov 10, 2016 20:00:56 GMT -5
Wow Alabama ... I know you have to reserve early for graduations but I get it. We reserved 9 months before for DS1's graduation (the day we found out the date) and there were almost no rooms left, but we got a decent price. For DS2 we reserved 4 months in advance, and ditto on the price. DS2's school only gives the graduation date 3 months in advance (because France) but since I work there I had advance notice. DD's school doesn't do a graduation ceremony (most French schools don't). For DS3 it will be craziness as well, AND super expensive. That's still a while away though.  And Apple ... just. no. words.  |
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8 Bit WWBG
Administrator
Your Money admin
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 8:57:29 GMT -5
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Post by 8 Bit WWBG on Nov 11, 2016 11:35:36 GMT -5
...:::"For FDIL's graduation 3 years ago, we started looking for hotels about 2 months in advance.":::...
Amateur! My parents booked their hotel room at the beginning of my senior year -- the moment they were given the date of commencement.
Seriously though, sage advice. The school calendar is published well in advance and if you are in an area with many schools, you don't want to risk not having a place to stay. The hotels all know when the ceremony is going to be and have priced themselves accordingly.
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