Additional Coverage:
- We have 5 kids and live on my husband’s public school salary. We have no way of saving for their college education. (newsbreak.com)
A recent photograph captured a young girl taking a family photo with her cellphone, highlighting a moment in the busy lives of a family with five children, ranging from 5 to 16 years old, who all attend public schools. The parents, a public school teacher and a freelancer, face the daunting task of planning for their children’s future education without the financial means to fund college.
Both parents come from backgrounds where self-funding for college was the norm, with no financial assistance from their families. They relied on scholarships and loans for their education. The mother, in particular, secured a full-tuition scholarship by becoming her high school’s valedictorian.
In a household where money is tight, the parents strive to teach their children the value of finding creative ways to fund their own college educations. Their oldest child is already exploring such options through an early college program, which allows high school students to take college courses at no cost, potentially easing the financial burden of higher education.
Despite their financial challenges, the couple has managed to start small savings for each child, contributing what they can, even if it’s as little as $25 per quarter. The mother recently opened a 529 college savings account for her eldest daughter as college approaches, emphasizing the importance of even minimal savings in supporting their children’s educational aspirations.
Through their efforts, the parents hope to instill in their children the importance of self-reliance and the value of education, even if they wish they could provide more substantial financial support. They believe that these lessons will not only help their children academically but will also provide valuable life lessons.