[DebbieL]

Scanner, I don’t really know how to answer your question because I really don’t have things that tough. Honestly, if money were that tight I would be considering bettering my own education to get a better job for MYSELF – never mind my kids, lol.

My own story is that my parents were very supportive and willing to pay for university. Guess what? I wasn’t ready at 18. I had no goal that I was working towards (ie: no end in sight) and I failed miserably (I was an honor student all through school up to that point with no effort – university shocked the hell out of me). I quit, went into the real world, had a kid and went back to college a second time. The difference was amazing. This time I was ready. I got top marks in everything. Fast forward to the present time (I’m 37), and I recently started back to college again (this time for my accounting degree). I am paying for everything and working full time. I LOVE it. I will not have any student loans, and I’m finally at a point where I know what I want.

I had the opportunity with my parents, and I wasn’t ready and wasted it. I’m not sure whether or not I want to give my daughter the chance to blow my money on her wasting time in college if she isn’t fully committed. I may go the reimbursement route.

PS - I'm from Canada too (like Snowgirl) and I agree with her about the costs. My accounting degree will cost me about 13-14K total, and that will include all the perks through the college like a bus pass for the entire time I'm there, extended medical and dental plan for me and my family, etc. It's a great deal (and the quality of the education is top notch). I think tuition here only covers about 17% of the actual costs for our education. There are some privately owned colleges that are more, but all the public ones are non-profit organizations and supported through taxes, etc.