My Mom never bought on credit (or at least not credit as we know today). My Dad did and that caused some debates in our house, lol.
I don’t buy on credit (other than major appliances or car repairs).
Oh gosh. I know that feeling. My oldest is a senior now and even though most colleges have waived the application fee, all these things cost money. And now junior is taking the SATS, more money, and yearbook money is due ($100), etc.
Last year, my junior (then a soph) had to buy her ring. I paid the deposit but the rest was due early December so I borrowed it from my senior (then a junior). I was planning on paying her back but she said “don’t worry about it, you don’t have to pay me back.” So my oldest basically bought her sister her ring. My husband was adamant about paying her back but I said no...she offered and what a great gift the sisters shared. Oldest treated her littlest sister to the movies and lunch today. I think it’s wonderful. These are the things the kids will really cherish.
Congrats on the MCAT prep course, too. These are the things that are really important.
Funny thing, my husband is such a softie when it comes to this stuff. I’m usually the rigid one, counting pennies. But he also doesn’t know girls and all their accessories, etc. Anyway, he was at a lunch...at Prospectors(sp) - a bar/restaurant in this area, paid for by their client Verizon. So I call him, not knowing this, asking if I could order this gift and he’s “oh sure, just get it” so I immediately knew he had a couple. I call him on it and he tells me if there’s anything else I want to buy to do it now, lol. It was hilarious.
Joking aside, we really do have to cut back more so than we already do. We live within our means and it’s getting more difficult to do so.
So, how do you get the colleges to waive the application fee?
My senior is applying to everything in sight and it costs anywhere from $40 to $60 per application.
It was so much easier with my son, he is the academic whiz and knew he would get into whatever college he applied to so he only applied to the three he really wanted to attend. Of course, he got in and now attends a great school.
But, my daughter is more of an abstract thinker, imaginative and creative. Her grades are good but not stellar and her SAT could be better. If we could avoid some of the fees that would be great.
It must make you feel good to see the bond between your daughters. With 5 sisters I was always at odds with a couple but then had a couple more to hang with. Now we are all middle aged and we get along great but live in separate parts of the country.