re: Should parents supports their kids in college?

My husband and I both graduated without a penny in debt due to the help of our parents and we were extremely grateful. We DID each have a job on campus -- for me it was my shopping/going out with friends money AND I learned some work ethics/responsibility (and it was a BUSY student job .. not a sit and study job).

Our oldest had the higher level of tops and a really good scholarship for 4 years that has continued into grad school. It didn't cover everything but we were glad to pay the $500 or so in fees that weren't covered each semester. We bought his books but he didn't typically need money for living but when he did we helped him out. I am glad that we were able to and he was appreciative BUT had we NOT been able to he'd have figured it out on his own without issue. Currently, he's on an assistantship and in graduate school and working as part of that assistantship.

It's a wonderful thing to be ABLE to do as long as the kid "does their part" (good grades; best effort; he did have a job on campus for a semester or 2 .. gotta have SOMETHING to put on a resume besides "drinking"). I do NOT think that parents should go into debt paying for their children's college however or feel bad if they just can't. They can help in other ways as occasional "Walmart" trips and some groceries here and there.