College tuition question

[crisi]

That's correct. Hard work alone will not get you ahead in life. But it IS a very critical component. And NOT working hard is a sure fire way to NOT succeed.

Did the guy who works the blue collar job work hard in school too? Does he have an entrepreneurial spirit? Does he act on his ideas? Has he attempted to further his education as needed to move ahead in his job? Has he sought out higher level positions as they came available?

Undervalue hard work and we are sure to see less of it as a nation.

Yes, actually - well except I don't think he's much of an entrepreneur - and that's probably a good thing - hard work is not enough to create a successful business and he has kids to feed and house. He also has I expect a below average IQ, was raised in a blue collar household. There isn't a career path for "factory labor" that doesn't include Supervisor - and most of the firms around here want a degree to move into "management." And to get a college degree you need to pass College Algebra, which isn't a capability everyone has.

I went to college with a lot of people like this - because when I finally went back, I went to a night school that specialized in working adults. I saw a lot of people who just didn't have the brains to get through - even an easy state college. They wanted to - these were working adults who saw college was a path to bettering themselves, and they worked for it. But they didn't have it.

Granted, I also saw people who thought they were entitled to a C for paying tuition and showing up once in a while - those folks I don't have sympathy for. But I really don't think its fair to lump everyone in unfortunate circumstances together, paint them with a broad brush, and say "you didn't work hard enough."

 

[EMAW_KSU]

This is why some of us repeatedly beat the drum about internet scammers. You never know if someone's story is a piece of fiction or a real need. The best advice to anyone who reads a hard luck story on the disboards and feels compelled to help out: Donate something to a local charity! Fill a backpack with school supplies and give it to your PTA to pass along to a child whose family is struggling. Buy Christmas gifts for a Salvation Army Angel Tree child. Donate holiday food or grocery gift cards to your local food pantry. Make a contribution to a worthy scholarship fund. BUT DON'T SEND MONEY OR GOODS TO AN INTERNET STRANGER!!

Is it OK to purchase raffle tickets?

 

[Alesia]

Is it OK to purchase raffle tickets?

Oh yeah - I forgot about the raffle tickets!

 

[momxx5]

I think I might just have to invite a fellow DIS from NC to come on over and see exactly what my family is dealing with.

1. I have NEVER asked for any money, ever. I have asked for advice to get good deals, but never for direct money.
2. I have NEVER recieved any money for anyone on the DIS boads. EVER
3. We only have one vehichle (all we can afford) around here places will NOT hire teenagers who do not have their own car. Both boys spent the whole year searching for jobs.
4. My sister send my DD her plane ticket because she know that DD had a terrible 8th grade and a visit to her home in FL would be fun. DD has made tons of friends from neighborhood.
5. We have NO immediate family that is in any position to help us.
6. DH is a "contracted instructor" not a professor at a private low paying college. DS is going to a much larger state school. DD is taking home less than $2,000 per month for a family of 7. Figure out how that works....it doesn't.
7. DH has his masters and worked hard for same company climbing corporate ladder to earn 6 figures in which we were comfortable, not over the top.
8. After crash of 2008, his job was terminated. Along with 30+ others in our small town. There are no chances to get such jobs anymore around here. We are trying to stay here until boys graduate....because of Drum Major, chance at being Val, all counyt/all region football player with chance to play in college (rising senior) and now rising junior is in many clubs and named Drum Major.
9. Trips to NY and WDW were gifted from band scholarships to Drum Major and as reward to hard work and volunteer time given. We cannot give financially so I work my tail off doing manual labor volunteering in all areas of school.
10. Raffle was huge success, selling out withing 6 hours, all prizes donated by and Sklyer now has her new wheelchair!!! Shame on you for even dragging that into this mix.

I have just started a full time job this week. I will making fair money, however I will be carrying the health insurance which will eat 1/3 of my paycheck. However we will have insurance. We could qualify for medicaid but choose to carry our own insurance. I will now be working 2 jobs. I could not be happier.

I am sure I am leaving some of the particular critics info out. AND I had tried to avoid telling all because of the negative comments that will be posted. As far as me still being here. I have been nothing but nice to all. Its the posters like a few here who are downright mean, borderline heartless and seriously lacking compassion that I wonder how they get away with the obvious harrassment(sp?).

Come walk a few days in my shoes and I think you may change your minds and at least follow the golden rule "if you have nothing nice to say".

The last words are that I hope and prayer that none of you will ever have to face some of the things that life has thrown our way. Losing major incomd job, eating up savings, losing family car, struggling to provide food, clothing, etc for 5.
I honestly don't think some of you would fair a well.
It is with the Lord's blessing that we will make it and have done so far with the love of the Lord and terrific close friends.

 

[Alesia]

I think I might just have to invite a fellow DIS from NC to come on over and see exactly what my family is dealing with.

1. I have NEVER asked for any money, ever. I have asked for advice to get good deals, but never for direct money.
2. I have NEVER recieved any money for anyone on the DIS boads. EVER
3. We only have one vehichle (all we can afford) around here places will NOT hire teenagers who do not have their own car. Both boys spent the whole year searching for jobs.
4. My sister send my DD her plane ticket because she know that DD had a terrible 8th grade and a visit to her home in FL would be fun. DD has made tons of friends from neighborhood.
5. We have NO immediate family that is in any position to help us.
6. DH is a "contracted instructor" not a professor at a private low paying college. DS is going to a much larger state school. DD is taking home less than $2,000 per month for a family of 7. Figure out how that works....it doesn't.
7. DH has his masters and worked hard for same company climbing corporate ladder to earn 6 figures in which we were comfortable, not over the top.
8. After crash of 2008, his job was terminated. Along with 30+ others in our small town. There are no chances to get such jobs anymore around here. We are trying to stay here until boys graduate....because of Drum Major, chance at being Val, all counyt/all region football player with chance to play in college (rising senior) and now rising junior is in many clubs and named Drum Major.
9. Trips to NY and WDW were gifted from band scholarships to Drum Major and as reward to hard work and volunteer time given. We cannot give financially so I work my tail off doing manual labor volunteering in all areas of school.
10. Raffle was huge success, selling out withing 6 hours, all prizes donated by and Sklyer now has her new wheelchair!!! Shame on you for even dragging that into this mix.

I have just started a full time job this week. I will making fair money, however I will be carrying the health insurance which will eat 1/3 of my paycheck. However we will have insurance. We could qualify for medicaid but choose to carry our own insurance. I will now be working 2 jobs. I could not be happier.

I am sure I am leaving some of the particular critics info out. AND I had tried to avoid telling all because of the negative comments that will be posted. As far as me still being here. I have been nothing but nice to all. Its the posters like a few here who are downright mean, borderline heartless and seriously lacking compassion that I wonder how they get away with the obvious harrassment(sp?).

Come walk a few days in my shoes and I think you may change your minds and at least follow the golden rule "if you have nothing nice to say".

The last words are that I hope and prayer that none of you will ever have to face some of the things that life has thrown our way. Losing major incomd job, eating up savings, losing family car, struggling to provide food, clothing, etc for 5.
I honestly don't think some of you would fair a well.
It is with the Lord's blessing that we will make it and have done so far with the love of the Lord and terrific close friends.

Do you honestly think there aren't other people here who are struggling financially? Do you think you're the only on here who ever has to decide between paying the electricity bill and buying groceries?

Maybe you should take your own advice and look at how you portray yourself and your family from an outsider's perspective: Nearly every single thread you've ever started has been about how terrible your financial circumstances are. And you know what? I believe you, I really do. The last decade has been really hard on a lot of people, but they don't turn everything (good or bad) that happens to them into an excuse to complain about their financial situation.

Your son graduated at the top of his class - that's a great achievement and you should be proud. Instead, you've turned it into another reason to complain. Do you honestly think that your son is going to be the first kid to have to get a student loan? That isn't going to diminish his college experience in any way. He'll be fine. You should be thrilled that he has the opportunity to go to school at very little cost to himself.

It's impossible to listen to someone complain about the same thing over and over again and not think that they're fishing for something. Maybe if you would learn to count your blessings, people wouldn't be so suspicious of your motives. Okay, so you're not rich. Or even middle class. So what? You have 5 children who are healthy, and happy and thriving. Yet you (unintentionally, I'm sure) portray them as a burden.

Maybe we're all wrong and you're not trying to scam people. But is it really so difficult to see why other people would see you that way?

 

[duffy]

The last words are that I hope and prayer that none of you will ever have to face some of the things that life has thrown our way. Losing major incomd job, eating up savings, losing family car, struggling to provide food, clothing, etc for 5.
I honestly don't think some of you would fair a well.
It is with the Lord's blessing that we will make it and have done so far with the love of the Lord and terrific close friends.

Welcome to the real world. There are millions of people out there who struggle to provide for their families, have lost jobs, cars, etc.

Can you explain what happened to the American Doll?

 

[crashbb]

I am sure I am leaving some of the particular critics info out. AND I had tried to avoid telling all because of the negative comments that will be posted.

The thing is, every single one of the things you've listed, you have mentioned here before, so I don't get how you "tried to avoid telling all". That is the point - every single time you post, you post about needing something/money or something that your "good" kids are sadly going to have to do without.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Alesia great post and Duffy great question.

I would like to add to the idea that you turned around a huge positive in your son's life and literally took all the wind out of his sails. I feel so bad for him.

My daughter graduated Salutatorian. (yes not as high as your son, but still a great accomplishment) I am SO SO PROUD of her. She could have gone to any college she chose (she was accepted to all) but chose our local University so that the amount of loans she would acquire would be minimal compared to Fordham and or Boston University. Yes she has LOANS. Yes we have to contribute and she didn't have health insurance until she started college. If your son is going to a University that he needs to dorm, it may be in his best interest to stay home, go to a local and or community college for the first two years. Does it sting - Heck yes. But it is the responsible thing to do. You made mistakes, we all do, but trying to put your children into the same situation as you are in is irresponsible in my opinion. I would guide him to NOT make the mistakes you did. You will not die of embarrassment if he is not at the school of "CHOICE".

Every day my daughter makes me more proud of her. She doesn't have a car but still has found 3 jobs (she doesn't work them all at once). She works on campus, at a paid internship, and a local pizzeria. She busts her butt to make things work.

While I know of the area you live in, I obviously don't know exactly where, but I can tell you that the idea that you won't get hired without a car just doesn't fly in my book.

Have you ever considered that maybe it's time to give up all the lovely cell phones the kids have, the cable, internet, etc? I know you will come back and say you did, everyone "says" they did, but you know what, it rarely is true.

We live paycheck to paycheck and I shop at Salvation Army, second hand stores, and we have one vehicle. I make things work. But when I was injured and then fell ill, we down-sized our home and cut a lot out of our budget. I am assuming in your area your housing is a huge expense. We all have to make sacrifices for our families. The difference between you and I is that I am proud of the changes we made. I am not embarrassed that we had to move, make changes that would essentially take my children out of the "cool" side of town. They are strong and proud because they have seen us struggle but we still remained honest and true to ourselves and for them.

Consider how your son must feel knowing you are what appears to be ashamed of him because he might have to take out some loans. The system is working exactly as it should. No one is singling out you and your son. It is what it is! You might want to remember that if his grants and scholarships are more than his tuition/books (NO housing is not considered) he will be hit with a tax form as income. (I think this may have already been covered, but it can be a substantial hit on your taxes.)

The majority of us do walk in your shoes. You just choose not to see it.

 

[JB2K]

OP, OK...let's look at it, this way...

Whenever anyone comes to a message board catering to big spenders (that's what drives Disney boards and parks -- people spending big bucks in Central Florida and Southern California -- and for those who disagree, the very motto of the BB is "Any dollar saved or earned is another dollar for Disney!") continuously posting their financial woes on a website that has thousands of users, the person making the post is opening themselves up for criticism.

If things are truly as bad as you say they are, one of the very first things I would cut would be the internet access/pay TV, as I would most likely be too busy working multiple jobs just to get by in this post-financial crisis world.

Quite frankly, I wouldn't have time for the DIS, or any message board type websites, for that matter.

Just my take on the situation...

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

OP, OK...let's look at it, this way...

Whenever anyone comes to a message board catering to big spenders (that's what drives Disney boards and parks -- people spending big bucks in Central Florida and Southern California -- and for those who disagree, the very motto of the BB is "Any dollar saved or earned is another dollar for Disney!") continuously posting their financial woes on a website that has thousands of users, the person making the post is opening themselves up for criticism.

If things are truly as bad as you say they are, one of the very first things I would cut would be the internet access/pay TV, as I would most likely be too busy working multiple jobs just to get by in this post-financial crisis world.

Quite frankly, I wouldn't have time for the DIS, or any message board type websites, for that matter.

Just my take on the situation...

A-men!

 

[JB2K]

Breaking it all down...

I think I might just have to invite a fellow DIS from NC to come on over and see exactly what my family is dealing with.

I have no doubt things are tough for you and your family, that's not the issue...

1. I have NEVER asked for any money, ever. I have asked for advice to get good deals, but never for direct money.

Of course not -- that would be a direct violation of the board's TOS. but at the same time, would you care to disclose what goes-on between you and "The Angels" in the PM world?

2. I have NEVER recieved any money for anyone on the DIS boads. EVER

OK - but we know someone sent you an expensvie doll, so your daughter could have a good Christmas, and you came to this board asking how to sell it on eBay...

3. We only have one vehichle (all we can afford) around here places will NOT hire teenagers who do not have their own car. Both boys spent the whole year searching for jobs.

So, in NC, if a teenager doesn't have a car, they can't get ANY job? Sorry, I don't buy that one, as I live near St. Louis, and when my local Target store closes at 10:00, I see a lot of folks driving by to pick-up their non-car owning family members.

4. My sister send my DD her plane ticket because she know that DD had a terrible 8th grade and a visit to her home in FL would be fun. DD has made tons of friends from neighborhood.

That's fine, but before your sister sent the ticket, you came here looking for advice on how to buy a ticket to Florida from Triad or RDU.

5. We have NO immediate family that is in any position to help us.

You, and many others -- anyone on this board who is over 40 most likely does not have both parents, and even if they did, money could be an issue with other family members.

6. DH is a "contracted instructor" not a professor at a private low paying college. DS is going to a much larger state school. DD is taking home less than $2,000 per month for a family of 7. Figure out how that works....it doesn't.

OK, so your husband is not an actual faculty member, but a contractor -- I understand how that all works. But "DD is taking home less than $2,000 per month for a family of 7"?? I really hope you meant to say "DH"...

7. DH has his masters and worked hard for same company climbing corporate ladder to earn 6 figures in which we were comfortable, not over the top.

It's not hard to figure that your husband was most likely working in the financial services industry (or something closely-related), and since much of today's banking world revolves around North Carolina with giants such as Bank of America and BB&T both having their HQ in your state (and the near-failure of Wachovia/fire sale to Wells Fargo, and Royal Bank of Canada suddenly selling their RBC U.S. franchise to PNC Bank, and killing a bunch of back office jobs in NC, since those jobs already existed in PNC's home of Pittsburgh), I wouldn't be surprised if there are hundreds of others in your local area in the same situation. It's real life...

8. After crash of 2008, his job was terminated. Along with 30+ others in our small town. There are no chances to get such jobs anymore around here. We are trying to stay here until boys graduate....because of Drum Major, chance at being Val, all counyt/all region football player with chance to play in college (rising senior) and now rising junior is in many clubs and named Drum Major.

It's admirable that you want to "do it for the kids", but feeding the family and keeping a roof over their heads should come first. If your husband still has marketable skills, perhaps relocation should be a consideration...

9. Trips to NY and WDW were gifted from band scholarships to Drum Major and as reward to hard work and volunteer time given. We cannot give financially so I work my tail off doing manual labor volunteering in all areas of school.

OK, but if I were in your financial situation and was "gifted" trips to WDW and NYC, the Budget Board would be the last place on earth I would come to talk about it. Think about it...

10. Raffle was huge success, selling out withing 6 hours, all prizes donated by and Sklyer now has her new wheelchair!!! Shame on you for even dragging that into this mix.

What shame? Especially, since you said it would appear on a segment on your local Fox station (which, as of yesterday, still has not made it to the internet). You have to take a look back and admit the whole thing didn't "pass the sniff test"...

I have just started a full time job this week. I will making fair money, however I will be carrying the health insurance which will eat 1/3 of my paycheck. However we will have insurance. We could qualify for medicaid but choose to carry our own insurance. I will now be working 2 jobs. I could not be happier.

Congrats -- when the going gets tough, everyone in the family has to roll their sleeves up and contribute. In the end, it makes the family stronger.

I am sure I am leaving some of the particular critics info out. AND I had tried to avoid telling all because of the negative comments that will be posted. As far as me still being here. I have been nothing but nice to all. Its the posters like a few here who are downright mean, borderline heartless and seriously lacking compassion that I wonder how they get away with the obvious harrassment(sp?).

I haven't seen "harrassment" so much as I have seen people questioning your posts -- you have to admit, there are certain things about your posts that give the seasoned reader pause...

Come walk a few days in my shoes and I think you may change your minds and at least follow the golden rule "if you have nothing nice to say".

So, you are saying you can post anything you please, and the rest of us who may not agree with you can't respond? Uh-uh (shaking head) ...only DISboards admin/mods can make/enforce the rules.

The last words are that I hope and prayer that none of you will ever have to face some of the things that life has thrown our way. Losing major incomd job, eating up savings, losing family car, struggling to provide food, clothing, etc for 5.
I honestly don't think some of you would fair a well.

Didn't you just say something similar? That's what a lot of us are getting at -- these "woe is me" posts. We get it. Many people here have been there/done that, but they don't choose to make it a public issue.

My simple advice to you, momxx5 -- when things do finally improve, don't go "over the top" and do big-ticket things like leasing the Benz. By that time, your kids will be grown/near grown, so if you learn to live within your means, everything else will fall into place.

 

[Planogirl]

I personally believe that the OP has taken a financial hit and might just be handling it poorly. I couldn't imagine dropping hints that I wanted certain things to begin with much less accepting anything from strangers. I can sympathize with maybe not knowing exactly what to do though.

As for the doll, that one looks wrong no matter what the circumstances were. I can't see any way around it.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

I think I might just have to invite a fellow DIS from NC to come on over and see exactly what my family is dealing with.


7. DH has his masters and worked hard for same company climbing corporate ladder to earn 6 figures in which we were comfortable, not over the top.

Most people would consider making 6 figures and having 6 figure credit card debt over the top.

 

[Marionnette]

I personally believe that the OP has taken a financial hit and might just be handling it poorly. I couldn't imagine dropping hints that I wanted certain things to begin with much less accepting anything from strangers. I can sympathize with maybe not knowing exactly what to do though.

As for the doll, that one looks wrong no matter what the circumstances were. I can't see any way around it.

The OP's financial woes began long before the job loss. The American Girl doll and the "disboard angels" post actually happened before the job loss.

My take on it is that the OP was living large before the rug was yanked out from under them. They ignored the signs when her husbands salary was reduced and didn't attempt to do anything about their debt and overspending until it was too late. Her house of cards collapsed when he lost that high-paying job 3 years ago and she still has not come to terms with what so many of us refer to as "the new normal".

 

[Southernmiss]

I think I might just have to invite a fellow DIS from NC to come on over and see exactly what my family is dealing with.

1. I have NEVER asked for any money, ever. I have asked for advice to get good deals, but never for direct money.
2. I have NEVER recieved any money for anyone on the DIS boads. EVER
3. We only have one vehichle (all we can afford) around here places will NOT hire teenagers who do not have their own car. Both boys spent the whole year searching for jobs. Maybe jobs are hard to come by, but a teen doesn't have to have a car to have a job--juggling one family car is hard, but can be done. DS had to get rides last year to work when he didn't have a car.
4. My sister send my DD her plane ticket because she know that DD had a terrible 8th grade and a visit to her home in FL would be fun. DD has made tons of friends from neighborhood.
5. We have NO immediate family that is in any position to help us. We have never expected our family to help us and they haven't ever
6. DH is a "contracted instructor" not a professor at a private low paying college. DS is going to a much larger state school. DD is taking home less than $2,000 per month for a family of 7. Figure out how that works....it doesn't.
7. DH has his masters and worked hard for same company climbing corporate ladder to earn 6 figures in which we were comfortable, not over the top.DH also has his masters, works very hard, has never made 6 figures and we can make it work comfortably. Budget save, Budget save-especially when things are going well
8. After crash of 2008, his job was terminated. Along with 30+ others in our small town. There are no chances to get such jobs anymore around here. We are trying to stay here until boys graduate....because of Drum Major, chance at being Val, all counyt/all region football player with chance to play in college (rising senior) and now rising junior is in many clubs and named Drum Major. It is a very difficult family decision to make, I completely understand, but if we could only make $2000 a month for a family of 6 we'd have to make the tough choice--kids are resillant and can flourish wherever they are.
9. Trips to NY and WDW were gifted from band scholarships to Drum Major and as reward to hard work and volunteer time given. We cannot give financially so I work my tail off doing manual labor volunteering in all areas of school. Good and expected, I am sure.
10. Raffle was huge success, selling out withing 6 hours, all prizes donated by and Sklyer now has her new wheelchair!!! Shame on you for even dragging that into this mix.

I have just started a full time job this week. I will making fair money, however I will be carrying the health insurance which will eat 1/3 of my paycheck. Healthcare for a family is expensive. Ours is outrageous and we'd certainly have much more $ each month, but it is very helpful to have for a family. However we will have insurance. We could qualify for medicaid but choose to carry our own insurance. I will now be working 2 jobs. I could not be happier.

I am sure I am leaving some of the particular critics info out. AND I had tried to avoid telling all because of the negative comments that will be posted. As far as me still being here. I have been nothing but nice to all. Its the posters like a few here who are downright mean, borderline heartless and seriously lacking compassion that I wonder how they get away with the obvious harrassment(sp?).

Come walk a few days in my shoes and I think you may change your minds and at least follow the golden rule "if you have nothing nice to say".

The last words are that I hope and prayer that none of you will ever have to face some of the things that life has thrown our way. Losing major incomd job, eating up savings, losing family car, struggling to provide food, clothing, etc for 5.
I honestly don't think some of you would fair a well.
It is with the Lord's blessing that we will make it and have done so far with the love of the Lord and terrific close friends.

Bolded red and blue are mine.

As I stated earlier in my post, we are very proud of our Val son and have never told him otherwise. We helped him to make the choice to go to a college that he could afford after reading the financial packages offered to him. Had he not gotten so much in scholarships, community college and living at home could have been a real option for him. Our local CCs are very good and DH and I started out at CC.

It's all in the perspective that you give it.

 

[RitaE]

I personally believe that the OP has taken a financial hit and might just be handling it poorly. I couldn't imagine dropping hints that I wanted certain things to begin with much less accepting anything from strangers. I can sympathize with maybe not knowing exactly what to do though.

As for the doll, that one looks wrong no matter what the circumstances were. I can't see any way around it.

I do believe that her husband lost a pretty well paying job. But it isn't hard to figure out that they were living WAY above their means before the job loss.

As for her belief that many of us wouldn't be able to handle what has happened to her - Well, I don't have a leased Mercedes Benz to lose in a bankruptcy and I'm not likely to have a Mercedes Benz by any means (purchase, loan, or lease) short of a lottery win. I'd venture to say few of us here do because we realize from the beginning that bad financial moves make it hard to survive setbacks.

I think having her income and more drastically - lack of access to credit cards and other financing has been a huge adjustment for her. Many people here call her "life of poverty" their everyday life.

 

[angierae]

My 17 year old is making $200 a week this summer. She doesn't have a car, or even her license. I leave the house early, drive a half hour to drop her off, and then double back for a half hour to go to work. I pick her up 2-3 days a week, my husband picks her up when he can, we get a family member or a friend to pick her up - she's been picked up by 4 different people this week alone. But we rearrange our schedules and go out of our way to make it work, so that she can work.

Money is tight all over. It sucks. But it's happening to millions of people. I would have hated to have to move my daughter out of her high school into a cheaper house, but if it was that or her having one or two pairs of shorts to last all summer, and not knowing how I was going to have grocery money, guess what? She'd have coped with switching schools.

There are needs, and there are wants, and lots of people still haven't figured out the difference.

(Also, out of that $200? $150 of it is going straight into her savings account for future car/college expenses.)

 

[JB2K]

For those scratching their heads over this, I just Googled the words "JB2K" and "momxx5" and the first page had the following hits/topics originated by OP (all coming from disboards.com):

• Please help-PayPal Acct. Question
• Oven broke
• Sprial hams
• iPad Raffle Update
• Airfare help needed
• Cyber Monday blues

See what we're getting at?

 

[crashbb]

For those scratching their heads over this, I just Googled the words "JB2K" and "momxx5" and the first page had the following hits/topics originated by OP (all coming from disboards.com):

• Please help-PayPal Acct. Question
• Oven broke
• Sprial hams
• iPad Raffle Update
• Airfare help needed
• Cyber Monday blues

See what we're getting at?

Don't forget having to pick up (and then shift) laundry powder that fell on the floor.

 

[eliza61]

Why? My kids don't need scholarships, we can pay for their college. No matter how heard they work, they won't need scholarships. Should they still get them? Or, as a society, are we better off letting me pay out of pocket for my kids education, and making sure someone less well off also gets educated? And why is it work and not talent or ability, my husband got a ton of scholarships for school, and was a very lazy student, but extraordinarily talented. Should a kid who works harder get a scholarship over someone who is just lucky enough to be really smart?

Here is the deal of scholarships...the organization granting the scholarship gets to decide whom to give it to. It may be hard work. It may be a scholarship for children adopted from Peru by Americans of Croatian decent who have trust funds. No one is entitled to a scholarship, the granting organization makes the determination.

Same thing with money. My husband coaches a baseball team with a guy who works his back end off at a blue collar job. He probably works harder than my husband, but my husband has a specific and in demand skill set. Working harder doesnt entitle you to a bigger paycheck. I'm sure Mitt Romney has not worked that much harder than my husbands co coach, but he's made a heck of a lot more money.

The simple truth is that the myth that this is a matter of hard work is just that, a myth. There is a lot more involved in success. Likewise, unfortunately, there is a lot more involved in not being successful than simply being lazy. If the world were that simple, we could let people starve secure in the knowledge that they created their own fate and that we will never be unfortunately circumstances, because fortune would have no role.

Amen!!
LOL. The bottom dilemma. Who gets decided "whom" is deserving.
Wasn't there a big brewhaha when P-Diddy's son got a scholarship? The implication was because he's rich and famous he's son should turn it down.

anyhoo, since I'm paying ridiculous amounts of money on 2 college tuitions, I really don't blame anyone who is trying to find ways to lower that tab.

As far as donating money...
Every now and then in Philadelphia I'll run across a beggar/homeless person, now many people say don't give them money, they'll only use it on drugs or alcohol. some times I give a buck, sometimes I don't. basically I simply don't know but for me, five bucks won't change my life much. If it helps another human being for 20 minutes eat a 1/2 way decent meal. that's good. If they do spend it on drugs, so be it.
As a general rule I don't give money on the internet to strangers, just as a safety rule but bottom line nothing is 100% guaranteed on the net. I could find out tomorrow that the ceo of the red cross is funneling money to an aruba bank account.
I think of all the Penn state alumna who donated to the school in the past years, do they regret the help they gave the universiy in light of the abuse scandal? Do the football players regret their scholarships? should they not accept the help, since Sandusky ran a "scam".

So this is an easy fix for me and quite simple. If you think the poster or anyone is a scam simply don't give. this is a internet site with various people, some folks here hate the many "begging post.

Personally, I hate the monthly "my cousin, neighbor, friend" is on welfare and food stamps and goes to disneyworld, llives in a mansion and drives a escalade whileI have to pay for their lifestyle while living in a shoebox, driving a 12 year old car and can only go to disney once in a blue moon" rants that we have here ad nasuem. I think it's just an opportunity for everyone to have a scape goat for their financial situation.

That's life on the net