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◆ For Your Money & Life · kids' education

Funding kids' education

Your kid’s degree shouldn’t depend on debt, panic, or wishful thinking—start treating it like a real-life project now.

99ready prompts
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How much will college really cost?Help me estimate the future education cost for my child. They’re [current age], we live in…+
Help me estimate the future education cost for my child. They’re [current age], we live in [country], and I’m considering [public university/private university/vocational college/international study]. Use realistic annual cost ranges and assume inflation, then show what that might look like by the time they’re [18/21].
when the reply comes backCompare this future cost to what you’re saving now and note the gap in your own words.
Compare local vs overseas studyList the realistic pros, cons, and rough cost differences between my child studying locally…+
List the realistic pros, cons, and rough cost differences between my child studying locally versus abroad. I live in [country], my child is [age], and I’m considering [country A] vs [country B] for undergraduate study. Include tuition, living costs, travel, and visa/health insurance issues.
when the reply comes backCircle which option still makes sense after seeing the numbers, not just the dream.
Public vs private school trade-offHelp me compare the long-term money and life trade-offs between public and private school…+
Help me compare the long-term money and life trade-offs between public and private school for my child. We live in [city, country], child is [age], and private school fees are about [amount] per year. Show what would happen if I invested those fees instead toward university using a [country-appropriate low-cost index fund/ETF] at a modest return.
when the reply comes backAsk yourself if the private fees are truly worth more than the future investment you’d be giving up.
University vs vocational pathLay out a clear comparison between a traditional university degree and a…+
Lay out a clear comparison between a traditional university degree and a vocational/technical path (like apprenticeships, polytechnic, TAFE, trade school) in [country]. Assume my child is interested in [field, e.g. IT, nursing, construction, design]. Include costs, study length, likely salaries, and debt levels.
when the reply comes backNotice which route gives the fastest path to a stable income with acceptable debt.
Map degrees to real salariesCreate a simple table of common degrees my child might choose and the typical starting…+
Create a simple table of common degrees my child might choose and the typical starting salaries, for [country]. Include 8–10 fields (like engineering, medicine, teaching, arts, business, nursing, trades) plus average tuition costs. Assume study starts in [year] and show realistic ranges, not hype.
when the reply comes backShow this table to your teen and talk about money and meaning together, not just ‘follow your passion.’
Estimate total education timelineHelp me map out a timeline of my child’s likely education path from now (age [age]) to…+
Help me map out a timeline of my child’s likely education path from now (age [age]) to about age 25. Include possible paths (stop after high school, bachelor only, bachelor + master’s, vocational training, gap year, etc.) and rough costs at each stage in [country].
when the reply comes backPick one or two main paths and write down what you’d need saved before each big step.
Quick gap analysis: on track or not?I want to know if I’m on track for my kid’s education. Child is [age], I have [amount]…+
I want to know if I’m on track for my kid’s education. Child is [age], I have [amount] saved now, I add [amount] per month, and study is expected at age [age]. Assume total cost might be about [rough guess]. Show me a simple projection with modest returns (like 4–7% per year) and highlight the shortfall or surplus.
when the reply comes backDecide whether to increase savings, adjust expectations, or accept some future student debt.
Set a realistic savings targetBased on a future education cost of roughly [target amount in local currency] when my child…+
Based on a future education cost of roughly [target amount in local currency] when my child is [age], suggest a realistic monthly savings amount starting now (child is [current age]). Assume returns of [4–7%] a year in a low-cost investment and show different monthly contributions (low/medium/ambitious) and what each might grow to.
when the reply comes backPick one contribution level you can actually stick to for 5+ years, not just this month.

Real questions

honest answers

Earlier is always easier, but it’s almost never ‘too late’ to improve things. Starting when a child is a baby gives your money 15–20 years to grow, so even small monthly amounts have time to compound. If your child is already a teenager, you probably can’t save the whole cost, but you can still soften the blow: put aside what you realistically can, steer them toward value-for-money options, and be honest about the role of part‑time work, scholarships, or loans. The key is to stop waiting for a perfect moment and start with any amount you can keep up.

You can borrow for education; you can’t borrow for old age. In most cases, you should protect your own basic retirement first—especially if there’s no strong state pension where you live. That means at least capturing any employer pension match or tax-advantaged retirement savings before you stretch for tuition. Once your minimum retirement track is in place, you can direct extra money toward kids’ education. It may feel selfish, but becoming financially dependent on your children later can hurt them far more than graduating with a manageable level of student debt.

Sometimes a famous name pays off, but often it doesn’t justify double or triple the cost. What matters most is the field of study, the student’s effort and network, and whether debt stays at a level their future income can handle. A strong student at a good, affordable institution—public university, community college then transfer, apprenticeship, or solid regional school—can do just as well in life as someone at a big-name campus. Run the numbers: if the ‘prestige’ choice means decades of heavy loan payments or your retirement at risk, it’s probably too expensive for what you get back.