Free Money for Olivia from Vermont

Olivia from Vermont writes:

My parents and I have been saving money for several years in order to pay for my college education. I'm still several thousand dollars short of my goal and I plan to enroll in the Fall of 2022 at a state university. Could you please consider assisting me with reaching my goal? Any amount, no matter how small, would help. I hope to become a social worker or work in a field helping others once I graduate.

I received Olivia's email and admired the fact that she and her parents
have been planning and saving in order to make her dreams come true. The cost of college is no small expense, and for most people, it requires years of saving, investment and sacrifice to pay for it.

With the cost of tuition, books, room and board and other expenses rising every year, it's more important now than ever before to find ways to pay for school that don't involve taking on massive debt at a young age (or any age, for that matter).

If your state has a College 529 plan, this is one of the smartest ways to save for your child's or grandchild's future. Saving a little bit each paycheck or making contributions to the account on a regular basis can really grow and add up over the course of 18 years.

I will make a $250.00 contribution to Olivia's college goals. If you can afford to put aside just $250 for your child's future today too, please do so! 

Giving $500 to a family from California

I was emailed by the father of a family from southern California last week. They have struggled financially since the pandemic hit earlier this year and have fallen behind on some bills.

The father, who asked that I don't post the family's names, recently found a new job after being laid off in the spring. In order to keep getting to and from work, he needs reliable transportation. However, due to falling behind on payments, he was at risk of losing his car.

$500 will allow him to make two car payments and bring his bill close to current, and his first paycheck in a few weeks will get the family the rest of the way to getting right with the auto lender.

I'm an advocate of buying only as much car as you can afford, using cash, and avoid payments and interest. Yes, there are drawbacks to buying used. But once a car is paid for, it's yours. There's a sense of financial and life security that comes with knowing your car, your home or whatever else it is has been paid for and is YOURS. I highly advise avoiding car payments whenever possible. Your life will become far easier because of it.

Have a wonderful day and keep your requests coming.

$200 For Kelly's College Fund

Kelly from Utah recently messaged us to discuss her college plans. Given all of the upheaval in our world today, it's understandable that some young people are struggling with planning for their educations after high school.

There's no way of knowing if our world will eventually get back to "normal." But what is clear is that there is still a need for education and it can be very expensive to meet this need, whether attending community college or moving out of state for school, in-person or online.

Kelly asked if I would be willing to fund all or part of her education. I responded that I'd be able to make a small contribution of $200. This may not be a lot. It probably doesn't even buy two textbooks. But I hope it makes a small bit of difference in her four-year adventure that is soon to begin.

Have a request of your own? Please message me and let's talk.