How do you talk to your teen about college costs without crushing their dreams or acting like money doesn't matter?
My teen is starting to name colleges, and some are very expensive. I don't want every talk to be no, we can't afford that, but I also don't want a big heartbreak senior year. How did you talk about cost in a way that was honest but not harsh?
We gave a number early. This is what we can contribute each year. Not as a threat, just reality. Then we looked for schools where that could work.
Use net price calculators together. It feels less like parents being mean and more like actual numbers.
Dream schools stayed only if there was a realistic aid or scholarship path. Otherwise it felt unfair to pretend.
We talked about debt like a tool, not a monster. A little debt and huge debt are not the same thing.