Just wondering if moms out there with older singeton and younger triplets. I have a daughter who is a senior and will graduate in the fall. We also have 3 girls (3 in Jan). How do you afford everything? Senior year and prepartion for college costs and the triplets have made a very strained finacial income even worse. I'm finding its just not doable. Nothing is paid on time and when do I have the time it takes to help the older when the little ones are at the worse stage they have been to date? I'm going nuts and stressed out everyday day! I hate that my kids see me this way everyday and wish I can manage this crazy part of life better. So if anyone out there has any advise, I'd love to hear it. And to add, I can NOT even imagine trying to get 3 into college or even paying for school events, activites, etc????
Thanks in advance!

We had a older daughter who graduated HS before the triplets. They were freshmen at the time. We did manage to pay for everything, but some of it was on payment plan. Most of the time when we are having trouble paying for something we just talk to the school/church to see about payment plan or delaying payment. Sometimes they had "scholarship" available to help families who needed it.

Our triplets are now seniors and are planning to leave for college next year. We had planned well ahead for college but the senior costs are large. We used an outside photographer to do pictures for a third of the cost of the school pictures. We only ordered 1 set of announcements to put 3 name cards in.

I would suggest cutting costs where you can and then be willing to ask for help. Can extended family "sponsor" a child? We often asked for that in lieu of gifts. Schools and church is often a place to find help with covering costs.

Hope this helps!
Stephanie
Ashley 10/24/89
Kristin, Alex and Ben 4/9/92
(GBB @ 35 weeks)

Oh boy can I relate. Our first graduated in '09 and the expense of senior year was a HUGE shock. We paid for as much as we could on a payment plan, severely economized (the "budget" ring is a good as the gold one! And ditto for the cheap announcements) and just bottom line he couldn't have everything he wanted or had to help pay for it.

Knowing this, we budgeted for the next one who will graduate next month. At the beginning of the year we had a separate account all ready for his costs. But the same deal, he has to pay for extras. We just can't do it and it isn't necessary. We have one going into HS next year and the triplets are in 4th grade, we will plan the same for them. I know that doesn't help you much for right now, but you can be ready when the triplets get there.

I swear it was easier to pay for college than senior year! We do not have college savings. They were told way back when that it was on them to get good grades and figure out how to get to college. The first 2 - so far, so good. State college and scholarships. They could save more by living at home and go to community college. I hated to go that route but it is possible and I believe it will mean more to them if they have to work for it. Anyway when it's between groceries and college fund there is really nothing to discuss!

School and extra-curricular events are a different story. We just can't do it all, we are skipping baseball this summer because of $$$ even though they love it. We have in the past suggested things like that for gift ideas. My parents paid for ballet and karate as a birthday gift, for example.

Field trips are ridiculous!! I don't want them to have to miss so we really have to scrimp sometimes. The only advice I have on that is put aside a little each month to go for that sort of thing. I know it's hard when you don't have any extra to begin with.

Kari S.

Mom to BBB 21, 18, 14
BBG 9/25/01