Question:   Paying student tuition is a huge undertaking. We want to send our kids to private school. Is this a wise investment in their future?

Answer:      The choice on where to send your child and how to handle paying the related expense can be a difficult one.

The debate between public and private schools tends to balance upon two things; educational value and paying student tuition. Private schools, as one might expect, are much more expensive than the amount you pay for various public schools.

In many instances, the cost of private tuition can be staggering and the only way to pay for it initially for many families is to take out a loan.

Every parent wants the best for their child, so it is only natural to want them to get the best education possible. However, going into debt for paying student tuition is not encouraged.

The stress and worry over how to repay the debt may damage your relationships with your spouse and/or children, and you may eventually come to regret opting for a private school.

Public schools tend to get a bad reputation, but there are many good public schools out there with teachers that love their job and students that benefit from a supportive environment.

Bad news travels much faster than good news, so before making any big decisions, set your fears aside and do your own research. Ask around about the public school your child would attend. Find out about the teachers, the school’s record, and what they can offer your child.

A great number of people have attended public schools and have gone on to land high paying jobs and lead very successful lives. Private schools do not necessarily mean more opportunities.

In the end, much of it depends upon your child and his or her willingness to learn. If you find that in a public school, your child is not learning enough, there are plenty of after school programs they can attend in order to learn more or boost their grades.

If you cannot currently afford paying student tuition for a private school, don’t feel badly. Carrying guilt over this issue is not helpful to anyone involved. Simply enroll your child in public school and “stay in their business” in order to ensure a successful experience.

Start fresh and make no assumptions, in fact, expect the best. Your child may truly enjoy going to school there, making plenty of friends, and will know he/she has loving parents that are supportive.

If paying student tuition is no problem for you and your spouse, and you will not go into debt while doing so, then don’t hesitate to put your child into a private school if you truly feel it is in their best interest. But do consider all options.

In the end, it’s not the quality of the brick and mortar that is important here, it’s the quality of the teaching staff that will be in charge of your child’s education.

» What is a reasonable weekly allowance amount? I want to teach my children the value of money.
Good for you! Kids need to understand and appreciate the value of money. If you just give your child everything they ask for without have to put some effort into the process you’ll just end up spoiling them.

» I just made a chore chart. Is it wise to pay my kids to do chores, or is that just the price of their room and board?
Yes, making a chart that lists the weekly chores is a great idea. The process teaches kids the value of hard work and it also give them something visual where they can see their progress.

» Living debt free - is this the most important thing to teach my children about money?
Yes, and no. Living a debt free lifestyle is by far one of the most incredible gifts you can give your children.

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