Single-income family in Portland?

[Yankeemama]

Originally Posted by Lonney105

I find the "putting your kids though college" concept here interesting. In NZ we all got student loans, and then worked to pay them off once we were done educating our selves. The government in NZ does subsidize tertiary education so (at the present) it's about half the cost of what it is in the US.

Having said that and realizing that college is a lot more expensive here, we opened a college savings plan with University of Alaska, this locks in the cost of the fees at today's prices if you study at UA. All we have to do is put a minimum of $50 a month in.

So in 20 years time our daughter will have the option of going to college in Alaska, with average inflation the fee lock-in will equate to about 60% "discount" in 20 years time.

Or if she wants to go somewhere else she can use whats in the fund to put towards it. If she wants to live at home and work for a couple of years to save for college I'm fine with that or if there is a college near were we happen to live she can live it home. I wont be paying for the whole thing it out of my own pocket. That is to me, an unrealistic expectation

We moved to Portland four years ago so that our kids could get a good education at the public schools here ( our school feed is pretty good) and so we can save for retirement and college education. We tell our kids now that they will have to pay for part of their educations as college is just too darn expensive and hopefully they will get some scholarship money, as well. It is important that my kids' generation understand that an education is something to appreciate...not a place to learn drinking games on their parents' dime. Life is hard and young people have to compete with peers from other countries that are "hungrier" than they are. So far, Our Portland plan is going well. I stay at home and will probably work part time in a few years. Once I am back in the workforce I plan on working for ten years. I worked 20 years BEFORE I stayed at hone with kids. That's the plan.

[dent_arthur_dent]

All very interesting perspectives -- thanks.

OHW -- Why choose Portland? Well, several reasons, really. Firstly, because I've been there and remember really liking it. I spent ten years living in the Midwest (IL) and although there was a lot that really agreed with me, I did find the lack of scenery and the extreme weather a little trying. You could drive 100 miles in any direction and still be in the midst of the corn fields. And I had lots of nightmares about tornadoes (not to mention several near misses with the real thing). So, Portland has the natural beauty, it has the temperate weather, it has the progressive politics. It also has some very good schools (and some not-so-good, from what I hear) and it has a nice combination of affordability + a fair number of potential employers (higher ed and non-profit, especially). Lastly, I know a couple of people who live there and they seem to be very happy with their choice. I know that nowhere is perfect, but Portland ticks a large number of my boxes.

[OHW]

Originally Posted by dent_arthur_dent

All very interesting perspectives -- thanks.

OHW -- Why choose Portland? Well, several reasons, really. Firstly, because I've been there and remember really liking it. I spent ten years living in the Midwest (IL) and although there was a lot that really agreed with me, I did find the lack of scenery and the extreme weather a little trying. You could drive 100 miles in any direction and still be in the midst of the corn fields. And I had lots of nightmares about tornadoes (not to mention several near misses with the real thing). So, Portland has the natural beauty, it has the temperate weather, it has the progressive politics. It also has some very good schools (and some not-so-good, from what I hear) and it has a nice combination of affordability + a fair number of potential employers (higher ed and non-profit, especially). Lastly, I know a couple of people who live there and they seem to be very happy with their choice. I know that nowhere is perfect, but Portland ticks a large number of my boxes.

As someone who was born and raised in the midwest, I completely understand the desire for scenery and to get somewhere where the weather is more stable and temperate.

My company is moving me to Portland in March and I'm excited to get out there. Texas is too hot and just doesn't fit me well.