Let’s just say it: college is out of control.
The cost, the pressure, the way nobody wants to talk about the numbers until it’s too late.
And if you’re a parent right now trying to have that conversation with your kid, the one where you bring up cost and suddenly you’re the bad guy, I see you.
Because I’ve sat across from hundreds of families over the years, and I can tell you: this is one of the hardest conversations you’ll ever have with your kid.
And I want to tell you something else:
I’ve been here before.
Right after 2008, I had an entire tax season, spring 2009, where it felt like every other appointment was a short sale. I’d never seen anything like it. People were walking away from homes they’d built their lives around. Not because they were reckless, but because the system told them they could afford more than they could.
But here’s what hit me the hardest:
I saw it coming.
I remember sitting with clients who were pulling massive amounts of equity out of their homes. They were taking on adjustable-rate mortgages, balloon loans, whatever it took. Why? To pay for college.
And when I’d say, “You can’t really afford this,” they were offended.
How dare I question their love for their kids?
But I wasn’t judging, I was doing what I’m trained to do.
My work is to look at the numbers. I could see where it was heading.
And it broke my heart.
Because when it comes to college, logic gets pushed to the side.
We want our kids to have the best. We want to say yes. But at what cost?
Fast forward to now.
Tuition is climbing again. Wages aren’t. And families are once again stretching beyond their limits, hoping it’ll all work out.
Meanwhile, kids are dreaming big, which is great, but they don’t understand the price tag that’s coming with it.
Your child may not yet grasp what a large student loan balance means for everyday life. Monthly payments depend on the amount borrowed, interest rate, repayment term, and plan. Compare a realistic payment with expected rent, groceries, and other costs before committing to the debt.
Every time you try to talk about it? It turns into a standoff. Or silence. Or guilt.
That is why the college conversation needs room for both the numbers and the people living with them. At Maguire Taxes, we can review the tax questions and help put the costs in context. Family counseling is a separate service; information is available at My Choice Therapy.
We talk through:
- What the debt really looks like long-term
- Why certain financial choices protect, not limit, your kid’s future
- How to be honest and grounded without crushing dreams
- How to come to the table with a plan, not just fear
Because this isn’t about saying no.
It’s about saying, “Let’s figure this out together.”
If this sounds like where your family is at, I can help.
I’ve been through it before. I’ve seen what works, and I’ve seen what hurts.
Call (781) 471-4310 to discuss the tax side of your college plan. We can start with what your family can realistically afford.
James Maguire