How Do We Pay for College Without Wrecking Our Retirement?
- Tim Gardner
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 18

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a FAFSA form with a college brochure in one hand and a retirement statement in the other, wondering how the math could work—you’re not alone.
For Sandwich Generation families, this question cuts deep. You’ve got a kid asking about dorms and a parent asking about prescriptions. Your calendar is booked, your brain is fried, and the only thing less clear than your kid’s college major is how you’re supposed to afford it all without blowing up your future.
Let’s talk about one thing you can control: the process.
The Real Reason College Costs Feel So Overwhelming
It’s not just the price tag.
It’s the emotional whiplash of trying to give your child a great start… without setting your retirement on fire. It’s the pressure to do it “right,” even though no one ever showed you how.
And it’s the gut-punch realization that college isn’t a luxury problem anymore—it’s a family system problem.
But there’s a way to take back control, and it starts with four letters: PEGS.
Start With PEGS, Not Rankings
Forget rankings. Forget Ivy League marketing. Forget the “dream school” list your teenager made on TikTok.
If you want to make a smart college decision, focus on PEGS:
Price: What’s the actual cost after aid?
EFC/SAI: How much are you expected to pay?
Graduation Rate: Will your kid finish in four years—or still be borrowing in year six?
Starting Salary: What’s the financial payoff of that degree?
This is your compass. Not prestige. Not pressure. PEGS.
EFC ≠ Reality (And Why That Matters)
Your Expected Family Contribution (or now called the Student Aid Index) is the number colleges use to determine how much help you might get. Here’s the kicker: it’s often wildly off base.
If your EFC says you “should” pay $42,000 a year and your real-life budget says, “LOL,”—you’re not alone.
Most schools don’t meet full financial need. Some schools do. Some give generous merit aid. Others offer none. That’s why understanding your EFC/SAI isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
And if you’re not sure where to start? I can help calculate it.
FAFSA Delays Aren’t Helping
To make things even more fun this year, FAFSA updates and tech glitches have caused delays, confusion, and stress across the board. Families are being asked to make life-changing financial decisions without having the full picture.
The result? Many are flying blind—and panicking.
Don’t. Breathe.
Remember: you don’t have to rush into a bad decision. This is about fit, finances, and your family’s values—not panic applying or overpaying.
Your Retirement Is Still a Priority
One of the most painful mistakes families make is taking out massive loans or raiding retirement accounts to cover college costs—only to regret it later.
Here’s the truth: you can fund college without wrecking retirement—but it requires a plan.
That might mean adjusting the college list. It might mean comparing aid packages. It might mean saying no to the most “famous” school and yes to the best offer.
None of this means you love your kid less. It means you’re parenting with wisdom and strategy.
So… Are You Behind?
No.
You’re navigating one of the most complicated financial seasons life throws at us. And you're doing it while raising kids, managing work, checking in on aging parents, and trying to remember the last time you had a real weekend.
You're not behind. You're maxed out.
But clarity is closer than you think.
This Month’s Next Step:
🎥 We built a 4-part YouTube mini-series that breaks this all down—step-by-step, no fluff.👉 Watch Episode One here.
If college funding is keeping you up at night, this series was built for you.
Or if you’re ready to talk specifics, you can always book a free 30-minute call.
You’ve got this—and I can help.
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