Fafsa and graduation gripes

Well, I completed the fafsa application this week-end--and it was not so bad. For those of you who don't know, it is the federal application to see if you can get student financial aid to go to college. They even have "fafsa help" meetings you can go to so as to get help filling this thing out. My daughter, Lauren, will be going to college in the fall. (I hope). Anyway, you fill out a bunch of personal info..All about her name, dob, address, when she got her license, when you got your license, are you a resident of NC, is she...What did you pay in taxes last year..what is your yearly pay, and what schools is she interested in going to. That's pretty much it. Oh, before doing any of that I had to get a "Pin" for me and her..which is just an easy way to sign the form (The pin form is right on the fafsa website). You fill our your ssn info on a form, make up a pin number, hit send and now you can use the pin. That way when you fill out the fafsa you can just put in that pin number instead of physically signing it..and you are done. Well, don't make the same mistake I did. The first time I started filling out the fafsa I didn't realize I was at a site [fafsa.com] that charges you to fill out the form. It is a commercial site and I didn't realize that I was not at the government website until I had already intered some info--so beware. So now that is done and I hope they approve a "buttload" of money (LOL) so she doesn't run me into the poor house!

The other "gripe" is how expensive a kid's senior year is. There are key chains and tassels and sweatpants and sweatshirts and invitations and senior portraits (they cost a pretty penny) and it seems everyone want to get ahold of your hard earned $. Oh let's not forget the "Prom".

It will soon be over--But wait--her sister, Madeline will graduate next year...YIKES!!! :)