What Can I Get Him?
It’s always around this time every year when I start getting bombarded with texts and emails from the Abuelas and the Aunts and the cousins all asking me the same questions: “What can I get him? What’s on his Christmas list? What does he want? What size is he?” It gets overwhelming, because I know how much they all love my little man, and how much they love to spoil him. But then Christmas comes and the toys come. Like in droves. Massive piles of toys. It’s just too much. What I know is a fully well-intentioned gift of love turns my living room into a toy store. The saddest part of all, is that the toys that have been checked off the list- the same list that he spent weeks working on- he’s excited to open, see and play with for like what seems like only a minute, and then he moves on to the next thing, and those toys get left in a corner, never to be played with again. Sure, there’s some that he does want to play with over and over, like, lets say a new Nerf gun. But how many Nerf guns does one 7 year old need?
Please no toys.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve asked the same Aunts and Abuelas to please, please do not buy him toys. PLEASE. And then they respond with, “But I HAVE to buy him SOMETHING!” So what’s an awesome alternative gift for them to buy?
Let’s Get Serious For A Moment
Another alternative to toys? Let’s get serious for a minute. What if instead of contributing to a pile of toys, Grandparents could contribute to you child’s college education fund? When my Step-Daughters were born, their Grandparents gifted them 4 year Florida Prepaid College Plans. This was back in 1992 and 1994. When the girls graduated from high school and moved on to their dream schools (USC and Columbia University), and even though they were attending out-of-state and private schools, they were able to use their Grandparents’ gift to apply to their tuition no problem. When my husband’s best friend had a child about 14 years ago, we gifted his son a 4 year Florida Prepaid College Plan. His graduation is only a few years away at this point, and I can’t wait to see where his future takes him.
When my son was born, my parents purchased a plan for their new grandson. So in my family, we’ve had the good fortune to be able to receive and give the gift of education.
Did you know there is now a 1 Year Florida University Plan option?
1-Year Florida University Plan: Now there is a more affordable way to save for State University credit hours. You can purchase one year, or 30 credit hours, at a time according to your budget and timeline, without feeling the pressure of having to buy all four years at once. The plan also allows multiple purchasers to buy a plan for the same child. So now you can team up with other family members to help pay for your child’s higher education. For example, let Grandma and Grandpa buy one year and you purchase another. A child can have up to four 1-Year Florida University Plans – 2-Year Florida College Plan. Set your child up with a practical, affordable path to entering his/her chosen career with an associate’s degree or trade certification. Give your child the advantage over those with only a high school diploma. Like all of the FL Prepaid plans, every cent of the value of this plan can be applied at any university or college nationwide and is guaranteed by the state of Florida. You cannot lose the money you put in.
How Does A Florida Prepaid College Plan Work?
A Florida Prepaid Plan allows you to prepay the future cost of tuition and other specified fees at a Florida College or State University. This amount can also be applied to other schools nationwide.
Enrollment period is October 15, 2016 – February 28, 2017
A Newborn through 11th grade-aged child can be enrolled.
The child or his/her parent or legal guardian must have been a Florida resident for the past 12 months.
There are three payment options: monthly, five-year or lump sum.
Plans are guaranteed by the State of Florida. (You can’t lose your money.)
There are three different types of plans to chose from:
- 1-Year Florida University Plan (as mentioned above)
- 4-Year Florida College Plan
- 4-Year Florida University Plan
For more information about how a Florida Prepaid College Plan can work for you and for your family, please be sure to visit: www.myfloridaprepaid.com For a very limited time, you can save on registration by using the Florida Prepaid College promo code: BLOG1617
This post was sponsored by Florida Prepaid
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