I know I'm a bit early but....

**Dutchie** · 10-03-2011, 02:44 AM

.. I have been making our 2012 budget and it's not looking good but as they say - forewarned is forearmed.

Per Jan 1st our health insurance premium is going up and our yearly deductible will be going up plus there will be some more stuff that will not be insured and have to paid out of pocket.

Plus, our daughter will finish college in June with her Bachelor in Business Management (she's right on schedule and is working so hard that I have no doubts whatsoever that she will achieve it).

She was debating for a while which Master to do and has come up with the one that she really wants to do - MBA.

Now call me stupid - because I certainly have been calling myself that since she told me - but I thought that all higher education in Holland had the same fees.
Well was I ever wrong!!!!

Here all higher education (except Master) is around $2,200 per year and it doesn't matter what you are doing. For example business management is the same as Med school/law school.

However I discovered that Masters are sometimes 10 times that amount. The one she wants to do is around $32,000 excluding books etc. It is spread over 2 years.

Now I know that you are all probably laughing your heads off at these amounts since I know that your education system is WAAAYYY more expensive than ours, but I wasn't expecting this.

She already works part time (around 16 hours per week) and she expects to do the same next school year which really helps.

The good thing about doing the budget now is that we have some more time to set some extra money aside. I've already managed to get some more hours at school starting Oct 31st.

Ah well, back to tweaking the budget. Please wish me luck!

**mauimagic** · 10-03-2011, 03:24 AM

Good thing you started getting organized early - what a shock!! Please keep us updated....and good luck!!

**Labontet** · 10-03-2011, 04:49 AM

Ouch Dutchie, It is not very nice to get blindsided like that. What a jump in cost.

Hopefully you will be able to come up with a plan.

Good luck on figuring out the school budget.

**Jeanna** · 10-03-2011, 07:55 AM

I think it is great that you can have the money to pay for your dd's master degree. I really do not know anything about Hollands education system but here a lot of people go to work in their chosen field and then work on their masters part time. It usually takes about twice as long but it helps to pay for it as you go. Just a thought.

**Dutchie** · 10-03-2011, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Jeanna

I think it is great that you can have the money to pay for your dd's master degree. I really do not know anything about Hollands education system but here a lot of people go to work in their chosen field and then work on their masters part time. It usually takes about twice as long but it helps to pay for it as you go. Just a thought.

She is doing it in 2 years and will be working part time to help out with the cost.

**Sumacaroni** · 10-03-2011, 12:26 PM

Just goes to show that it's never too early to take a look at and plan for the upcoming year! Thanks for the reminder

And good luck socking away some extra money now that you know!

**Ceashels** · 10-03-2011, 01:44 PM

WTG on such planning ahead. I think its wonderful that you are able to start planning for next year already.

**zakity** · 10-03-2011, 02:19 PM

Good job on looking forward! And, thank you for making me look like less of a freak. I already have next year's spreadsheet as finished as I can get it. I am waiting one information from his health care to see how much it will go up and information like that.

**dcompton** · 10-03-2011, 02:34 PM

I've started looking at 2012 too. Our insurance is also going up - I should know how much sometime this month - and I've been calculating how much to put into the flexible spending account. That needs a crystal ball. I hate having to guess how much I'll need. I did just do some research and found out that my really expensive med should become available in generic August 17th. That will help.

You're wise to be getting your ducks in a row this early. That's a huge expense to absorb. Congrats to your daughter on her success.

**Mojjo** · 10-03-2011, 04:02 PM

We started reviewing for 2012 too. Especially in light of ODS applying for college. It could be worse.

That's great that she's got a job...I think half the battle is finding one most of the time.