Ski Mom Ann Garcia Demystifies College Costs and Helps Us Budget for Skiing and Sports

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In this episode we talk with Ann Garcia, ski mom, Certified Financial Planner and author.  Ann is known in the financial industry as “The College Financial Lady”, helping families plan for their children’s education. 

Ann learned to ski at age 3 in Lake Tahoe, and after a harrowing first ski trip, her family became ski hippies, packing up their VW bus and heading out to different destinations from Wyoming to Utah.  Ann loved skiing from the start and later taught her twins to ski. She reflects on some of the special times she’s shared with her children at Cooper Spur (Mt. Hood, Oregon).

Ann walks us through her career path and tells us about her blog that later became a book, How to Pay for College.  Ann has twins, a boy and a girl, they have both recently graduated from college and have started their careers. Ann tells us about navigating the college path with two very different children.

We get some great tips about talking to our kids about the cost of education, college loans and other financial topics. It’s important for a family to be on the same page with their priorities as they start the college exploration path.  Ann recommends we check out the net price calculator tool that is available on all college websites. 

We get some great insights into the broader college scholarship landscape and athletic scholarships.  There are a lot less athletic scholarships, so if you have to pick between a private coach or a private tutor, Ann says go with the tutor!  

And bringing it back to skiing, Ann gives us some tips on how to save money for family ski trips, while also saving for college and retirement. It all starts with a budget, without a budget we can’t make the right financial decisions. 

Resources:

Shop the Diamant Weekend Warrior Bag at www.diamantskiing.com and use code SKIMOMS to save 20%

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Start planning your trip here visitulstercountyny.com

The Ski Moms are so excited to be partnering with Ulster County this year. Located in New York State, Ulster County is tucked into the Hudson Valley and offers families a chance to get out in nature all year long.

Visit Ski Haus in Woburn, Framingham, or Salem, NH, or go to skihaus.com. 

Ready for your next adventure? Download the Vrbo app or check out Vrbo.com for trusted, family-friendly getaways and plan a stay everyone will love!