Today in New Jersey an 18 year old is suing her parents for college money. According to USA Today, she says that they issued her an ultimatum (ditch the boyfriend or get out). Dad says they asked her to follow a few house rules.
Whatever. I think this is an awesome exercise.
Partially, I like this lawsuit because I think entertaining me (no matter what it means to the court system) is a great idea. But there are many BETTER reasons:
1) Blaming Someone Else For Your Problems Is Often the Best Solution. This idea of “trying to solve your problems through listening and compromise” is complete baloney. Take a page out of Washington’s book and adopt this slogan: My Way or the Highway.
This plays into any financial decision, doesn’t it? I met with a client during the 2000 market collapse with a young advisor. The client was agitated because the market was collapsing and she wanted someone to blame. The advisor continually tried to reconfirm the strategy that they were using, but the client would hear none of it. “I don’t care what the strategy is. I just want my money back.”
I felt for the woman. Clearly, understanding your strategy is overrated. It isn’t about the world….it’s all about you.
2) Rules Are For Suckers. If you lose money in the stock market you should sue your broker. If McDonalds only gives you one napkin, sue them. I should have sued J Crew for my horrible shopping experience. If your parents won’t pay for college, then tell it to a judge.
I have no sympathy for this guy. Sure, it’s his home, but what about her rights? If she has a boyfriend that dad doesn’t like, why shouldn’t he let her bring him home? In fact, why doesn’t he just pony up for them to live in a hotel? That’s what she SHOULD be suing for….a nice hotel stay.
I think the judge should throw this giant gavel at the dad. Teach him a lesson!
3) It’s Not Your Fault You’re Young And Smart. This girl, according to sources, has a $20,000 scholarship and wants to go to school out of state to Vermont. Does it really matter that $20,000 probably doesn’t come close to covering out of state tuition costs? Not to me, it doesn’t. I think she’s completely entitled to whatever education level she desires, if only because she wants it. I don’t care if there are less expensive options. I really don’t care if this is a logical choice at all. If the girl wants it, she should have it.
4) Dad Had A College Fund And It’s For Her. Does it really matter that a 529 plan is in a parent’s name? If dad (or in this case let’s just call him “daddy”) set aside money, it should be the girls. Daddy should waive his right to dole this money out as he sees fit. It doesn’t matter that he earned it. It doesn’t really matter that he probably took all the risk in investing the money, does it?
5) Nobody, AND I MEAN NOBODY, Puts Baby in a Corner.
Do we need more reasons this is a great idea?
Photo: Sam Howzit
Joe is a former financial advisor and media representative for American Express and Ameriprise. He was the “Money Man” at Detroit television WXYZ-TV, appearing twice weekly. He’s also appeared in Bride, Best Life, and Child magazines, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, Detroit News and Baltimore Sun newspapers and numerous other media outlets. Joe holds B.A Degrees from The Citadel and Michigan State University.
After she wins that suit, she should sue the college in Vermont. Because if they were going to give her any financial aid, clearly they should’ve provided ALL the financial aid. It’s only fair.
But, she will win right? Has anyone ever lost when suing someone in the US…?
I hope she wins! That’ll teach her parents a lesson: don’t mess with your teenager, who clearly knows better than you.
This story is so completely absurd. If she wants to be a grown up and not follow her parents’ rules, then be a grown up. But that means supporting yourself.
I was amazed reading more about it today. The school reported her parents, who investigated them for child abuse. The team sent out to check on her reported that there was no abuse. Shocking.
I just HATE reading about injustice in the world! It pains me to know end to watch this poor girl suffer. What ridiculously selfish parents! I mean it’s borderline child abuse! 🙂
It’s a horrible situation, Tonya, but we can only sit back and thank our lucky stars that we weren’t subject to this grave situation.
Jeez, how dare her parents not pay for her college education? The nerve of them!
In all seriousness, though, this makes me sad. It is the perfect example of why people think millennials are entitled, which is sad because it’s only a few bad apples; not the whole bunch. I don’t think any parents should have to pay for their kid’s college education, regardless of whether they have the money for it. It’s a choice that the young adult makes. I wonder where this case is going to go.
hahaha! That story was absolutely absurd, thank goodness the media was playing it up. I wish judges in this country had more of a backbone. There’s no way that claim would have even been entertained in my court room. In all seriousness, this attitude and entitlement is becoming an epidemic in our country.
This case better turn out well. The rift between the father and her daughter seems bad and I hope they will both learn from this story. Getting college education is important and in normal setup, parents should be all out in showing their support to their children.
The story was too funny. But I hope all’s well in the end.