Ask Eric: now richer than her ex, women debate by paying more than his share of tuition fees

Dear Eric: My ex-husband and I were on a fairly uniform financial basis when we divorced. Our income was similar and we divided the assets almost in the middle. It was a lazy, selfish and philandeur husband, but he is a decent father. Losing that 200 pounds of dead weights released me to focus on the progress of my career. My income has doubled, while his has remained relatively stable. He doesn’t know what I’m doing now; I know his salary because this is public information.

Our child is heading to university this fall. We have agreed in the divorce that all of our child’s expenses would be distributed evenly between us. I saved and I have / I will have enough for my half of the tuition fees. However, the child won enough in the scholarships so that I can easily pay 100% of their remaining expenses myself. I suspect that even half of the reduced college expenses will be a difficulty for my ex. (I don’t know – or I don’t need / I want to know – how he planned to pay his half of the tuition fees if the child had not obtained such important merit assistance.)

I have two options: pay my half and put everything that remains in a fund for higher education for children or the first house or whatever the launch assistance they may need when the time comes. After all, I have more because they have obtained scholarships, so they should benefit from it in the long term, right? This also allows me to respond to all the unforeseen expenses that may arise.

Or treat yourself to cover a larger share, even everything. This will mean less / more money at the end to soften the transition to adulthood. But that will mean that my ex does not have to contract loans (I suppose?) To respect his obligation. Sweat the child with student loans is not in the cards.

Thoughts?

– Divide the bill

Dear splitting: Option A, please! First, all public information is not necessary. I gathered the salary of your ex-husband (and the general financial state) as downright in the need to know. Thinking of all angles is a bit of you, but we can also go beyond kindness. Keeping your eyes on your own wallet will be healthier for you and for separation.

Second, there will certainly be other expenses in the future of your child. Undatched costs are the name of the game in their twenties. Thus, having a fund to help facilitate university trip and at the start of adulthood will be incredibly useful.

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Send questions to R. Eric Thomas to eric@askinderic.com or Po Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him Instagram and register for his weekly newsletter to Rercthomas.com.