6 minute read
VOWS
FALL FUN FOR ALL
FROM APPLE PICKING TO HAWK WATCHING, THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO GET OUT AND ABOUT THIS MONTH by layla lisiewski
This month we’re debuting a new partnership with our friends at Greenwich Moms, a great resource for parents in town. Layla Liwsiewski, Greenwich mom of four and founder of Greenwich Moms and its parent company, The Local Moms Network, will be sharing her favorite things to do each month, from seasonal activities to can’t-miss events. @greenwich_moms and greenwichmoms.com
No. 1
A DAY IN THE COUNTRY
The end of September marks one of our favorite events: A Day in the Country Family Horse Show on Sunday, September 26 at the Milliken Estate in backcountry. With a horse show, tailgating, field day activities, contests, petting zoo, stick-pony classes (for adults and kids) and food trucks, the event promises a fun family day. A Day in the Country is presented by the Greenwich Riding and Trails Association. The GRTA is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting open space, historic trails and the tradition of horseback riding for our community and future generations. Become a member to support this initiative and be in the know about GRTA trails, events and horse shows. thegrta.org
No. 2
APPLE PICKING PARTY
Nothing says fall in New England like apple picking. Some of our favorite nearby spots are Silverman’s Farm in Easton (where you can feed farm animals), Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard in North Salem, New York (which hosts a weekend fall festival with bouncy castles, hard cider and more), and Outhouse Orchards also in North Salem (in addition, enjoy the corn maze, hayrides and pumpkin picking). Host a post-apple-picking party with family and friends after an hour or two at the orchard. Grab some pie dishes or tins and hand out copies of easy apple recipes to your guests and get the baking party started. For more spots visit, greenwichmoms.com/whereto-go-apple-picking
No. 3
HAWK WATCH FAMILY FUN DAYS
In celebration of counting tens of thousands of raptors as they migrate over our sanctuaries, the Greenwich Audubon Center will hold multiple days of exciting programs for all ages this month. Hawk Watch Family Fun Days will include live raptor shows, a petting zoo, games, activities and food trucks. The center’s Community Science programs will offer a chance to engage in hands-on research to help protect birds and the habitat they need. Go to greenwich.audubon.org for dates and program details.
No. 4
ENJOY LIVE MUSIC
Now that we can gather once again to party, sing and dance, there are a ton of concerts happening in Greenwich and beyond this month. A few highlights include: Greenwich Town Party on Sunday, September 5, featuring Eagles, Zac Brown Band, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Caroline Jones; Sheryl Crow at The Capitol Theatre on Tuesday, September 14 and Wednesday the 15; Vinny Nobile & The Jazz Alliance at the Greenwich Historical Society on Thursday, September 16; Eli Young Band at the Palace Theatre on Friday, September 17; and Chris Botti at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Sunday, September 26. G
money matters BY CAROL LEONETTI DANNHAUSER
DO THE MATH START SAVING EARLY TO PAY FOR COLLEGE
David Tuttle
No, it’s not your imagination: The cost of college has skyrocketed over the past decade, greater than inflation, higher than your raise, faster than the cost of living. At the University of Connecticut, for example, tuition is in the middle of a five-year, 23 percent rate hike.
Sending Junior to Storrs costs about $18,500 per year for tuition and fees. Sending him to a private university averages about twice that, at $37,000, according to the 529 plans.” Designed specifically for education, 529s let you invest in mutual funds, ETFs and the like, but your investments grow tax-free, so long as you use the proceeds for approved education expenses, such as tuition, books, room and board. Unlike many other tax-saving investments, 529s don’t come with income constraints.
Connecticut’s 529 plan, the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), is more attractive than ever, says Tuttle. Last December, the state selected Fidelity to administer it, lowering fees and expanding investment options. Connecticut parents can contribute up to $10,000 per year to CHET; earnings grow free of federal and state taxes. “You can contribute $50,000 today, pay your tuition tomorrow, and take $10,000 each year for five years,” he says. “I have had clients maximize the tax benefit in-state to get the maximum, and then invest outside.”
If the designated beneficiary decides to forgo college, you can
College Board. Tack on another $13,000 or so for room and board at either option.
Covid-19 has served as a reckoning for soaring school costs, says David Tuttle, partner and portfolio manager at Crestwood Advisors in Darien. During the pandemic, as schools offered courses virtually, many families wondered, “Why can’t people just learn online? Why do you need to go to college?” Tuttle says.
Schools took note. Though tuition edged up for the academic year 2020-2021, it did so at historically low levels. Still, the price tag remains out of reach for many Fairfield County families.
His advice: Start saving early. “When kids are born, we’re encouraging parents to set up transfer the account without penalty to another family member —even yourself—so long as it’s used for qualified education expenses.
Families don’t need a lot of money to set up a college fund. Tuttle’s dad and grandfather each invested $500 into a Putnam Growth Fund when Tuttle was born, then started showing him the balance when he was ten years old and had his first job cutting lawns. “This money tripled in ten or twelve years, and here I was cutting lawns.”
As soon as your child is eligible, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines whether you qualify for government aid. Complete it even if you won’t qualify for need-based aid. Many schools grant merit-aid, based on grades, test scores or talents in things like sports, music and the arts. The average award for undergraduates in 2019-2020 was $14,940, according to the College Board. Without completing the FAFSA, you won’t get anything.
FIND A WAY
When paying for college seems out of reach
If you will need more aid than offered, write an email of appeal to the school financial aid office, outlining factors like reduced salary at work, a lay-off, a sibling attending graduate school or a bigger package from a comparable school. Get your appeal in early, Tuttle says. When schools exhaust their aid resources, there’s not much they can do for you.
Also, Tuttle advises some of Fairfield County’s wealthiest families, but he also mentors kids who live in subsidized housing in Darien. “There’s an opportunity for kids with drive to find a way to get to the finish line and pay little or nothing,” he says. “There are non-traditional paths that are a jungle gym. It requires real planning.” Attending two years of Norwalk Community College or Housatonic Community College, for example, can shave tens of thousands of dollars off of a four-year college tab. The same holds for dozens of online, accredited schools. To lower the cost even further, get a job at Chipotle, Starbucks, Walmart or any number of other employers that pay or reimburse for college, even for part-time employees.
