356: Who Pays For College In A Stepfamily

About this episode

Lori and David discuss the complexities of paying for college in blended families, sharing personal experiences and practical advice.

Curious how blended families navigate the tricky question of paying for college? Lori and David tackle financial planning, family dynamics, and the reality of college costs in stepfamilies with honesty and humor. In this episode, you'll hear candid discussions about college expenses, scholarships, military paths, and what happens when one parent or stepparent has set aside funds for their child. Lori and David share their own experiences, like how military service and scholarships shaped their children's education, and what tough conversations arise if only one child has college savings. They dive deep into blended family finances, including inheritance, trusts, and what "fairness" really means when handling money for kids and stepkids. You'll also get practical advice on when to start talking about finances, why it's essential to plan early, and how to manage uncomfortable conversations (with tips for mediators and financial advisors). The hosts read comments from their Facebook group, providing real-life perspectives on who pays for college. Want more Nacho Kids wisdom? Visit https://nachokids.com for resources, join their Facebook group, and stay connected on social media…

People in this episode

Hosts: Lori Sims, David Sims

Topics covered

• blended families
• college funding
• financial planning
• family dynamics
• stepfamily challenges
• inheritance
• fairness in finances

Keywords

• college expenses
• financial planning
• stepfamilies
• inheritance
• trusts
• scholarships
• military paths
• family dynamics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Nacho Kids, Facebook, military, scholarships

More episodes of The Nacho Kids Podcast: Blended Family Lifesaver

• 360: Stepmom Becomes Only Legal Parent to Stepdaughter · April 24, 2026 · 41 min
• 359: Building a Custody Case Against Narcissistic and Abusive Co-Parents · April 17, 2026 · 1h 11m
• 358: Mother's Day Doesn't Have to Suck · April 10, 2026 · 22 min
• 357: Estate Planning In Stepfamilies · April 3, 2026 · 60 min
• 355: Family Court Don'ts ~ Whitney Antoniono Family Law Attorney · March 20, 2026 · 58 min
• 354: Stepkids Don't Disappear at 18 · March 13, 2026 · 29 min