Stanford just went tuition-free for family incomes under $125K and total assets under $300K,

[Ms. Toad]

38. Yes, and no.

It was a perfect storm of a lot of things that make me pretty resentful.

Bottom line is that currently chronic illness in both my spouse and daughter leave me as the sole provider (both financially and in terms of family responsibility), and I am now working at a job where it is possible to maintain my sanity - but earning about 40% of what I had been earning and putting in an average of 65 hours a week, year round. This season closer to 100/week.

The loss of what we anticipated spending on retirement stings a bit, coupled with currently working myself to death to avoid dipping into retirement savings even more, and the very real possibility that I will have to significantly change my retirement plans. And all of that started with the rude awakening of how much cheaper college would have been (college my daughter has still been unable to finish now 6 years out due to her chronic illness diagnosed her freshman year) if I'd just spent it all along.

NB: I do know how very lucky I am - generally. I have more than most. I'm just very tired at the moment - and this one more slap at people who do the right thing just hit a nerve.