Teen wants an education I cannot afford, what are our options?

[AmandaKris]

I need some help. my kid wants an education that I cannot afford. what do i do?

My parents managed to put me through public school AND Oxbridge just by saving enough Green Shield Stamps. They even had enough left at the end of it all for a toaster as well!

I think this is a reasonable OP, it describes the principle of affordability of something important. The detail of what kind of education is immaterial.
@AmandaKris A teenager should be able to understand why it cannot be afforded and then be a little more amenable to seeking an acceptable alternative. I do think you should be willing to go into some details with your DC.

Let me see now. Off the top of my head:

1. say no
2. investigate possibility of bursaries, scholarships etc
3. win lottery
4. sell organs
5. OnlyFans
6. set up political party and court wealthy donors
7. fraud/robbery

Say no, earn or aquire more money, find some bursary/grants to help if it's a short fall or find out if there is a cheaper alternative option as a compromise.

You've not given anywhere near enough information for us to give you helpful advice.

Are you talking about private school? boarding school? private tutors? a conservatoire? Or is this an older teenager and are we talking about university?

My main message either way would be: if you can't afford it, it can't happen.

It's hard to say much more without knowing what the context is.

What's your teen's motivation? Why do they want what they can't have? Is it wealthier friends? Unhappiness in their state school? So many questions!

If you're talking about university, have you looked into the wide range of degree apprenticeships on offer? I have a child currently doing this so they have an industry placement throughout their degree and a few days a week in uni. They'll come out with a degree, 5 years of experience in their chosen sector, and a strong network of industry contacts.

Apart from the other excellent suggestions made by PP on this thread (become a drug dealer, defraud your employer, sell an organ or sex, rob a bank, etc) it would depend on the age of your "kid" and what they're asking/demanding. I mean, if your "kid" is in primary school, you clearly tell them no. If they are about to go into secondary and have a clear vocational or academic gift that can only be met in some exorbitantly expensive school, then you might sit down with them and explain why it will be difficult to meet that expectation unless the "kid" can get a scholarship or bursary. And if your "kid" is demanding you fund their university studies when you're unable to, you tell them "hard cheese". Of course, if you're a bot or troll, then you do none of these things.
Edit to scrap the primary aged "advice" as I see your "kid" is a "teen" (whatever that means).

I'm 78, when I was about 11 I wanted to go to the Chalet School in, I think, Switzerland, they all seemed to such a good time! From our NW council house it didn't happen!

Any more detail? What education does the 'teen' want?

If this is for private education, talk to the school first
Most independent schools have bursaries, scholarships, hardship funds, etc. but (and you need to be honest with yourself about this) usually only for exceptional pupils

Maybe it's a reverse?

Oh FFS! You tell them you can't afford it.

But, if you're looking for ACTUAL advice, you haven't given enough information.

1. What country are you in?
2. What age is your child? Primary? Secondary? College? University?
3. Specialist education such as stage school?

What "education" are we actually talking about?

Waiting for the OP to return to the thread and enlarge on the issue before commenting...

Same. and I loved Cotopaxi.

I would tell them I’m sorry but I cannot afford it. What is it specifically they want? A tutor/private school?

Explain you can’t afford it, full stop,

But explore around it. are there any opportunities for scholarships? IS there another way to get to the end goal?

It would as other PP have said, be helpful to know what they want…

Go to your boss and ask for more money. When they say no, get the local ruffians to kidnap your boss's daughter for a ransom.

Job done.

Not enough information. Stupid post.

Only fans?

You are going to have to elaborate if you actually want advice

Say no, we don’t have the money. Shut it down early so they don’t get too far down the track.

This was the story of most people’s life for time immemorial, and at least if you grow up understanding you don’t get everything you want because your parents can’t afford it, you are not entitled and you develop resilience ie the ability to cope with things not going your way. This is about the most useful thing parents can teach their children in my view - a resilient person who can accept things going wrong has better mental health.

Some details might help 🙄

My daughter got a place at a drama school in London. There was absolutely no way, even with a bursary, that I as a single mum was going to be able to help her with housing expenses etc. So we sat down and worked out that she could go if she a) got a total full bursary for all tuition expenses and b) got a job and worked nearly full time to cover housing etc.

She decided she'd go to the local uni and do a different course. Which she did and she's now very well employed, thankfully. But she was old enough to reason with and sensible enough to see how difficult it would be.

Take out a loan for it. Or remortgage your house

Please ell us what education your child is wanting that you can't afford.

Did they just wake you up at 4:18 to ask you?

I’m amazed that a thread can get to 3 pages following a: single post so lacking in detail as to make it unanswerable!