In addition to the Family Finance Picture Questionnaire (FFPQ), you may wish to reflect on the following descriptions in choosing the tuition rate that best fits for you. Remember that Bucket C is the rate that would allow CCC to maintain a balanced budget.

Choosing Your Tuition Bucket

Bucket A

  • My family frequently stresses about meeting basic needs and doesn’t always achieve them

  • My family has debt and it sometimes prohibits us from meeting basic needs and/or we are contacted by debt collectors

  • My family does not have a car (or has a car but is not always able to afford gas and maintenance)

  • My family qualifies for government assistance including food stamps and health care

  • My family has no access to savings

  • My family’s annual income is under $70K

  • Adults in my family are unemployed, underemployed, or work multiple low-wage jobs to make ends meet

  • Giving a gift for a wedding, birthday or graduation would put a strain on my family’s finances for the month

  • My family cannot afford to take a vacation or time off without financial burden

  • Over 50% of our income goes toward rent or mortgage on our primary home

Bucket B

  • My family may stress about meeting our basic needs but we are still able to regularly achieve them

  • My family is sometimes unable to make minimum payments on our debt

  • My family owns or leases a car or ebike

  • My family has a bank account, but limited or no credit history

  • My family has to cut spending on other personal needs in order to send a child to preschool

  • My family has less than 3 months living expenses in checkings/savings

  • My family’s annual income is in the range of $70K-$120K

  • My main income is hourly wages from a single full time job or a hands-on small business and I live paycheck to paycheck

  • My family has little expendable income and most of our financial decisions are based on needs, not wants

  • Over 30% of our income goes toward rent or mortgage on our primary home

Bucket C

  • My family may have debt but we’re able to make minimum payments while still meeting our basic needs

  • My family owns or leases a car or ebike

  • My family has a bank account, savings account and some credit history and/or access to credit

  • My family can handle a major unplanned event such as a car repair or medical bill

  • We have 3-6 months of living expenses in our checkings/savings

  • My family’s annual income is in the range of $120K-170K

  • Our monthly income covers our monthly expenses with some leftover

  • My family has some expendable income and is able to buy some new items and thrift others

  • 20-30% of our income goes toward rent or mortgage on our primary home

  • My family can take a vacation annually or every few years

Bucket D

  • Any debt my family has is in service to future financial stability or wealth accumulation such as mortgage payments, student loans etc. and/or I am comfortably able to make monthly payments

  • My family contributes regularly to savings for things like retirement, college funds etc.

  • We have more than 6 months of living expenses in our checkings/savings

  • My family’s annual income is in the range of $170,000-$230,000

  • Under 20% of our income goes toward rent or mortgage on our primary home

  • Our main income is a from salaried or professional/managerial jobs

  • My family can afford to take vacations annually

  • My family has an expendable income

Bucket E

  • My family does not have any debt

  • My family has other investments, brokerage accounts, property, trust funds etc. beyond our checkings and savings accounts and retirement funds

  • Most of our financial decisions are based on wants, not needs

  • My family has a year or more of living expenses in checkings/savings

  • My family’s annual income is in the range of $230K+

  • One or more of my family’s main source of income is from passive sources such as investments, inheritance, trust funds or family allowances

  • Under 10% of our income goes toward rent or mortgage on our primary home

  • My family can afford to take vacations throughout the year