• My daughter enrolled in an early college program, so she earns an associate degree in high school.
• The program gives her an extra year to decide what she wants to major in.
• Most importantly, she gets two years' worth of college credit for free.

As a 16-year-old, my daughter spends her mornings like any student, taking traditional classes at the local high school. But by the afternoon, she is bused to a local educational technology center where she takes college courses.

She's enrolled in our Michigan district's early college program. In this program, students can graduate from high school with college credits that can then be transferred to another school of their choice. The program allows up to 60 credits, which is enough to earn an associate degree.

The program extends high school to a "13th year," meaning that instead of graduating as a high school senior, students in the early college program continue taking full college course loads for free after their senior year.

After the 13th year, they graduate with a high school diploma and the credits they have accumulated in the program. In our area, high school students even have the opportunity to spend their 13th year in a dorm on a college campus, with housing covered for free as well.

I'm thankful my daughter chose to do the program because it gives her more time to figure out her life's path — all while saving money and avoiding student loan debt.

The program is demanding

My daughter is just finishing up her junior year of high school and her first year in the program. This year, she has taken composition and critical thinking, college algebra, and public speaking.

She is a year-round school athlete and works part-time as well. While she finds the schedule demanding at times, it's manageable. She told me that she's overall pleased with her decision to enroll, especially if it saves her money in the future.

Of course, there are possible drawbacks to the program. My daughter won't graduate with her class, and the program takes her off-campus for half of the day, which means she misses some events her peers participate in. Also, because early college courses aren't weighted like AP classes are, her GPA is affected.

The early college program helps her and our family

My daughter isn't completely sure what she wants to major in, so early college makes sense for her to earn credits for free while she discerns a career path.

Plus, we are a family of seven, with five kids. She's our oldest, so we aren't quite ready to let her out into the world just yet. The 13th year means she'll be spending one more year at home with us. She's happy about that fact, too, especially because she's unsure where she wants to go to college in the future.

Most importantly, the program is helping her save money. With five kids to put through college, we can't afford tuition. Her decision to enroll could mean she earns as much as two years of college completely for free, which is also two years without racking up student loans.

We hope it will be worth it in the end

We won't truly know if the program was worth it until our daughter figures out her future path, but for now, we're all happy with the decision.

Our daughter likes the variety of getting "out" of school and traveling to the college center, where she has several friends in the program and the added flexibility.

While we don't know exactly what the future holds, we all know that she's exactly where she needs to be right now.

I'm not in a hurry for her to rush off to an expensive college if she's not sure what she wants, and this gives us a little more time to discern her next steps.

• In 2008 I had my first child, exactly a week after graduating from college.
• My husband still had a year to go, so I would work nights while he stayed with our baby.
• We've had low expectations about adulthood since, and don't expect anything from older generations.

With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I realized I was completely stuck in the snow, in pitch darkness.

It was around 5 a.m., I was six months pregnant and freshly married, on my way to the hospital to complete my nursing school shift rotation. The nursing program had a zero-tolerance policy for absences, and I had zero knowledge — or money — to fix the tire that had just blown out in front of a complete stranger's driveway.

Fortunately for me, that same stranger helped me get a spare on, and I waddled my way through my shift. But my husband and I, both still college students at the time, had precisely no money to pay for a new tire. I couldn't believe my luck when, the very next day, a check arrived in the mail for $500, proclaiming me the winner of a scholarship I didn't even remember applying for.

The year was 2008, and that surprise flat tire and ensuing check feel symbolic of what that time felt like — complete chaos, no money, and making it through in ways that sometimes felt totally random.

I graduated from college and a week later gave birth

In 2008, I graduated from college with my Bachelor's degree on May 10 and delivered my daughter exactly a week later. My husband still had a year of school left, so I became the sole supporter of our new little family. I'll be honest with you: neither of us had any idea that the US was in the midst of what would later be called "The Great Recession."

We had become adults — and parents — in the midst of a nationwide economic disaster, but for us, it was just normal life. Because we had gone straight from being broke college students to broke parents at the age of barely 22, the recession didn't even really impact us.

We rented our housing and spent no money on entertainment, eating out, or even clothing. We used rabbit ears on the TV and lived very simply. I worked the night shift while my husband was home with our daughter, and then we switched during the day while he went to school.

In 2010, we welcomed a second daughter and bought our first home. Back then, because of the recession, there were several incentives for first-time homeowners. For instance, we qualified for a loan that required 0% down, and we received an $8,000 tax credit the following year on our tax return. The cost of our mortgage was nearly the same as renting, and the house was near our jobs, so it made sense. And, of course, there's the fact that the purchase price of homes was ridiculously low, especially compared to now.

We learned not to expect anything

Things weren't all peachy keen, though — my husband had graduated with a teaching degree, and although it's hard to imagine, teaching was an incredibly in-demand job because of the recession. Every position he applied for had hundreds of applicants, and he was laid off constantly. We saw more pink slips in our first years of marriage than some people will see in a lifetime.

We also learned very quickly not to expect anything that older generations might have had. A secure job? Nah, pink slips keep you on your toes. Retirement? Nope — we opened our own account as soon as possible, even though I could only afford to put in $25 a month. Childcare? Opposite shifts for life, thanks. Maternity leave or any type of parental support whatsoever? Never heard of it.

Our privileges, such as being white, able-bodied, and having access to college in the first place, afforded us huge advantages to enter adulthood and parenthood during a recession. But the realities of entering adulthood at that time, in many ways, also set us up for a lifetime of low expectations. Truthfully, I've realized how low my expectations are, especially in the last year or so. We have expected nothing from childcare to healthcare to even basic work-life balance.

We are cutting our spending again

I'm almost 39 with a kid about to graduate from high school (yes, the one I was pregnant with in 2008), and just recently, I canceled some of our streaming services because we can't afford them. I canceled my gym membership, and I'm looking at what else we can cut back on because we simply aren't able to pay our bills right now. It's a lot harder in a way because I'm "stuck" in things like our house, with rising costs I can't control, like property taxes, insurance, and repairs.

But when I look back on that time, it does help me now because I realize how much of my life has always felt like waiting for the other foot to drop. So, a big part of me is just inclined to roll with it.

Maybe entering adulthood amid the recession scarred me — maybe I should be fighting for more or expecting better. But truthfully, if I can figure it out on my own, it feels like a win, especially compared to where we started.

• I'm the mom of five kids, including teenagers.
• If my kids have no obligations, I let them sleep in as much as they want.
• People have said I'm letting be lazy, but I'm doing it for their health.

Last week, here in Michigan, my children had three "cold days" in a row — with temperatures falling below -20 degrees Fahrenheit, our school district canceled school.

And on those days, as any day that they don't have school or other obligations, I let my teenagers sleep in as long as they wanted.

They have to wake up so early on school days

One teen roused fairly early, around 9 a.m., while the other didn't wake until nearly noon. I wasn't fazed in the slightest. On normal school days, my kids have to get up before 6 a.m., which they do all on their own, but on weekends, off-days, and during the summer months, I do not control my teens' bedtimes or waketimes.

I always encourage them to sleep as much as possible because I believe that sleep is one of the most important things they need, especially at their age.

Some parents might disagree with me and encourage strict wake-ups, even over the summer, but in our family, my teenagers can't possibly get anywhere near the recommended hours of sleep on a regular basis. Between school, sports, work, and family commitments, most nights they are lucky to get six to seven hours, and if I'm being honest, some nights it's even less than that.

I'm aware of the science that says that teens' brains are wired to stay up later and sleep in, but unfortunately, our school district — like many — just can't accommodate a schedule that supports their sleep. We live in a rural area where a lot of kids depend on busing, so the bus schedule dictates the school schedule, which means very early wake-up times.

They are not lazy

There's not a lot I can do to create more hours of sleep for them at night during the school year, but what I do is always encourage them to sleep as much as they want all other days of the year. I've heard people call teens lazy for sleeping in so much, but to me, it's about supporting their health in a very basic way. I want my teens to understand and emphasize the importance of sleep, especially as they grow into adults.

Part of my motivation is also selfish. I am personally someone who has always needed a lot of sleep to function, so just in case they turn out like me, I want them to know it's okay to be someone who needs a lot of sleep. Years of sleep deprivation as a mother severely impacted my physical and mental health, yet I've always felt guilty anytime I needed more sleep or "let" my husband help me at night.

So far, my strategy is working. My teens are responsible, do well in school, work side jobs when they want spending money, and have no problem regulating their own sleep. I do set some boundaries that I also use to support a healthy sleep environment: their phones have auto bedtimes that I control (weekdays have earlier times than weekends), their bedrooms are kept screen-free, and I instituted white noise habits from the time they were babies.

I'm not naive enough to think it's all my strategic parenting or merit that has granted me children who can sleep in or regulate their sleep schedules.

Everyone and every family is different, of course. My goal is not to shame any family whose teens aren't able to sleep in on a whim; my goal is simply to make sure my teens never feel shamed for sleeping in.

• I'm a mom of five, and my husband is a public school teacher.
• I graduated in 2008, so I know how to endure in times of crisis.
• I'm doing 11 things to save money while grocery prices keep increasing.

This week, our mail brought more news of bills and rising prices. Our auto insurance premiums increased by several hundred dollars, and our dental insurance is not covering our daughter's braces. The basic Netflix account we've had forever also jumped in price, and our accountant told us he was increasing his fee by hundreds.

It seems like everywhere I turn, we are gobsmacked by a new rising cost that we have no control over. As I gathered paperwork for our taxes this year, seeing my husband's take-home pay and my measly freelancer income made me want to cry. Prices of literally everything are rising all around us with no end in sight and yet, we both make less than ever, especially with healthcare insurance costs rising each year too.

Some days, it truly feels like a losing battle. There's only so much I can do. My husband is a public school teacher, so his salary won't increase anytime soon.

That said, I am trying. After all, I graduated from college in 2008, straight into a recession and I am a true millennial who, if nothing else, knows how to endure. Here are some things I am doing to manage rising prices for my five kids — three of whom are very hungry teens.

I'm personally eating all the leftovers

I admit I've been guilty of letting leftovers rot in my fridge, but now, I am forcing myself to eat them. This morning for breakfast, I ate sauerkraut, cottage cheese, and leftover pot roast with joy because it saved me money. I have no rules about meals anymore. If it's available, I'm eating it.

I pack all our food away from home

We travel nearly every weekend for sporting tournaments, and in the past, I have been lax about packing food and just buying snacks and meals while out. That time is over. Sorry, kids, but your soggy PB&J will have to do. I did invest in some fancy salad containers, so I can at least pack nice meals once in a while, too.

I'm treating my chickens like princesses

Much to my husband's dismay, we have always had backyard chickens, but now that a case with 15 dozen eggs costs $120 here in Michigan, we are treating our girls like the queens they are. The freedom of having your own eggs in your backyard can be worth buying chickens if you have the space and ability.

We're embracing our backyard food sources

We live on a farm, so we've always raised our own beef, chicken, and pork, but now, it feels more important than ever. I've also become more passionate about selling our beef and keeping the prices affordable for local families.

We also garden, and while I've always considered gardening a fun hobby, this year, I see it as essential. I plan on planting and preserving more food this year, including jam, vegetables, and potatoes. We also asked our butcher to give us more pieces of our meat chickens that are normally thrown out, like the necks, so I could make them into homemade broth.

I stopped buying cereal

I grew up on cereal. Cereal is a staple meal in my family of origin — my mom still regularly eats it for dinner. I do buy the bulk bags of Rice Krispies because that's somewhat affordable, and my 5-year-old especially will eat them, but these days, our pantry is bare of cereal.

I'm straight up eating less

I've been on a weight loss journey for over a year now, so I have slowly changed my eating habits. But these days, I admit I try to eat less to save money, especially away from home. Maybe not the greatest idea, but there you have it. Focusing on higher protein also helps me stay fuller longer.

Regarding my kids, I'm embracing the simplicity of basic staples. Freezer meat, pasta, rice, and potatoes are on rotation here instead of trying to eat new, more expensive foods.

I switched grocery stores

I previously shopped at a big-box store that let me buy other things in my app for convenience, like clothes and even shoes for the kids. But those little non-grocery purchases add up, so I recently switched to a local grocery store that doesn't offer the "extras," so I am forced to just buy my food and re-think all those other purchases.

I said goodbye to pricey little treats

I wasn't a huge Starbucks drinker, but when I ran my errands, I treated myself occasionally. But those days are over. If I get a sweet treat, it's cheaper, like a McDonald's iced coffee, or I bring something from home.

My kids get free lunch at school more

Our school offered free lunch for all students this year, but I often tried to still pack them their own so they had some healthier choices. But with grocery prices and the doubt that free lunches will be around much longer, I encourage them to eat at school for free rather than trying to pack five lunches every day. It actually saves a lot of money.

My husband and I took on more work

My husband works three jobs now and recently took on even more work. I know it's dangerous for his health because he basically doesn't sleep and works late every night before getting up at 5 a.m. to go to his day job, but it's the only way we are managing at all right now. I also took on a new job last month that I really don't have time for either, but again, we need the money. I don't know what the future holds, so it feels like if there's work available to us, we have to take it.

We put dreams of a vacation on the back burner

This is a privileged one, but with a daughter who will be a senior next year, I dreamed of taking our family on a nice family vacation soon. We took our first "real" family vacation in 2024, and it was just a Florida Airbnb with a pool, but it meant a lot to us. I know my daughter might fly the nest soon, so I'd like to create more memories as a family before then, but it's just not possible.

I know I will need to take additional steps in the future, and I have some plans on the back burner, like canceling all of our streaming services (we only have the Disney+ and Hulu bundle) and utilizing a 0% interest credit card I qualified for.

I am trying to balance enjoying life with adjusting to the reality that our incomes are not high enough to afford it. I wish it were different and we could have the type of financial opportunities that previous generations did, but for now, we have jobs, a house, and food, and that makes us more privileged than a lot, so I'm trying to be thankful.

• I have five kids ranging in age from teens to elementary schoolers.
• My husband is a public-school teacher, and I'm a freelancer.
• I didn't know my kids were going to get more expensive as they got older.

The unfortunate truth about my life as a mom of five kids, ranging in age from teens to elementary schoolers, is that I've been living outside my means for a very long time.

My husband is a public-school teacher in a rural area, and I'm a freelancer, so our income is modest. But with five children — and two teenagers at that — I just don't know how to make it all work.

I knew having kids would be expensive, but I didn't expect or plan for how much more expensive kids would get as they got older.

Our cost of living has gone up

Between groceries, electricity and heating bills, car insurance, health insurance, homeowners and property insurance, car bills, life insurance, dental insurance, and unexpected expenses, we've seen our cost of living explode over the past three years. Our bills have quite literally tripled in some instances, but our income hasn't risen.

To give you a little peak at my finances, this month alone, the following bills have all come due:

• Travel sports: $1,000
• Car insurance six-month policy for two adults and a teen driver: $2,800
• Homeowners' insurance: $4,000
• Winter property taxes: $2,200
• Braces: $4,000
• New tires for winter: $2,000

I guess I should have expected how widely expensive life would be as a parent, but I can honestly say I didn't expect how dramatically more expensive my kids would be as they got older.

Teenagers are so expensive

Teenagers come with an entirely new onslaught of expenses that I didn't prepare myself for — everything costs more with teens. Aside from the "big" expenses such as more expensive car insurance, technology for college, and gas, even the little things cost more. For instance, whereas I could once run to the store and buy my kids $5 shirts for the school year, outfitting them now costs much more than that. Everything including socks, shoes, toiletries, sports, and school costs keeps rising, with no end in sight.

Outside the arguable extravagance of a travel sport, my husband and I do everything possible to make our lives work. I shop at Aldi for our groceries, our kids wear hand-me-downs and Walmart clothes, I thrift whenever possible, we rarely go out to eat, my kids have jobs, and my husband works two other jobs outside his full-time job as a schoolteacher. My work pays for our limited streaming services and phones, and our entertainment is primarily spent at home (or watching siblings' games, of course.)

I wonder whether I shouldn't have stayed home when they were little

The frustration of feeling like our expenses are out of control has led me to reflect on the choices I've made as a mom. I've always prided myself on being primarily at home with my kids. After I became a mom unexpectedly during my senior year of college, I did my best to do what I thought "good" moms should do and worked extremely hard to always be home as much as possible with my kids — I worked the night shift and built a career freelancing so that I could be the consistent at-home parental presence. And I've been proud of that.

But now that I have two teenagers and am about to usher in a third, I'm wondering whether I did the right thing after all. Should I have spent more time working back then and saving money for this time in my life when my kids still need me in very tangible and albeit more expensive ways? Did I really consider the trade-off of my earning potential and how much we could need that money in these teen stages?

My experience so far is that the teen years are just as time intensive as the early baby and toddler years. They don't have the same level of physical exhaustion and sleep deprivation, of course, but they're incredibly mentally and emotionally taxing. Add in the stress of trying to pay for everything and work more because you think the kids are "more independent," and it can be a recipe for disaster. I feel stretched so thin right now trying to afford our lives when the truth is that my teens need me to be emotionally and physically present more than ever.

• My husband has been teaching for 20 years.
• His salary is $19,000 above the poverty level for our family of seven.
• While money is tight, it's worth him keeping his job for our health insurance.

For most of his career as a public school teacher, my husband's paycheck has hovered just above the poverty level for our family. This past summer, my children even qualified for the free lunch program through the schools.

Today, with my husband's 20 years of teaching experience and a Masters degree, his pay is about $19,000 above the poverty level for a family of our size in our state. He has reached the top of the teaching pay scale at our school, which means his income will not increase after this year, but with five children, two of them teens and two on the brink, we are entering one of the most expensive phases of our lives.

Although we have talked about my husband leaving teaching many, many times, the discussion always comes back to one sticking point: health insurance.

Our health insurance is great

We are extremely fortunate the teachers' union that my husband's school works with has always advocated for top-tier healthcare. Part of that is many teachers and teacher's families who have special health needs, but regardless of the catalyst, our family has always enjoyed what I feel is excellent health insurance.

Our annual family deductible is $2,000, and we have a PPO, which means I've never had to deal with referrals or even prior authorization. I've never had to fight an insurance company, and we've never had a denial.

There was a time in my life when we were first married and still in college when I used Medicaid for my pregnancy. I felt so ashamed every time I went to the doctor, although I was incredibly grateful that I never paid a dime during my pregnancy, and it allowed me to graduate from college as a nurse exactly one week before delivering my baby.

Despite my shame in using Medicaid, the experience also opened our eyes to how important health insurance is because I had postpartum complications that led me to have two hospitalizations after giving birth.

The statements were mailed to our house after I had recovered, and when I saw how high the statements were for those bills and then realized they had been fully covered, I wept in relief. At that time in our lives, as brand-new parents and new college graduates, a $20,000 hospital bill would have ruined our lives. Instead, we were able to start our adult lives fresh and immediately started working, paying back into the system that saved us.

We don't have crippling medical bills

With those memories in hand and five children we are responsible for, we have always felt that any potential lower income as a public school teacher has been worth it for access to high-quality health insurance. We've been fortunate not to have any true medical emergencies, but even with seemingly "normal" medical events, like a premature baby and a weeklong NICU stay, we have still not experienced any of the crippling medical bills that haunt many American families.

I do wish that teachers were paid just a little higher, especially considering how highly valued they were during the pandemic, but for us, health insurance alone has made it worth it.

I don't know what will happen in the future, especially with education and healthcare, but I do hope that we can continue to prioritize the health insurance that has made our lives possible to this point because it provides us with a lot of peace of mind. But even more so, it might be nice to get to a point in society when employer-tied health insurance doesn't rule our decision-making.