It's natural to want to fund as much of your children's college education as possible. "But you also have to be saving for your own retirement," says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FastWeb.com and FinAid.org.
So let the kids borrow first. Students have the most repayment options with federal loans, notes Lauren Asher, president of the Institute for College Success & Access. If you do get a federal PLUS loan, keep your repayments to the traditional 10 years, says Kantrowitz.
