Ski Mom Ann Garcia Demystifies College Costs and Helps Us Budget for Skiing and Sports

Become a Premium Subscriber here.

In this episode we talk with Ann Garcia, ski mom, Certified Financial Planner and author.  Ann is known in the financial industry as “The College Financial Lady”, helping families plan for their children’s education. 

Ann learned to ski at age 3 in Lake Tahoe, and after a harrowing first ski trip, her family became ski hippies, packing up their VW bus and heading out to different destinations from Wyoming to Utah.  Ann loved skiing from the start and later taught her twins to ski. She reflects on some of the special times she’s shared with her children at Cooper Spur (Mt. Hood, Oregon).

Ann walks us through her career path and tells us about her blog that later became a book, How to Pay for College.  Ann has twins, a boy and a girl, they have both recently graduated from college and have started their careers. Ann tells us about navigating the college path with two very different children.

We get some great tips about talking to our kids about the cost of education, college loans and other financial topics. It’s important for a family to be on the same page with their priorities as they start the college exploration path.  Ann recommends we check out the net price calculator tool that is available on all college websites. 

We get some great insights into the broader college scholarship landscape and athletic scholarships.  There are a lot less athletic scholarships, so if you have to pick between a private coach or a private tutor, Ann says go with the tutor!  

And bringing it back to skiing, Ann gives us some tips on how to save money for family ski trips, while also saving for college and retirement. It all starts with a budget, without a budget we can’t make the right financial decisions. 

Resources:

Cooper Spur Mountain

Ann’s Bo

SHOP HERE

Use Code SKIMOMS for 15% off all labels. Code is not valid on sale items or stamps. Other restrictions may apply. 

There  are 4 events happening this year at: Sugarbush, Sunday River and Stratton, plus a cross country skiing event at the von Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe. Register here, spots are limited https://www.theskimoms.co/events

Hey Ski Moms—let’s talk staying warm.  Ski Haus isn’t just a gear shop—it’s where smart ski moms go to get outfitted for the whole family.  Head to skihaus.com to check store hours and directions.

Find your perfect family-friendly mountain stay—or list your own!
 👉 Browse or list at Ski Mom Family Rentals