-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

fees

The sticker price for attending college is increasing much faster than inflation and has been for a long time. However, what I'd really like to know or see plotted is the mean or median price paid for college. Does anyone know if that data is available anywhere?

I'm feeling human again today, but just generally grumpy with work. My desire to retire young increases with every passing day. It's easy to forget that the very concept of retirement is somewhat novel. Back in the day, people worked until they physically couldn't anymore, and then I suppose most died (often in poverty and usually supported by their children) shortly thereafter. I wonder how generally increasing longevity will change the concept of retirement. Is it reasonable to think about retiring at 65 when you'll live to be 90? After all, if you start working at 24 after earning an MS and take 4 years off to have kids, that's only 27 years of work and 35 years of retirement. You'd better be saving a lot, especially if SS doesn't pan out! In some government jobs, I think you might even be able to retire at 55. However, they might come with pensions.

12:02 p.m. - Oct. 29, 2008