Comments on: Bargain Basement Marriage http://www.republicoft.com/2007/06/20/bargain-basement-marriage/ Black. Gay. Father. Vegetarian. Buddhist. Liberal. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:12:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dana http://www.republicoft.com/2007/06/20/bargain-basement-marriage/#comment-135660 Dana Wed, 20 Jun 2007 17:36:30 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2007/06/20/bargain-basement-marriage/#comment-135660 Thanks for digging into this one, Terrance. I was so stunned by it I could only post in brief. Here's another calculation: Assume a difference of about $5000 between getting married and obtaining legal documentation as a same-sex couple. (I'm rounding down; as you note, though, the figure could be more. Using <a href="http://www.smartmoney.com/college/investing/index.cfm?story=save" rel="nofollow">SmartMoney's 529 calculator</a>, $5000 invested in an for an infant's 529 would yield $14,272 when he/she turns 18. That's more than $14K that we won't have towards our children's education. For same-sex parents, it's not just ourselves, but our kids, who suffer when our relationships cost more to protect. (Not to mention the inheritance and Social Security stuff, as you say.) And heaven help us if we need that money for our children's medical expenses, never mind college. Thanks for digging into this one, Terrance. I was so stunned by it I could only post in brief. Here’s another calculation: Assume a difference of about $5000 between getting married and obtaining legal documentation as a same-sex couple. (I’m rounding down; as you note, though, the figure could be more.

Using SmartMoney’s 529 calculator, $5000 invested in an for an infant’s 529 would yield $14,272 when he/she turns 18. That’s more than $14K that we won’t have towards our children’s education. For same-sex parents, it’s not just ourselves, but our kids, who suffer when our relationships cost more to protect. (Not to mention the inheritance and Social Security stuff, as you say.) And heaven help us if we need that money for our children’s medical expenses, never mind college.

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