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MAY 2020 THE
COMMUNITY CONSCIENCE STUDENT LOAN DEBT
Raising kids can be a challenging endeavor. When Heather and I got married in 2013, she agreed to take on not only a husband but also two boys, Andrew, who was 12, and Chandler, who was 11. The boys are now 18 and 19 years old and face growing up in a world very different than the one Heather and I knew when we were teenagers. While we are far from perfect parents, we do our best. Our newsletter chronicles some of our successes and some of our less than stellar moments. We hope you can learn from some of our failures and find some entertainment in the moments we share. Americans are carrying approximately $1.4 trillion in outstanding student loan debt. Let that sink in for a minute. Approximately 70% of college graduates have student debt, with the average borrower owing more than $37,000 at graduation. At my alma matter, Gonzaga University, the figures are even worse: The average student debt carried by graduates is $100,000. Have we all gone crazy? When I studied at Gonzaga University, the tuition was around $12,500 per year. I actually sat down and figured out that it was about $20 for each and every hour I was in class. So, skipping Friday classes because I had been drinking too much the night before meant I would lose the $20 I spent at the bar and another $20 because I could not get out of bed. Although Thursday was the big party night at Mr. Stockton’s bar, Friday hangovers had to be kept to a minimum. Unfortunately, tuition has risen at a rate that is significantly higher than the rate of inflation, so that $12,500 per year I paid has mushroomed to over $43,000. The price tag has nearly quadrupled in 24 years. There is absolutely, positively no excuse for this increase. There is no way I would have been able to consider asking my parents to fund my education, and there is no way I will be funding a private education for my children, either. There is absolutely nothing wrong with your adult child attending a state university. In contrast to the $43,000 per year price tag at Gonzaga University, Montana State University tuition is $7,277 per year. That is 17% of what tuition runs at Gonzaga! Unless your
child is fortunate enough to be accepted into Stanford University or Harvard University, the schools are not all that different. The Lamborghini can wait! There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking five or six years to graduate while you work. Unfortunately, we have convinced ourselves that graduating in four years is a must and failing to complete an undergraduate degree in that time makes your degree somehow worth much less. That is a bunch of baloney. One of the smartest and most accomplished people I know finished his undergraduate degree in nine years, choosing to work for a semester and take classes for the other semester. There is absolutely nothing wrong with working and saving and making your tuition payment in the cash you earn. However your child decides to fund their education, it is absolutely critical that you talk to them about how they are going to pay for it. We wish you and your family the best in your future. A college education cannot and should not require our children to mortgage their futures!
- Lucas Foust
406-587-3720 • 1
THE TIMELESS CHARM OF THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE Plus, How to Create Your Own Outdoor Cinema
Summertime is synonymous with many childhood experiences: hours splashing in the pool, sleepaway camp, and snow cones, to name a few. A quintessential summer destination that isn’t as common these days is the drive-in theater, yet many childhood memories are built on this little bit of nostalgia. The first drive-in theater opened in 1933 in Camden, New Jersey. At the time, films cost 25 cents per person, plus 25 cents per car, and drive-ins usually got movies in the second run, after they’d shown at indoor theaters. The trend started off slow, but by the ‘50s, Americans had fully embraced the outdoor theater experience. The ‘80s brought a charismatic Michael J. Fox to audiences in “Back to the Future,” and shortly after, “The Sandlot” hit the big screen and gave us lines that we’d quote for the next decade (“You’re killin’ me, Smalls!”).
As of 2018, USA Today estimated that only about 330 drive-in theaters still exist in the United States. But if you don’t have one in your area, there’s a way you can enjoy the outdoor movie experience without having to leave your backyard. Your outdoor cinema starts with a projector. If you don’t have one, they are readily available to purchase at most big-box stores. For playing the movie, you’ll need a laptop and streaming service or a DVD or Blu-ray player. You’ll connect these devices to your projector through an HDMI port. As long as you’re not broadcasting to the whole neighborhood, stereo or computer speakers should be just fine, but you can also opt for a Bluetooth speaker that will give your audio a big boost. Next, you’ll need a flat surface to display the movie. A plain, white bedsheet makes a good screen, or you can make your own with white
fabric from craft stores or online. Cushions, blankets, and outdoor hanging lights add a fun touch to your cinema. Just be sure to turn the lights off before the movie begins — and silence those cellphones! Once your setup is complete, select your movie, get the popcorn popping, and enjoy some movie magic right in your backyard.
SHOULDYOU SKIPYOURWORKOUT IF YOU DON’T FEELWELL?
Why Some Exercise Is Beneficial When You’re Sick
Getting sick is terrible, especially if you’re trying to stick to a consistent workout routine. You may think sickness means more rest days — but in fact, depending on your symptoms, continuing to exercise could be a good thing. While it may seem like common sense to avoid exerting yourself too much when you’re feeling under the weather, the effects of exercising while you’re sick are a bit more nuanced than you think.
If you’re sick and trying to decide if you should try to get a workout in, assess where you feel your symptoms. Are they only above the neck? Or are they above and below the neck? Symptoms of a head cold, such as a runny nose, a mildly sore throat, and some congestion, shouldn’t keep you from exercising. At the very worst, you might just have to cut back the intensity of your workout. If you usually go for a run, try decreasing the time of your run or going for a walk instead. There’s actually evidence that exercise can help alleviate symptoms located above the neck when you’re sick. For instance, walking and jogging can help clear up congested nasal passages. Many runners will attest to the fact that their workout actually helps them feel better when they’re sick. There’s also evidence that yoga can boost your immune system and ease aches related to sinus issues. Saying “om” might even help too, as one study found humming could actually aid in opening clogged sinuses. If you have a fever or any type of stomach problem, however, you should skip your workout altogether. And if your workouts seem to exacerbate your sickness, take a break until the sickness subsides. That said, it’s nice to know that it takes more than a little case of the sniffles to throw off your workout routine!
2 • www.lucasfoustlaw.com
Has Breakfast in Bed Gone Out of Style?
WHAT MOMS REALLY WANT ON MOTHER’S DAY
Serving breakfast in bed to moms, especially on Mother’s Day, has been a widespread tradition for years, but have you ever wondered if it’s what your mom really wants? Here’s a look at the Mother’s Day breakfast in bed tradition and some recent insight into the popular trend. According to Heather Arndt Anderson, author of “Breakfast: A History,” the popularity of breakfast in bed became widespread during the Victorian era, but only for married, wealthy women who had servants. Those women would enjoy their first meal of the day in bed, and then their servants would handle all the spilled scone crumbs andmessy breakfast residue.
In 1914, PresidentWoodrowWilson dubbed Mother’s Day a national U.S. holiday, and a few years later, the aristocratic English tradition of breakfast in bed sailed across the pond to America. By the 1930s, food and bedding companies capitalized on the tradition and the new holiday by running ads inmagazines and newspapers encouraging children and fathers to serve their matriarchs breakfast in bed. Since then, servingmothers breakfast in bed has become a popular Mother’s Day ritual around the world, and it remains so today. However, there is one group whose voice has been left out of the breakfast in bed conversation: mothers. In a recent study conducted by Zagat, a well-known dining survey site, researchers found that only 4% of moms polled want breakfast in bed. Yes, you read that right. When you factor in the mess of syrup, crumbs, and coffee spilling over clean sheets, it’s understandable. Today’s mothers usually don’t have servants to clean up afterward. The study also revealed what most moms prefer to do for breakfast on Mother’s Day: 53% of mothers like to go out, and 39% prefer brunch instead of breakfast. While breakfast in bed seems like a nice gesture, statistics show that it’s probably the last thing your momwants to wake up to on May 10. This Mother’s Day, show your appreciation for your mom or the mother of your children by asking her what she would like to do. She deserves the holiday morning she desires, whether that includes a full breakfast in bed or a trip to her favorite brunch joint.
Take a Break!
Inspired by AllRecipes.com RHUBARB CAKE
Nature’s favorite tart vegetable—yes, rhubarb is a vegetable!—is in season once again. Celebrate rhubarb seasonwith this simple, delicious cake.
INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS
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Heat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking dish. In a large bowl, combine 1 1/4 cups sugar, baking soda, salt, and 2 cups flour. Stir in eggs and sour cream until smooth. Fold in rhubarb and add mixture to the prepared baking dish. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup sugar and butter until smooth. Stir in 1/4 cup flour until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle mixture on top of cake batter and bake for 45 minutes. Let cake cool for 5–10 minutes and serve.
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2 1/4 cups white sugar, divided 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 2 1/4 cups all- purpose flour, divided 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup sour cream 3 cups rhubarb stalks, diced 1/4 cup butter, softened
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Butterfly Flowers Jedi Ladybug
Mayfly Memorial Mexico Mothers
Outdoors Pollen Sunshine Taurus
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406-587-3720 • 3
Foust Law Office
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
www.lucasfoustlaw.com 406-587-3720 Fax: 406-879-4400
3390 South 30th Avenue Bozeman, MT 59718
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Student Loan Debt PAGE 1 The Timeless Charm of the Drive-In Movie PAGE 2 Should You Skip Your Workout if You’re Sick? PAGE 2 Has Breakfast in Bed Gone Out of Style? PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Rhubarb Cake PAGE 3 The Best Technology for Graduates PAGE 4
SAY CONGRATULATIONS With These Tech Gifts for Grads sound bar for their entertainment system just might do the trick. For the Streamer There’s no shortage of streaming services, and depending on what your graduate enjoys watching, you may consider gifting them a subscription. Nostalgic Disney lovers looking for some stress relief would certainly love a Disney+ subscription, but if you know someone who has an affinity for the dramatic sagas, a subscription to HBO Now could satisfy their cravings. Hulu + Live TV can also be a great alternative for a grad who is out of the house! The best part is that this gift keeps on giving with every movie or show they stream. For the Academic This May will mark the start of a new academic adventure for many. AI systems
Spring is all about new beginnings, and for many, graduation is just the start of something big. Whether your favorite graduate is heading off to college, serve in our nation’s military, or join the workforce, there’s a gadget out there that will give them a great start — or at least make you their favorite relative. Check out this guide to find the perfect tech gift. For the Audio Lover From wireless headphones that surround you with sound to Bluetooth speakers that offer crystal-clear quality, the options are endless when it comes to choosing an audio device. But before purchasing the “next best thing,” consider the person who will use it. If your graduate exercises frequently, they may want wireless headphones like Apple’s AirPods or one of the many Samsung varieties. On the flip side, if they enjoy action movies, a great
like the Amazon Alexa and Google Home can make staying in touch and studying easier, while an e-reader could house all their textbooks in one handy place. Laptop cases, screen covers, and other protective gear can keep their technology safe from wear and tear. (After all, what college kid can afford a new laptop on a whim?) Charging stations and cord organizers can also protect their tech and keep their space clean.
4 • www.lucasfoustlaw.com
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