College savings hits all-time high

[gladiatorbird]

<p>"As tuition soars, parents and grandparents are putting more money than ever into 529 college savings plans. Average balances for 529 college savings and prepaid tuition plans grew to a record $17,174 in 2012 -- up 12% from an average of $15,349 in 2011, according to a report from the College Savings Plans Network, a nonprofit and affiliate of the National Association of State Treasurers."</p>

<p>College</a> savings in 529 plans hits all-time high - Mar. 12, 2013</p>

[beolein]

<p>But the S&P 500 went up 13%. So it’s not significant in that way. Perhaps significant if you take those numbers is the resulting zero.</p>

[4kidsdad]

<p>See another report [College</a> Savings Reach Record High In 2012: Report](<a href=“College Savings Reach Record High In 2012: Report | HuffPost Impact”>College Savings Reach Record High In 2012: Report | HuffPost Impact)

As more families prioritize college savings, other savings accounts across the country appear to be suffering. Nearly half of Americans have less than $500 in savings, and more than 60 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. In addition, 49 percent of Americans polled in a recent survey revealed that they do not even have enough money to cover three months of expenses in case of an emergency.</p>

<p>Fitzgerald attributed this stark discrepancy between education and other savings plans to the American value in education.

</p>