<p>I have a young child (almost in Kindergarten) and college costs have been on my mind ever since she was born (plus I am a natural planner :)). Im now realizing how quickly the time goes (!) and I want to be prepared for the inevitable in 13 years. I worked FT for a while she was young and was able to put about 25K away in her 529 plan. We are currently a one-income family and plan to stay that way for at least the next 10 or so years. Im in my 40s now and I realize that getting a job that will pay for tuition when I am in my 50s will be difficult, so I want to be able to have enough put away by the time she goes to school. Plus my DH will be in his 60s, so we may not have jobs to pay for tuition out of income down the road (Im not banking on it anyway).</p>
<p>Right now we put about $750/yr in her 529 plan. When I run the numbers on the college calculators, what we will have in our 529 doesnt seem like it will be even enough to pay for our state flagship (current costs=$20K/yr). We would have to contribute $350/mo to meet the projections (I assumed a 6% annual increase in tuition and investments of 7%- too pessimistic/optimistic?).</p>
<p>I think our retirement accounts/emergency funds are in good shape, but I am concerned about having enough for college. Right now we do spend about $1500/yr on activities (dance, etc.) for our kiddo. I do think they are a little expensive and honestly, Im not sure they are worth it. Maybe we should be investing the money for college instead? We dont make a lot of money, but we live a somewhat modest lifestyle. We dont take fancy vacations and stay out of debt. I think I can squeeze a little more money out of our budget to invest more though. For instance, we eat out 2-3 times a month. We could certainly cut that, although I'll admit I enjoy not having to cook.</p>
<p>Anyway, I guess I could use some perspective. Looking back, do you wish you had skipped the expensive ECs and invested for college? Or maybe taken one less vacation? Im a SAHM, but maybe I should consider a PT job in a few years? The only issue is that it is difficult to find one that fits the school calendar. Im certainly not opposed to working, but my DH and I would prefer to have someone around in the mornings and afternoons for our DD. Or maybe I should consider taking a FT job for a few years to save enough for college? I thought the 25K would be enough to not have to worry about it, especially since it is a ways off, but I also think there was a bit of magical thinking on my part. </p>
<p>Or maybe I am just worrying too much? Of course, my child can work and contribute, but Im opposed to any school debt. Id rather just make a few sacrifices earlier and have my DD enjoy college. Thank you for any insight.</p>
<p>PS- I tried to search for an existing thread, but had trouble finding one. Maybe someone can point me in the right direction?</p>
<p>I know several women who have taken jobs in the school so that their work hours dovetail with the school calendar. These aid or para-professional jobs do not pay a lot, but it would be additional money you could save while still functioning as a SAHM for your child. You would miss being able to attend those recitals or concerts that take place during the school day, and there is the challenge of a child being home sick.</p>
<p>Well, in your shoes, I opted for part time work with a great boss which meant that I could go to school events or stay at home with a sick kid. My thought was that I would increase my hours as the kids got older. What actually happened was that even working part time I needed some childcare and when my youngest was in 1st grade my childcare system fell apart. Instead I started my own business. I didn’t make much money those first few years, but it was something I could do on a schedule that worked 100% with having kids. I met clients either while the kids were in school, or evenings and weekends when my husband could take care of them. I was president of the PTA and headed up a couple of committees. I felt I had the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>My kids had some activities that were expensive (music lessons) and some that really were not (community soccer, PTA sponsored after school classes). Summer camps varied and there were some, like computer camp, that my older son only got two weeks of because that was all I was willing to spend. I did try to give my kids good experiences and sometimes that did mean spending money like going to Japan when my husband was going to be there at a time that overlapped with spring break. Most of our vacations are to family owned property and involve hiking in the mountains or playing in kayaks other people paid for so they cost very little. </p>
<p>We were very lucky that an inheritance ended up paying for the kid’s college educations. In your shoes, I’d try very hard to save a little more - I’d probably do it by working, I just think it’s really dangerous for anyone to become voluntarily unemployable which is a danger if you stay at home too long. Not a slam at SAHMs at all, I spent a few years being one before I went back to work, and I loved every second of it.</p>
<p>If I had it to do all over, there is are a couple of changes I would make.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Any bonuses DH received would have been put into college savings of some kind.</p></li>
<li><p>Any income tax refund received would have been put into that college savings.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>These were funds we managed to live without throughout the year.</p>
<p>I worked full time and my income paid for college out of current earnings…but it doesn’t sound like the OP either can or wants to do that.</p>
<p>One of my friends worked at her child’s before/after school program. That’s something to definitely look into, especially if DD can be in the same class. </p>
<p>I’m so torn. I hated working FT, especially since we didn’t “need” my income, except for college savings of course. My job was awful and my commute was worse. We often didn’t get home until after 6:30 at night. Oddly enough, any kind of lesson or activity for DD was impossible with our schedule. All that started after I left my job. Our lives really are better now, but I’m sad that I’m kind of limiting her college choices by not having the funds. OTOH, she is much happier at home and I love being around her. </p>
<p>FTR, I went to a very selective private college, and absolutely loved it, so that’s were some of my angst comes from. It would be nice if DD had the same opportunity.</p>
<p>That’s good advice about the bonuses and tax refunds. DH got a small Christmas bonus of around $500 and it was frittered away buying Christmas gifts, etc. I’ll tuck that away in her 529 if he gets another one this year. The one thing I really like about having a 529 plan is that college savings are compartmentalized and if we put money in her account it will stay there. </p>
<p>I think we need to start by cutting out some of the things first. Eating out can go. I’ll review the budget a little more. I’m on the fence regarding the activities. I think we can drop one anyway. That will save some money.</p>
<p>When our kids were young we started putting money into U.S. Savings Bonds every month. That turned out to have been our best investment for college. DH also put his yearly bonuses into their accts. I was a SAHM until the kids were in 7th and 10th grade.
Then I started working p/t as a preschool teacher in a program that followed the public school calendar</p>
<p>We lived pretty frugally…no out of state vacations or fancy cars, lived in the same house for 24 years and paid it off before S2 went to collegte, no expensive extracurriculars…only our town’s “little league” sports programs and church affiliated summer camps, lots of clothes bought at Goodwill. Both kids got p/t/ jobs as soon as they turned sixteen to fund their own activites during h.s.
Both kids were able to graduate debt free from big (instate) public universities.</p>
<p>I have to compliment you on your realistic attitude and your willingness to do what it takes to give your child the education you want her to have. It really is a gift that lasts a lifetime.
Along with your other ideas, I want to second PackMom’s suggestion of encouraging your daughter to get a job when she is 16- especially for the summers. Along with the earnings she will put away, job experience is very valuable both from a resume standpoint and from the real-world experience standpoint. Kids learn things from working that really can’t be taught in the classroom, or even in volunteering. She may not see the value in it at the time, but later, she will thank you.
It would be great if you could run a business out of your home. One of my relatives with young children started a diaper service when she had her first born. Another started a home-based bakery, with health approvals, licensing and everything. Is there anything you think you would enjoy doing, even part time from your home, that would bring in a few thousand extra dollars a year?
Good luck to you, and really enjoy these years at home with her. They’re then best.</p>
<p>There’s really sound advise here. The other thing I would do is take a look at your public universities in your state. How are they doing? Is there a wide variety available as far as the top students, the solid B students, and good community college system with articulation agreements with your four year universities for late bloomers? Some states do really well in public higher education where some offer only a handful of choices. Some are shutting out all but the top students in their best schools causing students who just miss the mark to look for OOS merit (dwindling), and others to directional universities (if your state has them). Can students get the classes they need and are they graduating in four years or is the 5year plan becoming more common? I know families who have looked at the public universities in their state and due to flexibility in jobs decided to move their families to states that have broader options in higher education prior to their students high school years. This got the children settled prior to high school and they didn’t have problems with class rank/GPA recalculation. The students then qualified for in state tuition and were eligible for much more opportunities then in their previous states. Not all families can do this, but it is not a singular situation I know of.</p>
<p>First things first- life insurance. Of course we will all live to be 120, except that every community has a tragedy (mine had three in the last year- SAHM’s now raising kids alone) so make sure that you don’t get ahead of yourself. Something could happen to you; something could happen to your H, make sure that your D will be protected financially if something terrible happens. Of the three in my town, only one of the husbands actually had a viable “what if” plan, and to see the other two mothers trying to get back on a professional footing so they don’t lose their houses is really sad. Forget college- we’re talking foreclosure.</p>
<p>After that, I applaud your willingness to think this through. My own view is that you will do yourself a favor if you don’t lock yourself into long term thinking. Today you don’t want to go back to work. But what will life be like when your D is in the second grade, is essentially gone for a long stretch of time every day? </p>
<p>I always worked full time once my kids were born; as a result, they never did after school activities other than things offered at school because I wasn’t around to join the carpool/minivan line at school to take them where they needed to go. They turned out fine. More than fine. Summers were stressful while I patched together childcare (they did daycamp with extended hours at the end, but there was always a two week gap in the early summer between school and camp. The gap at the end of August I took as vacation and thoroughly enjoyed my kids!)</p>
<p>So if it were me, I’d be re-thinking some (doesn’t need to be all) of that activities budget.</p>
<p>Do you have skills that lend themselves to an at-home business? Web design, graphics for small businesses, etc? Book-keeping? I’m on the board of a non-profit and we recently hired a SAHM to take over a lot of our accounting when the long-serving finance person retired. She does virtually everything from home- all the systems are online anyway-- she will probably meet with the accounting firm which does the annual audit a couple of times but almost everything else is done at home, her convenience.</p>
<p>So even a 20 hour a week gig (which pays well) can really boost your cash flow.</p>
<p>I did it backwards from the norm in that I worked FT when the kids were younger and then left the workforce when the oldest hit high school. I know you said you planned on being a SAHM mom for at least 10 more years but this is just another idea I throw out there. </p>
<p>I had a very well paying job while I worked outside the home and we lived frugally in order to sock money away for college and retirement. As the kids got older I gradually ramped down in preparation for the exit ramp. So first I worked full time at a private law firm, about 60-70 hrs per week, then part time (which really meant 40 hrs squeezed into 4 days) then I switched to government full time , and at the end I was part time at the government. </p>
<p>With aggressive savings, thrifty lifestyle, and some luck we are now in a position to fully fund college for our two kids, without requiring loans. </p>
<p>Another benefit of doing it this way is the ability to be home for two teenagers and to have time to shepherd them through the college search and application process. It’s very time consuming. </p>
<p>Not sure if you have thought of this or if it fits in with your family needs, but something else to consider. </p>
<p>I hope you did your due diligence when you picked your childs 529 plan. The downside with a 529 plan is that the investment options are limited and functions like a mutual fund where the unit is priced at the end of day instead of a stock or ETF which are bought and sold the entire trading day.</p>
<p>Excellent idea! I was on the Board for our local youth football league for about seven years as the treasurer and also did a lot of the admin work. It was very time consuming but all done from home, the field, and things that were done locally during the day. Several of the leagues we played against had a full time paid admin/bookkeeper. Prior to being a SAHM I was a bookkeeper.</p>
<p>First, remember that whatever you can save for the future (emergency fund, life happens fund, college fund, vacation fund, whatever) is a good thing.</p>
<p>Then remember that you get to define your savings goals. Some people do spend their whole pre-college phase earning and saving with a particular target in mind. That works for them. Other people don’t let the future college costs dominate their savings plans. That is OK too.</p>
<p>To my mind, eating out 2-3 times a month is OK. Vacations are OK - even one or two big expensive memory-creating vacations are OK. Afterschool activities that your child enjoys, and that are meaningful for your family are OK. It really is about the balance you want to maintain in your overall family life.</p>
<p>We have only one child. When she was your daughter’s age, I had no idea what she would want to do with her life, and even if college would end up being in the picture for her. So, we didn’t put a cent into 529s. All of our savings was general family savings. And of course we didn’t save enough. But, she turned out OK. Her career goal doesn’t require college (but she chose college). The cozy little LAC I graduated from, and the Ivy-level university where Happydad met in grad school, and all of their peer institutions would be absolutely lousy places for her to pursue her career goals. The best places for her to do this for the job market where she wants to begin her career? Our own local community college, and a couple of our own cheap-o public universities.</p>
<p>So my point here is, we can plan ahead all we want, but we cannot predict what our kid’s needs and goals will be umpteen years down the line. Do what makes sense to you emotionally and financially for your own kid. Pay attention to your child’s interests so that you can toss some suggestions her way about possible careers. Occasionally, check in on the whole paying for college thing. But please, please, please do not let it rule your life now unless you really want it to.</p>
<p>Has anyone here looked into upromise? We set up everything possible through there, including gas cards, credit cards, online purchases, etc. We own a company with drivers out on the road constantly and we have been getting a penny a gallon for at least 10 years now. We’ve saved thousands in their 529’s by getting our parents signed up as well.</p>
<p>It’s great you already have so much saved! Have you thought about instead of more toys for holidays asking family to donate to the college fund with just a small gift like a book? </p>
<p>We saved first, then made our budget out of the rest. You have so many options down the road, working part time during school hours, working from home, working full time when she’s in college, having her get a job in the summers when she’s older. Not to mention merit scholarships, financial aide, etc.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t put off living life in the present ie - extra curriculars, an occasional meal out, vacations - all in the name of college savings. Those are valuable experiences as well.</p>
<p>We’ve used upromise for well over 10 years. I couldn’t tell you how long. You can also tie in many of your store loyalty cards (grocery, drug store). We chose not to have the money go into a 529 but I request withdrawals once a year and send it to my dad who manages an account that was set up for each of the boys when they were born, courtesy of my grandparents. He has continued to add to that on birthdays and Christmas.</p>
<p>Kudos to you for planning ahead! If you stick around these forums long enough you’ll see all kinds of sad stories about kids who have very limited college offices because their families did not save. </p>
<p>It sounds like you want to be a SAHM for now. Of course a job in the school system would be ideal. If that’s not a possibility, how about a seasonal (usually Christmas) job? Could you get a part time job during some night and weekend hours when your husband is at home? A home day care? Tutoring? Dog walking? </p>
<p>As far as extracurriculars, it doesn’t seem like they’re a major expense right now, but consider that the costs will increase as your d gets older. For example, dance may be once a week now, but can be several times a week as she gets older. If she does pointe, the shoes will be a considerable expense. If she wants to play an instrument will you have to buy or rent one?</p>
<p>As far as vacations go, it depends on what you’re doing. Is it a $5000 trip to Disney every year? If so, I would definitely cut back, but your family should also do things together that you enjoy. </p>
<p>Also keep an eye on your 529. Lots of people lost considerable amounts of money in 2008. Consider conservative options within your 529 if necessary.</p>
<p>You sound like a responsible and loving mom. Have you considered caring for an infant in your home for the next five years? The ladies in our neighborhood command $250 or more per week for infant care. It can be long demanding days but you are home for your daughter and that $1000 per month for 5 years would yield you an additional $60,000 in your daughter’s college savings.</p>