What are your creative approaches to saving money to pay for college?

@brantly, a lot of our vacations were driving to visit our folks. We might spend one night in Chicago or at Lake Michigan on the way. But I can’t really remember all 4 of us getting on a plane to go anywhere. Lots of families we knew went on international vacations, but we kept our vacation costs pretty low. (Okay, we drove to Canada to cross country ski a couple of times). I’m finally starting to enjoy some international travel now that the last tuition bill is paid!

Vacations: When the children were young, we had activities but tended not to go far or big: a one-week vacation in Kentucky by car; a one-week vacation in Massachusetts by car (stayed with family); several two- or three-day trips to Chicago and Minneapolis (Mall of America). After my husband was employed again, we took a few trips by plane to California.

Cars: we bought one or two new cars during our marriage. I still drive one of them, a 2005 Pontiac Vibe (I mention that to illustrate that it’s not particularly high end). Our daughters did each have a car: kind of coincidentally, kind of not, each was an early 1990s Buick LeSabre. They went to car heaven two or three years ago. One cost about $2,000; the other was free, a gift from my husband’s dad.

Food: I rarely eat at restaurants, with “rarely” meaning 5-6 times per year. I only go out to eat when I “have” to, meaning that my children are visiting or I’m in a situation in which I can’t politely decline the suggestion or invitation to dine out. I don’to spend much on groceries. I rarely get takeout; for me, a splurge is buying coffee at McDonalds.

Entertainment: I’m an avid reader but I don’t buy books or magazines for myself. I am a big fan of my public library. I go to a movie about once per year. I don’t go to concerts, plays, or other paid events.

I do spend money on others. I help my daughters with certain expenses, I once again give to charities, and I buy birthday cards and treats for coworkers. I have helped out a few friends who have serious financial problems.

Anyone mention upromise or other crowdfunding?

What about acorn or similar for automatic savings?

We just lived below our means. We went on vacations, but they weren’t expensive (my S used to be so jealous of his friends who went to Cancun on spring break - but he survived just fine). We live in a house that was paid just before the first hit college - we “could have” afforded to live in a bigger house. We drove used cars, kept up on home & auto repairs to avoid bigger costs, used a credit card that accumulated airline miles to assist with travel to visit faraway older parents on short notice, put off recarpeting/refurnishing our house, etc. We are so glad we did that. Our kids graduated without the burden of debt so many of their friends have. They also learned the value of hard work and saving.

@Dadclass2020 I actually had a Upromise MC that I used for a bit, but I tended to favor another card that gave me hotel stays, which came in handy for the college search. I recently set up Upromise so the money is moved to our checking account last weekend. I had totally forgot it was there! I’m thinking about moving monthly charges that currently come out of our checking account to the Upromise card, and pay it off each month. Looking back, I would have been better off using the Upromise and moving to 529 than free hotel stays.

Not very creative, but when we pulled DD from parochial school several years ago, we kept paying her monthly tuition into her college fund. On top of our regular monthly deposit we had been making, it added up quickly.

Also, DH empties his change (coins) into a piggy bank every night or two. Any coins that end up in the washing machine go there too. That gets deposited into the college fund every other month, and always adds between $30 & $45.

Any money we got for selling bikes or toys she had outgrown… went into the college fund. Any rebate checks we get go in her college fund too.

Also, we have a Coverdell, which offers far, far more investing options than a 529 plan. The first $2K in savings each year goes there.