How much did you save for college this year?

[Anonymous]

Hhi about $180k. Together we put in $2,400 for one kid. I am close to maxing out tsp (~$16k) and will max my Roth, I think. Grandparents also put money in for college, so I'm not too worried.

[Anonymous]

We save about $6500 per year per kid. DH maxes TSP, I don't, but we put some of my money into roths. HHI is about $170k. One is still in daycare.

[Anonymous]

HHI ~150k. Saved exactly $0 for college.

[Anonymous]

HHI $185k. Saved about $6000 combined for two kids 4 and 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And how old are kids and what's your HHI?

We know a ton of people with kids in private and my theory is that they save less than we do.

Our HHI is around $370 and we have a 4 yr old and 6 yr old and we saved $6000 total for both. We also bought a new house, saved a 3 mom supple of salary and max out our 401Ks, so I think that $6000 is adequate, but I get the sense that many people pay for extras like fancy vacations and private schools from being more liberal with their money... Or having family money.

We do not feel we could afford private grade school at all.

Am I wrong?

Our HHI is about half of your and we save $10-$15k per year for college. $6k for two is not enough.

[Anonymous]

Our HHI is about $100k.

We saved $2500 total (two kids) in 529s this year. Also putting $6k in Roths which we plan to use for education if necessary. Kids are 5 and 2, current balances are $23k combined. Decided to put extra in a Roth this year instead of 529 as it is more flexible.

Also max 401k (only eligible for one) and put $4k in trad IRA.

[Anonymous]

HHI 350k
Kids are 4 and 2
529: 10-14k each every year; I want to make sure they will have enough for at least 4 years of private undergrad, and by looking at how much they cost today, you really have to save aggressively.
We both max out our two 401ks at 35k this year.

[Anonymous]

Love how people on here like to talk about how high their incomes are, but are saving diddly for the college education. Yeah I'm talking about you OP. Anyway, HHI of 160k here. Put in $5k this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I save 1200 every year in a 529. Not much and hope to up it by the time he is 5. (Currently 3.5). Single mom making 58k.

at this income i think its STUPID to save for college. you don't have the extra money and if you do you need to save for retirement. you are lower class and will get FA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And how old are kids and what's your HHI?

We know a ton of people with kids in private and my theory is that they save less than we do.

Our HHI is around $370 and we have a 4 yr old and 6 yr old and we saved $6000 total for both. We also bought a new house, saved a 3 mom supple of salary and max out our 401Ks, so I think that $6000 is adequate, but I get the sense that many people pay for extras like fancy vacations and private schools from being more liberal with their money... Or having family money.

We do not feel we could afford private grade school at all.

Am I wrong?

Tip - do not worry who has family money, where they are going on vacation, what fancy extras your neighbors have. Try to become comfortable with your decisions for your family and your circumstances and whatever you save will be the right answer.

[Anonymous]

We save $5k per child per year, two children ages 4 and 7.

HHI 220k. We max retirement options.

We will bump it up when daycare for dc2 ends.

[Anonymous]

We did not explicitly saved for the kid's education (no 529 plans), however, we always max out our retirement savings and we also save 30% of our income. HHI around 300K. We also bought 5 years of prepaid tuition in MD for both kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I save 1200 every year in a 529. Not much and hope to up it by the time he is 5. (Currently 3.5). Single mom making 58k.

at this income i think its STUPID to save for college. you don't have the extra money and if you do you need to save for retirement. you are lower class and will get FA.

You don't have enough information to make that conclusion. Her child has another 15 years to go. Her income can double or triple by then and/or she can marry. We also don't know what FA will look like (grants? loans?). $1200 is not helping or hurting her bottom line.

I made 90k this year (up from 70k in 2013) and contributed $2400 to a 529. No I don't max retirement...I have done 10% to TSP and $2400 to a Roth IRA for years. I should have a pension in retirement and a paid off mortgage when DD enrolls in college. I'll be 44. My income will be higher and I intend to marry before then. I would love FA or scholarship money to appear, but it's not something I am willing to count on. My hope is to ease the financial burden on DD, even if some loans will be necessary.

[Anonymous]

Ages 8 and 11. Zero.

[Anonymous]

13 and 9. Saved $4500. Grandparents saved another $4k HHI = $180k.