Going to a 5 year old bday party, is 529 contribution a good gift?

[Anonymous]

We are DINKs but have always been invited to my friends' kids bdays ever since they were born. Would a good gift from now on be contributions to 529 plans rather than give toys etc. for gifts for their bdays? Assuming of course the parents have one in place. The kids ways seem to have a bazzillion toys anyway, and they prob lose interest from ones we gift in a matter of weeks, thus I thought it might just be best to contribute a little to their college slush funds. Who knows, after 10 bdays they may already have $1000 bucks from our contributions, which may help rent a moving van or pay a course fee. Is this a good idea or a lame grandma idea? Would parents generally appreciate this or should bday gifts be exclusively fun based?

[Anonymous]

Lame grandma idea.

A gift card would be better than that if you don't want to get a toy or book.

[Anonymous]

I'd LOVE it!

[Anonymous]

I would absolutely love it. This is what I plan to do for my neices and nephews until they get into presents (a 1 year old needs nothing!). You can get 529 gift cards or if you have their account number you can make a donation directly.

I've always put cash my kids receive in their 529 accounts.

[Anonymous]

Lame grandma.
Are these kids you have relationships with?

Give them an experience. A trip to the theatre with you, a day out at the Chuck, tickets to the pirate cruise.

[Anonymous]

I think I'd get a toy / book plus a donation to the fund. Or a gift cert for an activity you can do with the child (if you know him well enough.)

[Anonymous]

This is what we do for my neices and nephews for Xmas and bday and baptism. I would do it for kid's friends if we had discussed it in advance.

[Anonymous]

Give the kid a toy. That's what birthdays are for. If you want to make a contribution to a college fund, talk to the parents and do that separately.

[Anonymous]

As the parent, I'd love it. The kid will get enough junk toys from other people.

[Anonymous]

Meh. Weird and kind of presumptuous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Give the kid a toy. That's what birthdays are for. If you want to make a contribution to a college fund, talk to the parents and do that separately.

Idk half the birthday parties I go to for the 5 and under set are "no present" parties. Kids have WAYYYYY too many toys and get overwhelmed after parties. It's not like it was a generation or two ago where presents were special.

[Anonymous]

Great idea. My kids have also received savings bonds which is a great gift idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great idea. My kids have also received savings bonds which is a great gift idea.

How? They don't even print these anymore

[Anonymous]

Be sure to knit them a sweater for Christmas while you're at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As the parent, I'd love it. The kid will get enough junk toys from other people.

+1