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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Ok, you’re asking how other people do it. This is my “how I’m doing it” at a fraction of your income: I did not bother with a 529 because that seemed like a luxury on a single fed salary. Instead, pre-kid, I started putting whatever I could save after funding my retirement account, into I bonds and investment accounts that would not necessarily be limited to education. Granted, I had some small seed money from parents and grandparents in those accounts, but mostly it was extra savings that I started way before I even thought about kids. By the time kid was in high school, there was enough money for state school. At that point, I adjusted my spending and cash flow and, for the last couple of year pre college, set aside enough cash in a savings account for an additional year of state school, as a cushion. In the end, my kid did not go to state school, but got enough merit aid at a private to make it only slightly more than state school. The first two years I was able to cash flow, even on my single fed salary, with some contribution from the father ( about one third; he pleads poverty even though his combined HH income is higher than mine). I didn’t have to start dipping into the investment account until junior year. At this rate, I’m not going to have to use up all the money saved, so it worked out fine not putting it in a 529.

So basically, keep putting money in the 529s, but if I can cash flow a good chunk of college, you should be able to cash flow quite a bit, if you adjust your spending during those years. Going where they get some merit aid or state schools would also help.[/quote]

Saying you are a single-income fed doesn't mean much as you could be earning $50K or $250k+.  If you are on the higher side, there is no reason why you couldn't save.  If you can pay it out of cashflow you aren't low income and very comfortable.[/quote]

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