Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:58     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
We are doing that as well. We will use some 529 but the bulk will be pay as we go. Our income has gone up significantly in the last couple of years.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:49     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
Normally I would say yes totally fine.

Now with the economy tanking and the $ dissolving, I would try my darnest to save every $ you can now.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:48     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
Yes. This is our youngest. 529 + stocks then cash flow the rest.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:47     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
Crazy to use 529 if you know anything about investing.
Tuition is $20k a year for year 2, 3, and 4. The kid went to year 2 somehow straight from high school.
Since I'm not working anymore, so it's coming from investments.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:47     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
Even if you're free cash flowing, there can be tax benefits to cycling at least some of the money ($4K per year per parent in DC, e.g.) through a 529.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:46     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
Same!
It’s nice to see a post like this that’s relatable!
Our HS freshman’s college will be cash flowed.

Now that we are better situated financially, we have a caboose baby. We are starting savings for this one!
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:40     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
yep we have three and last gonna be going to the third $90k+ a year school. 529s are for govt workers and teacher
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:36     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
We sell stocks. Which is pretty much the same as cash-flowing.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:33     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
It's really not uncommon. That's what we're doing too.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:31     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
Anonymous wrote:We have about $60K saved for college, and tuition is about $45K a year. We're pulling some out of the 529 each year but then we are cash-flowing the rest.

Yep, this. As long as you and your student aren't taking out a bunch of loans and you can afford your regular monthly expenses, there is absolutely nothing wrong with cash-flowing your child's education.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:30     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
Anonymous wrote:Had a low HHI while the kids were young and did not manage to save a lot. However, we make a lot more money now and pretty comfortable with cash-flowing most of our kids’ tuition. Anyone else in this boat or is DCUM all in the multiple hundreds of thousands of 529 balances?
We are younger than DCUM parents of high schoolers, on average, if that matters.

We are the hundred thousand dollar 529 family. Started with $50/month when we were attempting to conceive.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:29     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
We have about $60K saved for college, and tuition is about $45K a year. We're pulling some out of the 529 each year but then we are cash-flowing the rest.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:29     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
Not as uncommon as people would expect, especially with only one or two children.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:26     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
That's how we paid our kids' tuition, and we had four of them.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2025 16:25     Subject: Anyone else planning to pay as you go?
Had a low HHI while the kids were young and did not manage to save a lot. However, we make a lot more money now and pretty comfortable with cash-flowing most of our kids’ tuition. Anyone else in this boat or is DCUM all in the multiple hundreds of thousands of 529 balances?
We are younger than DCUM parents of high schoolers, on average, if that matters.