529 is for tax deferred growth, and an income tax deduction in some states. If you didn't have Moen to invest years ago, 529 doesn't matter

Both:

Our 529s have large balances but have decided to retain them for future generations. We are paying for college as we go. Only one is in so far and it is over $90k/year.

We're paying from a mix of cash and stocks. We'd rather pay the capital gains taxes and forego the 529 state tax breaks. We feel it's our civic duty.

No loans. Just paid mine off in my 50s. Paving the way for them as the World is getting tough.

Yea did for eldest + 1year 529. Youngest now 2nd year. Will pay 3rd/semester abroad. Last year is 529. Then save for weddings if young people still pursue that avenue.

We have always paid tuition from the 529 and cash flowed room and board. Our youngest is a HS senior and I am for the first time nervous about the arrangement as I worry about layoffs and inflation. I’m going to try to put aside as much as I can over the next 9 months just in case. But I think for many people cash flowing works.

Same and hoping to retain my job for next 5 years. Paying out of my equity grants

It’s fine as long as no one loses their job, dies or divorces. Then the kid really gets screwed.

Anonymous wrote:

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 saved only 25k for the same reasons and are paying the rest as we go, zero loans, for two college kids from our paychecks. One at T10 one T15, one ivy one not and it has been well worth it. We were used to private school, paid from paychecks, ie the delta has not been as high a hurdle as someone not used to school bills. We have close friends doing the same.

See, nobody asked what school your kids go to. But I guess you like to seize every opportunity to let the world know that your kids go to top schools. Even if it's to anonymous strangers.

Pretty pathetic.

Yep, doing that now.

Yes we are paying as we go. She's a junior, we feel it but it is do able. You are definitely not alone.

Not only are we cash flowing, I am also working a part time job in addition to full time to help the cash flow even better 😊.

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 saved only 25k for the same reasons and are paying the rest as we go, zero loans, for two college kids from our paychecks. One at T10 one T15, one ivy one not and it has been well worth it. We were used to private school, paid from paychecks, ie the delta has not been as high a hurdle as someone not used to school bills. We have close friends doing the same.

Basically, yes. We also couldn’t save much when the kids were younger but have been saving $5k a month for about 6 years now and have continued through the time our kids are in college. We currently have a senior and freshman. For the senior, the remainder of the 529 pays tuition ($60k) but we pay room and board out of pocket. The freshman ($75k) has $120k in the 529, so that covers this year and part of next. We will continue to put away the $5k for the next 3 years.
We didn’t give our kids limits on where to apply but when kid #1 was offered a big scholarship at a lower ranked school, we encouraged her to take it. Child #2 only applied to state schools but just our luck, he got into one of the top ones, which happen to be the most expensive.

Doing it right now.