This is really interesting - a big range especially when considering the HHIs.

Our kids are 7 & 8 and we have $100k saved. HHI is $315k but was much lower until recently.

HHI varies widely. 400k-550k. Two kids ages 17&13 and we have total amount of 150k saved.

Roughly $80,000 for my 14 year old and $80,000 for my 9 year old. Got started late, but on track to have $120,000/kid when my oldest starts college, and plan to pay the equivalent of in state tuition in our state.

HHI (sole parent) is approx $270,000.

Kids are going into 2nd grade and PK4.

In an actual 529, there is just under $600. (Opened with $250 each last Dec. when the new secure act was passed, to have it open and clock started in case there ends up being excess).

Then there's $75,000 in ibonds I will split into the 529s probably in January.

My spouse has another $100,000 in a brokerage earmarked for college as well.

Around $35K for my 9 year old in 529s and ibonds.

280k HHi and have 182k in 529 plus another 45k in i bonds that are earmarked for education. Child is a rising 9th grader. Savings plus cash flow will give him options.

HHI 200-220k.

310k for 8 year old. After fully funding retirement, etc..529 was next priority. Whatever we had left, we put in the 529. Any bonus money went into the 529. We don’t have a mortgage and also some passive income from real estate which helped us put a more money into the 529 than someone with typical HHI like ours.

HHI 500-600k (fairly recent - but we were in the 300-400K range for most of the kids lives).

$300K for kid 1 who will start college now.
About $250K for kid 2 who has 3 years to go.

It was something we have saved for from their birth and both DH and I prioritized. Along with maxing out our 401Ks, this was the “must save” item each month. Amount deposited has varied based on other bills (we did less during the childcare years), but we have put something away each month.

They are lucky children. They can go pretty much where they find the best fit and between savings and cash flow, we can make it work without any heartburn.

Three kids (9th, 6th and 4th graders in the fall) with a total of $410k in the 529s plus 30-months of GI benefits. We super funded each plan with $45k in 2014 and have contributed minimally since (a couple of thousand every few years) since we don’t pay state taxes. I’m shocked how many people with higher incomes don’t take advantage of this tax free growth. At the time, we had a HHI of $115k and had extra funds from a real estate sale. Current HHI is $425k and there is no family money.

We have about $135k total for one 13 year old and one 10 year old

85k in the 8yo’s 529 and 55k in the 5yo’s 529, HHI approx 400k.

$425K in 529 (125K of that is appreciation). One 13 year old. HHI varies between 250K and 900K.

Anonymous wrote:Just came here to ask why you would cash flow any of college? 529 is a much much better option.

Do you know how much private colleges are? We weren’t making enough in our 30s and 40s to save the equivalent of today’s $320k x 2. We prioritized retirement and saved enough to send both our kids to state schools. Turns out they both have learning disabilities and highly ranked small liberal arts colleges are the best fit so we’re cash flowing the rest.

~$20k across two kids ages 3 and 1. I wish we could put more towards it but I’m currently shelling out $48k/year for daycare so at this point I know we can budget for paying for a chunk of it out of our general savings/salary if needed. HHI $120k.

HHI is now $250k. Have $150k for rising senior. Last 3 years haven’t been good to my 529 account.