Happy National 529 Day!

**Please note that this is a sponsored post for Florida Prepaid through Bloggin’ Mamas. All opinions are 100% my own!

Happy National 529 Day!

One of the first things I did once each of my boys was born, was to sign them up for a Florida Prepaid Plan and 529 Savings Plan. I had learned about these savings plan from one of the dozens of websites and magazines that consumed my interest during pregnancy, and think it is one of the best things I could’ve done for their future education.  College tuitions were (and still are) only going up, and we could only imagine how expensive it would be to send them when it was time.  I didn’t want finances be the reason why my boys couldn’t further their education.  If you’ve never heard of Prepaid Plans, here is a little bit about them.

Florida Prepaid is the largest, longest running and most successful prepaid program in the nation.  It offers two different ways to save for your child’s education: the Prepaid Plans and the 529 Savings Plans.

The Florida 529 Savings Plan is the most flexible and only requires $25 to open.  In this plan, you put away what you can afford – something is definitely better than nothing!  The funds in this plan can then be used for these qualified higher-education expenses:

• Tuition
• Room and board
• Textbooks
• Graduate school and more.

There are investment options that you’d review and ultimately choose from, and then you continue to contribute what you can.  Professional investment managers run each of the 11 investment options which range from “aggressive” to more conservative in nature.

It’s funny because when my friends get pregnant, one of the first bits of advice I give them is to look into starting a 529 plan once the baby is born.  I mean, I also tell them to try to sleep when the baby sleeps and not to buy a wipe warmer (they only dry out the wipes), but I emphasize the savings plan.  You get all caught up in baby clothes and diapers and the pregnancy itself, it’s easy to overlook this small but meaningful step.

Listen, student debt has reached $1 trillion nationally.  $1 trillion.  Ease your mind and your child’s mind by looking into ways you can save for them.  To learn more about the 529 Savings Plan and sign up, go to http://www.myfloridaprepaid.com/what-we-offer/529-savings-plan.

I highly recommend at least checking out the plans, if you are not already enrolled, to see how they can benefit you.  To me, it’s peace of mind knowing that little by little, I am saving for the boys’ college education.