{"id":70643,"date":"2025-08-05T06:52:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T06:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/?p=70643"},"modified":"2025-08-05T06:52:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T06:52:00","slug":"what-parents-should-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/?p=70643","title":{"rendered":"What Parents Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-144.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-70644\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-144.png 576w, https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-144-169x300.png 169w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For many families, the dream of sending their child to college comes with a big question mark: how do we afford it? The good news is that with early planning and the right tools, the process doesn\u2019t have to feel overwhelming.<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Mangoworms - Bob from Bijilo, Having a Mangoworm bath\" width=\"790\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oKuZgVySYrU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll break down what parents should know about planning for college expenses early\u2014and why it can make a big difference in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Brady, Mangoworms\" width=\"790\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wcOzQhXjKZE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Start Sooner Than You Think<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost of college has continued to rise over the past decade, and waiting until high school to start saving can put unnecessary pressure on families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"The Fight Against Mange: Saving a Dog in Need #cat  #dog   #neglecteddog  #abandoneddog\" width=\"790\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y2ZV_TaWIYs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning even a small savings plan when your child is young gives your money more time to grow. Thanks to the power of compound interest, even modest contributions made consistently can add up over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understand the True Cost<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not just tuition you\u2019ll need to plan for. Books, housing, transportation, meal plans, and fees can significantly add to the total cost. Research average costs for both in-state and out-of-state schools, and use online college calculators to estimate what your family might expect to pay by the time your child is ready to apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Explore Your Savings Options<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s no one-size-fits-all strategy for college savings. Many families start with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>529 College Savings Plans<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 These are tax-advantaged accounts specifically designed for education expenses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Custodial Accounts (UGMA\/UTMA)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Managed by an adult for the benefit of a child, these accounts can be used for various purposes, including education.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Traditional Savings Accounts<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 While they may not offer tax benefits, they\u2019re easy to access and manage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Some parents also explore other financial tools such as&nbsp;<strong>permanent life insurance policies<\/strong>&nbsp;that build cash value over time. While not designed exclusively for education, these policies may offer flexibility under certain conditions. However, this option may not be suitable for everyone, and it\u2019s important to research thoroughly or speak with a licensed financial professional before including such tools in your planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make It a Family Conversation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As your child grows, involve them in the conversation. Teaching kids about saving, budgeting, and the value of education helps build financial awareness. You don\u2019t need to dive into numbers right away\u2014but even basic discussions about goals and responsibilities can make a lasting impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep Checking In<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Life changes, and so do financial circumstances. Make it a habit to revisit your college savings plan once a year. Adjust your contributions as needed, review your chosen savings vehicle\u2019s performance, and stay informed about tuition trends and scholarship opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Planning for college isn\u2019t just about numbers\u2014it\u2019s about setting your child up for success. Starting early, staying informed, and making thoughtful decisions along the way can ease financial stress down the road. Whether you\u2019re saving a little or a lot, every step forward makes a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/?p=70617\">ALSO READ&#8230;..<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For many families, the dream of sending their child to college comes with a big question mark: how do we afford it? The good news is that&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":70644,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70643"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=70643"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70643\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70648,"href":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70643\/revisions\/70648"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/70644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=70643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=70643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=70643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}