If the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, then the journey of saving for college begins the moment you open a 529 savings account.
It sounds simple. That’s because it is. And that’s exactly why so many families wait. We wait for a raise. For the “right” account. For the moment when everything else feels less overwhelming. But when it comes to saving for education, waiting is expensive. Every month you delay is a month you lose the opportunity for your money to grow.
I spent nearly 15 years working in college student success—coaching students and supporting families through some of the most important years of their lives. Today, I work in financial management, helping families think about money more strategically. What I’ve learned is this: whether you’re trying to help your student graduate or grow your wealth, success isn’t about a magic investment strategy. It’s about having a plan and building habits around it.
That’s especially true with saving for college.
529 accounts have come a long way in recent years. They’re no longer just for traditional four-year universities. The Department of Education has expanded its use to cover private K-12 tuition, trade schools, and even tutoring costs and internships. That’s a big deal for families who want more flexibility in how they support their child’s education journey.
So let’s talk about the plan. Because hoping you’ll figure it out later is not a plan. The first move is opening a 529 account. If you haven’t done that yet, stop reading this for a minute and do it now. Seriously. Whether you use the state-sponsored plan where you live or the one offered by ScholarShare 529, the most important part is getting started.
Once you’ve opened your account, give yourself credit. You just did something that most Americans haven’t done. You’re already ahead of the curve.
The next step? Build your habit. Look at your budget and identify a monthly stretch savings number—an amount that feels just slightly painful. Not impossible, but uncomfortable. Is it $50? $500? More?
Now, cut that number in half and set up an automatic deposit from your paycheck into the 529 account. Don’t wait for the month to end to “see what’s left.” You’re not trying to save leftovers. You’re building wealth with intention. When the money comes out first, you adapt. You’ll make small changes to your spending and likely forget it’s even happening.
Hold that savings level for three months. After that, increase the amount slightly each month until you reach your original stretch goal. And when you get there? Raise the bar again.
Here’s the part that surprises most people: after a few months, you’ll not only be saving for college—you might also find that you have more money left over at the end of the month than you did before. It’s not magic. It’s just discipline paired with compound interest.
That first step into a 529 plan isn’t just about opening an account. It’s a signal to your future self—and your student—that you’re in this for the long haul. That you’re not just dreaming about opportunity. You’re actively building it.
This doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, the simpler you make it, the more likely you are to stick with it. Start now. Automate it. Grow into it. And one day, when your student gets their acceptance letter or steps onto a college campus or learns a trade that changes their life, you’ll remember the moment you took the first step.
You’ll be grateful you did.
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