College Savings Options Parents Should Understand Before High School

A parent-friendly guide to understanding college savings options before high school starts...

When it comes to family finances, many parents assume they’ll revisit things when the timing feels “right.” The problem is that perfect timing rarely shows up. Instead, financial decisions tend to pile up all at once—when kids are about to start high school, get their first job, or prepare for bigger transitions.

That’s why the middle school to early high school years are such an important planning window. Kids are old enough for money to start feeling real, but there’s still time to review, adjust, and prepare without urgency. 

This stage isn’t about optimizing every account or choosing the “best” financial strategy. It’s about understanding what tools exist, what they’re designed to do, and whether they still align with your family’s current reality. 

Traditional College Savings Options Many Families Start With...

When parents first begin saving for college, they often start with the most commonly discussed options. These accounts are designed specifically for education expenses and can be effective tools when families understand both their benefits and their limitations.

529 College Savings Plan

529 plans are one of the most widely used college savings tools because they’re built specifically for education-related expenses. Contributions are invested and grow over time, and funds are generally intended to be used for qualified education costs.

For many families, 529 plans offer structure and tax advantages, which can make them appealing for long-term college planning. They’re often used as a foundational account, especially when parents are confident that funds will be applied toward education.

That said, 529 plans are not one-size-fits-all. Because they’re designed with education in mind, families should be aware that how and when the money is used matters. Plans and rules can evolve, and flexibility may be limited compared to other savings options. Understanding these tradeoffs early helps parents decide how much to commit—and whether to pair a 529 with more flexible alternatives.

Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)

Education Savings Accounts, sometimes referred to as Coverdell ESAs, are another education-focused savings option that some families explore. Like 529 plans, they’re intended to support education expenses, but they operate with different contribution rules and investment flexibility.

Some parents appreciate ESAs for their broader educational use across different stages of schooling, while others use them as a complement rather than a replacement for a 529 plan. Because contribution limits and eligibility rules are more restrictive, ESAs tend to work best for families who are intentionally layering multiple savings tools.

Savings Options Parents Often Overlook

While education-specific accounts are often the first place parents look, many families benefit from including more flexible savings options in their college planning. These options aren’t designed exclusively for education, but that flexibility can be valuable—especially when a child’s future plans aren’t fully defined yet.

UGMA Accounts

Custodial investment accounts, commonly referred to as UGMA or UTMA accounts, allow parents to invest money on behalf of a child while maintaining control until the child reaches adulthood.

These accounts are sometimes used by families who want:

• Broader investment flexibility

• The ability to use funds for more than just education

• A way to introduce children to investing concepts over time

However, custodial accounts also come with important considerations. Assets are legally owned by the child and typically transfer to them at a specific age. Because of this, parents often use these accounts thoughtfully and as part of a broader strategy rather than as a sole college savings vehicle.

High-Yield Savings Accounts

High-yield savings accounts offer a simple, low-stress way to set aside money for future education costs. While they don’t offer the same growth potential as investment-based accounts, they provide liquidity and predictability—qualities that can be especially helpful as college gets closer.

Some families use high-yield savings accounts for:

• Short-term college expenses

• Supplementing other savings accounts

• Holding funds while deciding on longer-term strategies

For parents who value accessibility and stability, these accounts can play an important supporting role in a college savings plan, particularly in the years leading up to high school and beyond.

How Financial Aid Can Influence College Savings Decisions...

When parents think about college savings, it’s easy to focus only on how much to save. But how savings are structured can also influence a student’s financial aid picture. Understanding this relationship early—before high school—can help families avoid surprises later.

Different Types of Assets Are Viewed Differently

Not all savings are treated the same when colleges evaluate financial aid eligibility. Some assets are considered more accessible for education costs than others, which can influence how aid packages are calculated.

For parents, the key takeaway is that the type of account holding college savings can matter just as much as the amount saved. This is one reason many families choose to spread savings across multiple account types rather than relying on a single option.

Planning Early Creates More Flexibility

Families who review savings options before high school have more time to adjust if needed. Early planning allows parents to:

• Revisit account choices as income changes

• Balance flexibility with structure

• Avoid last-minute decisions during peak application years

By contrast, waiting until junior or senior year can limit options and increase stress during an already busy time.

Financial Aid Is Only One Part of the Equation

While financial aid can play a meaningful role in college affordability, it shouldn’t be the only factor guiding savings decisions. Every family’s situation is different, and aid eligibility can change year to year based on income, school selection, and other variables.

Understanding the general relationship between savings and financial aid helps parents plan with confidence—without trying to predict every outcome. The goal is balance: saving thoughtfully while staying flexible as plans evolve.

What Parents Should Consider Before Choosing Any College Savings Option...

With so many college savings options available, it’s easy for parents to feel pressured to choose “the right one.” In reality, the best approach often starts with understanding a few key considerations that apply to any account—regardless of the label.
Reviewing these factors before high school helps families make choices that fit their needs now while leaving room to adapt later.

Time Horizon

How many years remain before college can influence how families approach savings? Parents with more time may be comfortable with long-term strategies, while those closer to high school often prioritize stability and accessibility. Knowing where you fall on this timeline can help narrow options without rushing decisions.

Flexibility vs. Restrictions

Some savings tools are designed for specific uses, while others allow funds to be used more broadly. Parents who value flexibility—especially when college plans aren’t fully defined—often look for ways to balance structured accounts with more adaptable options.

Ownership and Control

Who legally owns the account, who controls the funds, and when that control changes are important details to understand. Some accounts remain under parental control long-term, while others transfer ownership to the child at a certain age.

Thinking through comfort levels around control helps parents avoid surprises and align savings choices with family values.

Tax Considerations

While many college savings options include tax-related benefits, those benefits vary by account type and situation. Parents don’t need to know every rule, but having a general understanding of how taxes might apply can help frame smarter conversations and planning decisions.

Comfort With Risk

Every family has a different tolerance for investment risk. Some parents prefer steady, predictable growth, while others are comfortable with more variability over time. Being honest about risk tolerance can help guide which savings tools feel manageable and sustainable.

When parents consider these factors together, college savings becomes less about finding a perfect solution and more about building a plan that feels thoughtful, flexible, and realistic.

College savings doesn’t have to be overwhelming, and it doesn’t require a perfect plan from day one. For parents approaching the middle school and early high school years, the most important step is simply understanding what options exist and how they differ.

By reviewing college savings choices early, families give themselves time—time to adjust, time to stay flexible, and time to make thoughtful decisions without pressure. Whether you’re using education-specific accounts, more flexible savings tools, or a combination of both, awareness creates confidence.

This blog post is in collaboration with Responsival!

Great Disney Princess Gift Idea....

I'm so excited to tell you about the amazing FAO Schwarz Disney Princess Toy Vending Machine! This enchanting collectible machine comes filled with 12 colorful capsules, each hiding a surprise princess figure inside.

You just twist the knob to release a capsule...

Then they got to open it to see their surprise. Some capsules contain rare or limited-edition figures; the girls were so excited to see which one they each got! 

We absolutely love it, such a huge hit here at our house. The girls are having a blast playing with their new adorable princesses! 

The girls also love the color of the vending machine and capsules. They are so bright and beautiful!

It's awesome that once opened, the capsules can be reused for storage, trading, or filling with other surprises. This charming machine adds a sprinkle of wonder and such a perfect gift for sure!

Disclaimer: * I did not receive any money for this post. I did however receive the product at no charge to evaluate and express my honest opinion. *

Things New Parents Worry About...

 

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Becoming a new parent is one of the most exciting, life-changing things that you can ever possibly experience as a human being. It is also one of the most terrifying, anxiety inducing things you can do too, right? You bring home this tiny new human being and that little bundle is completely reliant on you for all of his or her needs and you love them so much that you worry about every little thing, whether you need to or not. It’s kinda what parents do, but it doesn’t help you sleep at night, at a time when doing so is already pretty tough, right?

So, to ease your anxieties, below, we’ll take a look at 8 common things new parents worry about, and go over what you can do about them. 

1. “Am I Feeding Them Enough?”

Few things cause more anxiety than feeding. Whether you’re breastfeeding, formula feeding, combo feeding, or feeding expressed milk at odd hours in yesterday’s pajamas, it’s easy to worry that your baby isn’t getting enough.

In reality, healthy babies are surprisingly good at letting you know when they’re hungry, and when they’re done. Wet diapers, steady weight gain, and alert moments are all reassuring signs. Cluster feeding, frequent feeds, and sudden changes in appetite are common, especially during growth spurts. If your baby seems content most of the time and your pediatrician isn’t concerned, you’re doing just fine.

And remember: feeding your baby, however that looks for your family, is the goal. Not perfection.

2. “Why Won’t My Baby Sleep?”

Ah yes, sleep. Or rather, the mysterious concept of sleep that everyone keeps telling you will eventually return.

Newborn sleep is unpredictable, fragmented, and often baffling. Babies aren’t born knowing the difference between day and night, and their sleep cycles are much shorter than adults’. Waking frequently is biologically normal and even protective.

What helps? Keeping expectations realistic. Focus on safe sleep practices, gentle routines, and accepting help when you can. If your baby only sleeps in short stretches, that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong, it just means you have a newborn, right?

3. “Is This Crying Normal?”

Some babies cry a little. Some cry a lot. Some cry in ways that sound like they’re auditioning for an opera at the worst possible moment.

Crying is a baby’s main form of communication. It can mean hunger, discomfort, overstimulation, tiredness, or simply “I exist and this is intense.” Periods of increased crying, especially in the early weeks, are extremely common.

If your baby is otherwise healthy, gaining weight, and has moments of calm, frequent crying alone isn’t a sign you’re failing. Try soothing techniques like swaddling, gentle movement, white noise, or skin-to-skin contact. And if you feel overwhelmed, it’s okay to put the baby down somewhere safe and take a few deep breaths.

4. “What’s Going On With Their Skin?”

Baby skin can be… dramatic. Rashes, flakes, redness, baby acne - it’s all part of the package. One of the most common concerns is cradle cap, which can look alarming but is harmless.

Parents often ask, when does cradle cap go away? The answer is usually “on its own, eventually.” Cradle cap often appears in the first few months and typically clears up within weeks or months without treatment. Gentle washing, soft brushing, and patience usually do the trick.

Most baby skin issues are normal and temporary. If something seems painful, infected, or persistent, your pediatrician can help, but many of these early skin quirks resolve with time.

5. “Are They Developing Normally?”

It’s incredibly tempting to compare your baby to others, especially in the age of social media milestone posts. But development isn’t a race, and babies don’t follow identical timelines.

Some roll early and talk late. Others crawl forever and then suddenly walk. Pediatric milestones are ranges, not deadlines. What matters most is steady progress over time, not hitting a specific skill by a specific week.

Regular checkups are designed to monitor development and catch concerns early. In between visits, try to focus on your baby, not the comparison chart in your head.

6. “Why Do I Feel So Emotional?”

New parent emotions can be intense, confusing, and sometimes overwhelming. Joy and love can coexist with anxiety, sadness, irritability, or a sense of loss for your old life, and that’s normal.

Hormonal shifts, sleep deprivation, and massive life changes all play a role. Many parents experience the “baby blues” in the first couple of weeks. If feelings of sadness, anxiety, or detachment persist or worsen, it’s important to reach out to a healthcare provider.

Needing support doesn’t mean you’re weak or ungrateful. It means you’re human.

7. “Am I Bonding the Right Way?”

Some parents feel an instant, overwhelming bond. Others feel more gradual attachment. Both experiences are normal.

Bonding isn’t a single magical moment; it’s built through everyday care. Feeding, comforting, changing diapers, talking, holding, and responding to your baby’s needs all strengthen attachment over time. There’s no correct emotional script you need to follow.

If you’re showing up and caring for your baby, bonding is happening and that is perfect!

8. “What If I’m Doing Everything Wrong?”

This is the quiet worry behind almost all the others. The fear that everyone else knows something you don’t.

Here’s the truth: there is no single “right” way to parent. Babies don’t need perfect parents; they need responsive, loving ones. You will make mistakes. You will learn as you go. You will adapt.

Trust grows with experience, and confidence comes from surviving the hard days, not avoiding them.

The Big Picture

New parent worry is a sign that you care. It means you’re paying attention, learning, and adjusting. Most of the concerns that keep you up at night will fade with time, replaced by new questions, new joys, and a deeper sense of confidence.

When in doubt, lean on reliable information, trusted professionals, and supportive people in your life. And, be kind to yourself because you’re learning one of the most important roles there is - how to be a good parent.

 *This is a collaborative post thanks for reading

Why are Families More Exhausted than Ever?

 

It feels like families today are running on fumes, right? Like, everyone’s tired, everyone’s stretched thin, and no one’s getting the kind of rest that actually fixes anything. If you haven’t felt like that before, well, hopefully you never will. But when it comes to this kind of exhaustion is the fact that it’s pretty wild is how normal it’s become. 

People say “that’s just life now” as if being mentally fried, emotionally done, and physically drained is an acceptable personality trait. But obviously, it’s not healthy, it’s not healthy for you, it’s not healthy for your kids, and especially not healthy for your family as a whole. Alright, so it’s almost like life turned into one giant to-do list, and families are just expected to keep up with it all while smiling and pretending everything’s fine. But it’s seriously the furthest thing. 

Health Gets Hit First
Alright, so it’s honestly best to address this part first now. So, that constant exhaustion doesn’t just make families tired; it affects health in a big way.  So, you need to understand that stress doesn’t stay quiet. Yeah, you already know this, and you probably already know within due time that stress is going to eventually manifest physically speaking. Usually, it comes through in sleeping problems, anxiety, low energy, getting sick more often, and feeling mentally disconnected, all start creeping in. 

You can count on all of this eventually getting expensive, too. Usually, families (not just parents), have to deal with doctor visits, therapy, burnout treatment, supplements, and everything else that comes with being mentally and physically drained isn’t cheap. And so it really can’t be stressed enough that having the right support matters, and that includes looking into good health insurance plans that won’t financially strain your family. But support shouldn’t have to feel impossible to access, and it helps to just start here first. 

Family Life is a Nonstop Marathon Now
Okay, so family life has always been busy; that’s not new. But it feels like the volume got turned way up. It’s so weird to say, but nowadays, kids have schedules that look like mini versions of corporate calendars. Okay, but what exactly? 
Well, there’s school, homework, multiple activities, sports, birthday parties, and then parents are somehow supposed to juggle all of that on top of work, errands, relationships, and having a social life, which, to be honest here, most don’t even have the energy for anymore. It’s like no one’s allowed to just be still. There’s this pressure for families to always be doing something, well, that and there’s this pressure that you’re a bad parent if you’re not keeping everyone busy, too.

Tech is Making Everyone More Drained
Yes! This one had to be addressed! Oh yeah, for a world that’s supposed to be more convenient thanks to technology, families are more exhausted than ever. Parents are guilty of this, most grandparents are becoming guilty of this, so obviously a kid will think it’s normal (and chances are, teachers might be too). 
So, screens are in everyone’s faces all day long, you’ve got phones, tablets, laptops, TVs, and every other device that keeps the brain switched on, overstimulated, and stuck in a weird loop of scrolling, checking, refreshing, repeating. 

 *This is a collaborative post thanks for reading

Wellness And Beauty Tips....

 

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Taking care of yourself is something that you should be doing already, but it’s shocking the number of people who don’t know how. There are a lot of beauty and wellness tips that we didn’t know that we wished we knew earlier!

We’re not gatekeepers here, we want everyone to feel confident in themselves, which is why we’re always happy to spread our knowledge and help out our readers. That’s exactly what we’re going to be doing right now, so keep reading for some tips that can really help you take care of yourself going forward. 

Exfoliating Everywhere Once a Week 

Exfoliating is really important to having good skin, and yet so many people don’t know about how good it is for you. The purpose here is to remove the dead skin cells, allowing the newer, healthier skin cells to take priority. A lot of the time, our dead skin cells end up getting trapped, which can cause so many problems with your skin, but it’s so easy to avoid if you know how.

We recommend purchasing an exfoliating glove and an exfoliating scrub and doing this once per week. This way, you are ridding yourself of all of that dead skin, dirt, and debris build up on your skin, and allowing your skin to be as healthy as possible.

Drinking Lots Of Water Is Key 

Did you know that hydration is actually massively important to your overall wellness and even your beauty? The reason we say this is because hydration plays a key part in how your skin looks, and how your body is able to take care of itself. 

Ideally, you should be drinking around six to eight glasses of water per day, or more if you can, assisting you in keeping your body in the best possible condition. If you do this, you should notice that you feel good in yourself, and that you don’t have to worry about things like dry or dull looking skin. 

Professional Treatments

A lot of them are designed to help you feel good, and to take care of your skin or yourself in some way. There’s nothing wrong with getting a professional treatment for your hair, skin, nails, or whatever else. If it makes you feel good, and it helps you take care of yourself, it’s worth the time and the money. 

We hope that you have found this article helpful and now know some of the wellness and beauty tips that we wish we knew earlier. It’s important to take care of yourself if you want to feel good in your own skin, and hopefully this helps you somehow, and will encourage you to take better care of yourself going forward.

 *This is a collaborative post thanks for reading