Baby's first birthday -- Startin College Fund

[dancemommy]

My oldest child is a junior in high school. He was the first grandchild on both sides of the family. My husband was in graduate school when he was born- we were poor students. So birthday and Christmas gifts for our so at first were really to meet his needs- things we needed because we couldn't afford much of it- and he was SPOILED by them. Had more clothes than any baby I've ever met!! (Within a couple of years my husband had graduated and we were fine). We were also pretty young and the first of our friends to have children so I had no real "plan". I applaud you for thinking forward like this to his education. My husband and I were fortunate in that our parents paid for all of our undergraduate education. I don't think they formally saved, they just paid when the time came. We have not saved a penny to go toward our son's education and that time is now coming up FAST!! He has a 4.5 GPA and will get some merrit scholarships thankfully at several of the schools he is considering which will make it so that we should be able to help him with much of the remaining costs (housing, books, etc), but probably won't be able to cover all of it. He will need loans. Now that we are getting to this point in life I sooooooo wish that we had done something like you are suggesting. I don't think I"d do it in exactly the way you are proposing, however. I wouldn't put out a jar and I wouldn't put it in his birthday invitation. But, I would write a heartfelt letter or have a conversation with grandparents and whomever else you are VERY close to and explain that you have opened up this account, and why. I wouldn't suggest that they donate for any particular event, but let them know that it is there if they'd ever prefer to donate instead of giving gifts. I REALLY want to do this when we are grandparents someday. Not necessarily tied to a birthday or Christmas- I think I'd still want to see excited faces when receiving special gifts, but maybe once a year just make a contribution- even if it isn't huge. Good luck!

[Preston]

Well party's over and it was a success.

I didn't do a 'tip jar' type idea but some people asked about a college fund the day before. i got some 'contribution slips' when we set up the account so i just put the folder in the corner of the table where the gifts ended up so they would have the info they needed. i didn't do the card as with a house full of adults and kids it was hard to keep up with things but instead i've got a lot of pictures and i'm keeping the cards and stuff and doing a birthday scrapbook which i'll work on every year. if the little one gives me the time i might get this year's completed before his next birthday.

he got a decent amount of clothes, more toys and he's having fun with them. But he's still most entertained walking back and forth holding an empty bottle of soda in the air.