Would you like to save for your child’s education? Of course you would! If I told you there were ways you could do that without having to drive yourself insane or sell your car, or a limb, would you be on board? I know I would.
Saving for your child’s education doesn’t have to be scary or hard. In fact, it can be quite reassuring to know that you’re putting money aside for your child’s bright future.
When we had our first child, we were so taken by all the excitement we didn’t even consider that saving for his future was an option. After the initial excitement of a new baby had calmed somewhat, we started to discuss our options and how we were going to be able to ensure his future. The same happened once we had our second child. We want to ensure that they can both participate in post-secondary education without having to worry about the financial strain the debt from attending school can place on them.
5 Ways to Save for Your Child’s Education
Start Early
Opening an RESP as soon as possible is a fantastic idea. The earlier you start saving, the better. Start early on your savings journey and you will be completely surprised at how fast it can add up! I couldn’t believe how much we were able to save in as little as six years. I’m glad that we started saving when we did.
Make Small Changes
To be able to save more for your child’s education, make small changes. For example: I used to get a coffee from my fave Canadian coffee shop every single day. I decided I was going to start making coffee from home, and was shocked at the amount of money I saved just by doing that! I still get to drink coffee, but now I can also save a pretty significant chunk of money at the end of the month. Think about it this way: if you’re spending $1.50 a day on a cup of coffee, that amounts to a savings of approximately $45 a month. That can amount to a whopping $540 a year! If you drink more than one cup, you can save even more than $1,080 a year for your child’s education. That’s JUST cutting out your trip to your coffee shop! Easy Peasy! You can do it; I know you can.
Stay Invested
Make sure you choose the correct savings plan from the start. Be very picky when choosing an RESP. It can be really disheartening if you have to retrieve your money from the wrong plan. In fact, you can lose your saving momentum by doing this. So start out right and be very choosy. Pick something you know you’re comfortable with, from a reputable company you can trust, because after all, it’s your money and your child’s future.
Set Goals
Set achievable savings goals that you know you can reach. Having goals set out on paper will help you to stick to them. No matter what kind I’m setting, I always find it helpful to have them laid out in front of me. It’s also a good idea to write out a game or action plan that includes the steps you can take to reach your savings goals. Create visuals to make your goal more palatable. Saving can be fun, especially if you’re goal-oriented about it. Make yourself proud, and your children will benefit!
Take Action
If you’re thinking about opening an RESP for your child’s post-secondary education, Take action. Find a rep you can talk to about starting your savings plan. Get the information you need to find the right plan for you and you’ll be on your way to saving in no time. It can seem daunting, but with the right company it doesn’t have to be! I promise.
Where can I get an RESP?
There are many different companies out there that offer RESPs; finding the right one can seem kind of scary. I know I was quite intimidated. I mean, it’s your money and your child’s future we’re talking about, right? In the end, if you do your research you’ll find a great provider you can trust without having to stress yourself out!
Heritage Education Funds is a great option for parents looking to open an RESP to save for their children’s post-secondary education. There are many different options offered through Heritage. They also offer different contests and campaigns to help jump-start your RESP contributions! Awesome right?! I think so.
Have you started saving for your Child’s future?
*Disclosure: NinjaMommers has received compensation to facilitate this post. All opinions are of her own and not influenced in any way.