How to Help Your Kids and Still Keep Your Future Saving for college is a highly individualized task. If you have a young child, start saving now for education but do it the tax-smart way. 529 PLAN - This is an educational savings plan operated by a statre or educational institution designed to help families set aside funds for future  college costs.  Grandparents or other benefactors can contribute money to a 529 PLAN.  However, they may crimp financial aid in the future by increasing you and your student's assets.

Scholarships:  Millions of dollars of scholarship money gets unclaimed every year.  This is free-lunch money that parents or prospective students who are willing to do some detective work may find more quickly than they think. Who Wants You? - Consider the colleges that are recruiting you, because they are more likely to give you a better financial aid package. Two-Year Transfer ---------- You could opt to go to a lower cost school or junior college the first two years and then transfer.  Make sure that your credits will transfer before you pursue this route.

Jobs - A summer or part-time job is a great way for students to "own" part of their college education.  The author's oldest daugher, not only participated in a work-study program at Columbia University, but she also took a year off between her sophomore and junior years to work.  The author daughter feels very proud of her degree because she earned it in every way. Surf Your Way To College Savings Ellie Kay, author of The Debt Diet.  She iws also a national radio commentary and gifted speaker.  She is known as America's Family Expert.