See that look of anguish on her face! Is she embarrassed by my overgrown pandemic hair? Wondering how I can be so focused while she cannot? I mean…I gave her use of the big touchscreen desktop computer – isn’t that enough to make her happy in this amazing home school setting of ours? Yeah, nope…

What I’ve learned during this period of quarantine is that I wasn’t born to be an educator. I’ve willfully accepted that. My job is not as much to teach her, but rather to ensure she has the means to achieve a good education! And I’ve thought a lot more about her schooling these past couple months because it’s been front and center.

May 29 is College Savings Day! So, there, I gave you something to think about! You can thank me later. Seriously, use today as a time to think about what you can do for your child’s college education whether that is enrolling in a plan, modifying it or simply just checking the one you already have. It’s important!

As a single parent, money has always felt especially tight. Now in a struggling economy, even more so! But you would be amazed at what a small contribution can turn into over the years. I get excited every time I look at the account balance of my 529 Plan.

I admit I haven’t been the best at following the advice of others. Think about how many times someone made a suggestion to you to save money. Did you listen and take action? Or were you like me – someone who had the ability to put money into savings but just never did? For no good reason other than I wanted to spend it!

But saving for my daughter’s college is a much bigger priority for me! There is a meaningful purpose associated with it. Finding the discipline to regularly contribute became a bit easier. The key is to finding an amount you are both comfortable with but also takes you a little bit out of your financial comfort zone. This way, you will be forced to adjust your lifestyle and, trust me, you will get used to it in no time. All for the benefit of your child(ren).

MEFA’s U.Fund College Investing Plan is what I use. You want to use a 529 investment plan as opposed to your savings account to take advantage of better earnings and tax benefits.

Don’t talk yourself out of it because you don’t have a lot to contribute! I’m that way with exercise – if I can’t find an hour, then I may not work out at all – when, actually, 15 minutes would be just great. The key is to do something. Get it established and it will do the rest of the work.

This post is sponsored by MEFA. However, all views expressed are my own.