Join me every week for Win-It Wednesday. I’ll be posting 24-hour giveaways at 8 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET to give you plenty of chances to win!
What better time than now to start saving to give your kids a little extra help in obtaining a college education?! I had the opportunity to learn about the CollegeAdvantage 529 Savings Plan, and I was really inspired to start a savings plan for our kids. I’ve always been adamant that I’d like for our children to have some responsibility in paying for their education so that they don’t take it for granted, but I’d definitely like to be able to assist them in their efforts, so this seems like a fantastic option for us.
Ohio Tuition Trust Authority is encouraging families to consider investing using their tax return dollars. Now through June 1, 2012 Tuition Trust will provide a $25 account bonus to any new CollegeAdvantage direct account with a $500 or more initial contribution. Additionally, any existing account holders who make a onetime contribution of $3,000 to an account by April 30, 2012 will receive a $50 bonus.
Even without a big boost from your tax return, you can still start saving! You can invest as little as $25 to get started and can easily make contributions through payroll deduction or electronic funds transfers. Future participants can enroll online, download enrollment materials or request enrollment materials by calling 1-800-AFFORD-IT. Getting started is easy! Families can enroll by going online at www.collegeadvantage.com. Enrolling takes as little as 10 minutes.
Features of the CollegeAdvantage 529 Savings Plan include:
- Earnings are tax-free.
- Deduct contributions from Ohio taxable income ($2,000 annually).
- Use your funds at any college in the country.
- Pay for tuition, room and board, or books.
- Contribute as little as $25 at a time.
- Benefit from professional money management by leading financial firms.
- Save with FDIC-insured bank products.
- Pay no enrollment fee, no maintenance fee and low administrative fees.
- Transfer funds to another child.
- Withdraw funds at any time.
- Change investment options.
Those are some pretty compelling reasons to open a 529 savings plan if you ask me.
One lucky Deal Seeking Mom reader will win a $100 College Scholarship from CollegeAdvantage to help boost your current account or create a new one! Note that you do not need to be an Ohio resident to win this giveaway. CollegeAdvantage will assist you in setting up a plan that works for you.
To enter, tell me if you’ve started saving money for your kids’ college tuition yet.
Every reader has four methods available to enter this contest. Choose one each of any combination of method one, two, three, or four for up to a total of 4 entries!!!
If you are reading this in your email or feed reader, please CLICK HERE to visit the original blog post to enter. Email entries will not be counted.
Methods of entry:
1. Leave a comment. Do you have a college fund for your kids?
2. “Like” Deal Seeking Mom and CollegeAdvantage on Facebook. Come back and leave a separate comment letting me know you’ve done so!
3. Follow @DealSeekingMom on Twitter and tweet the following. Be sure to come back and leave a separate comment with the link to your tweet!
Enter to win a $100 College Scholarship from CollegeAdvantage and @DealSeekingMom: https://dealseekingmom.com/?p=122987 #Ohio529
4. Subscribe to my feed via RSS or email. You must confirm your email subscription for it to be a valid entry! Leave a separate comment letting me know you have done so. If you’re already a subscriber, simply leave a separate comment letting me know you’re already subscribed. Lovin’ my subscribers! You guys make this all possible.
Prize:
(1) $100 College Scholarship from CollegeAdvantage as described above.
This giveaway ends at 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, 4/26 and is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older. I’ll use Comment Contest to select the winning comment. Winner will be notified by email and listed on my Giveaway Winners page. Winners must respond within 48 hours of notification to claim their prize. Good luck!
While you’re in a contest entering mood, don’t forget to check out the Giveaway Gathering for a variety of contests being hosted on Deal Seeking Mom readers’ blogs!
Jeff
I have an account for each of my wonderful children.
Linsey Knerl
I have a college fund for all of the kids in a traditional savings account. I don’t have it divided up between them, however. It’s all lumped together.
Linsey Knerl
I “Like” both of you on Facebook.
Linsey Knerl
Follow on Twitter and tweeted here:
https://twitter.com/#!/LKnerl/status/195239407752724482
Claudia
No, I do not, but I need to open an account for them.
Claudia
E-mail subscriber.
Lori Z.
We have one for each, unfortunately they’re about the same as they’re structured to be agressive and stock based early on, but our older one lost quite a bit when the stock market tanked. This would help that though!
Lori Z.
I subscribe via email
Dee
No…not yet…
Jennifer
I’ve not set up an account yet… but I really would like to!
Jennifer
e-mail subscriber
Tammy Mauk
I don’t have a fund, but I need to do it. Would love to win so I could start saving.
Tammy Mauk
I already subscribe. Thanks for the hard work you do.
Diana
We have not opened yet but have been considering what type of account to open for the kids. Thanks so much for this information and giveaway!
Claire
no.
Claire
i’m an e-mail subscriber.
Dee
I like you and College Advantage on fb!
Erica Miskin
We have one for each of our kids that we started and they add to it too.
Erica Miskin
I subscribe to your emails
Karen
We have been saving for the kids college funds putting away a small amount whenever we can.
Karen
I subscribe to your e mails.
Dee
I follow you on Twitter and I tweeted!
https://twitter.com/#!/gratheeus/status/195265796757405697
Dee
I subscribe to your email.
Scott
We have a savings account.
Sophie
We have a savings account.
Jane
We have a savings account.
Michelle
We have a savings account.
Norb
We have a savings account.
megan
Not yet but I would love to start one.
megan
I am a facebook fan.