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: http://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!
























Tara Kuczykowski is a married mom of three boys and two girls, ages 4 to 10 years, living in Columbus, OH.
{ 103 comments }
← Previous Comments
A couple of years ago, we started one for my grandson.
No, I haven't started one for my kids, yet.
We have a savings account for the kids but no college fund yet.
I'm an email subscriber.
I don't have one for my kids. Said I was going to start one when they were little, but never did.
I am a facebook subscriber
No I don't have a college fund for your kids
I meant my kids :)
I like DSM on Facebook
I subscribe to your emails
I haven't started saving yet. I've been going back to school myself and trying to figure out how to pay for it.
I liked Deal Seeking Mom and CollegeAdvantage on Facebook.
I follow @DealSeekingMom on Twitter and tweeted the giveaway.
already subscribed
no college fund yet.
I liked DSM and College Advantage on FB
I subscribe via email
I do have an account for my kids education. We started them when they were born.
Like you both on FB
Email subscriber
Yes, we do.
i am a email subscriber don;t have any college fund, liked you on facebook
deal seeking mom i got a blank page when i tried to like CollegeAdvantage on Facebook?
We don't yet have a college fund for our kids but are thinking about setting up one
I already liked Deal Seeking Mom on Facebook.
I already liked College Advantage on facebook
I already subscribe to your feed via email.
We do not have a fund set up for our kids yet. :-(
I like you both on fb.
tweet ~ https://twitter.com/#!/hubby2heather/status/195398028423737346
email subscriber
No kids yet, but I attend college! I don't have a college fund, Pell Grants, scholarships and outta pocket for me.
I signed up for your emails!
I don't have kids yet, but use this to help me get through without taking on student loans!
I get your emails.
Yes, we have college funds for our kid.
FB fan (trung nguyen)
email subscriber
follow and tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/cistran/status/195440135159029760
No we do not
I don't have a college fund but have plans to start one this year!
All 3 of our kids have savings accounts, but not a college savings account specifically.
I'm an email subscriber!
I don't yet, but I'm planning to start them.
I'm an email subscriber.
I like you both on facebook.
I have money earned at Upromse, but I haven't yet created a 529 account.
I subscribe via email.
We do not have a college savings for our son but it is one of the financial baby steps we will soon be on.
I am an email subscriber
I don't have kids yet, but as soon as we are starting to plan for the baby part of the plan is to open a college savings plan as their first gift!
← Previous Comments
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