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!
Christina Burrell
We have a529 plan for our son.
Christina Burrell
Email subscriber
Jane
We have 2 accounts for the older boys, but my 2 1/2 y.o. doesn’t have one yet …
Cheryl Yoder
I don’t have a college fund at this time, but have been thinking of getting them for my grandchildren.
Ursula
I do not have a college fund and our oldest is starting college in the summer. This would sure help!
Ursula
Subscriber.
Julia
yes, I have a 529 plan set up for each of my kids
Julia
I like Deal Seeking Mom and College Advantage on facebook
Julia
I subscribe to emails
Stephanie
No, but I wished that I’d started saving money when she was a baby!
Stephanie
Email subscriber!
lynne powell
My kids are grown now, but I would like to start a modest fund for my grandkids.
lynne powell
I “liked” DSM on facebook a long time ago.
Kristen
Yes!! We started a plan for our kids when they were born.
debbie j
We have 529’s for both kids.
Carmen
We do not have a college fund for our child yet.
debbie j
I’m an email subscriber
Carmen
https://twitter.com/#!/cmouse01/status/195327372625588225
Denise Wilson
We have one for my son. We need to get one started for my 1-year-old.
Denise Wilson
Email subscriber
Doreen H
A couple of years ago, we started one for my grandson.
Robert
No, I haven’t started one for my kids, yet.
Liz
We have a savings account for the kids but no college fund yet.
Liz
I’m an email subscriber.
Mindy Ranck
I don’t have one for my kids. Said I was going to start one when they were little, but never did.
Mindy Ranck
I am a facebook subscriber
Melissa A.
No I don’t have a college fund for your kids
Melissa A.
I meant my kids :)
Melissa A.
I like DSM on Facebook
Melissa A.
I subscribe to your emails
Trisha
I haven’t started saving yet. I’ve been going back to school myself and trying to figure out how to pay for it.