I started my kids' 529 account at birth with the intention of not touching it until college. I changed my mind.

• When I was pregnant with our first child, we started a college fund.
• We set aside $150 every month for her 529 account even when it was hard financially.
• We are now withdrawing from her plan to pay for middle school.

When my spouse and I learned we were expecting our first child, we met with a financial planner and immediately set aside funds for college.

After her birth, we began contributing to a 529 college savings plan, an investment program that offers tax incentives for planning ahead.