How Can We Invest In Our Kid's Future, While Barely Affording Our Present Living Standards & Bills?

My family and I were bombarded with large problematic situations this past year that truly tested our resolve, our values and our ability to stand united. I realized again that the only thing real is love, and that all else is but our own nightmare. Problems either enslave us or set us free, never do they stand neutral. This is because problems require solutions and solutions require decisions and these decisions are made by our "choices". I believe my family and I made some tough choices in 2011, for instance starting our kid’s college fund. We chose to forgo impulsive buying opting instead for some "delayed gratification". Choosing to place another human beings needs and wants above our own showed maturity and proved indeed we have grown as parents, as well as productive members of our community. Instead of feeling "strapped," strangely it felt like "freedom,” a feeling of doing “the right thing.” More importantly we did it with an attitude of joy, not obligation!

To start with, we plan on moving into a smaller home while we can still buy them at the lowest, during this real estate recession. In addition, we started what I had always urged us all to do, though didn't. That is we started a forced savings for our daughter to pay for her college. This money is not to ever be used even for other family emergencies. To stave off failure, we started with only a hundred dollars. And our monthly commitment is low - also a hundred dollars between 4 family members, or 25.00 each.Anyone that says they cannot save 25.00 dollars per month for their daughter or son's future, perhaps should not be raising children in the first place. If you are like us though we aren't bad people, we simply were not good "savers" and had few resources for investing. Luckily, we learned how to set up a bank account in several peoples names though our daughter as the beneficiary -- it is set up clearly as a "college fund" account, no other purpose. it requires 2 signatures in order to withdrawl any funds which means no one person can mess it up. The money will therefore keep gathering interest and growing. Now at 18 years of age or when she starts college, funds will become available to her. Her mom and I may in the future add or change the investment strategy though can never alter what has already gone into the account. Okay, so it does feel sometimes like "a little too little, a little too late" , however it may just be more money than your child had before you started the account. You are doing the right thing and that is what counts. Try and find matching contributions or a company in your city that would be willing to also match funds and take some credit for sending a community member's child to college. Be creative, convince them it's a win-win for all!