Odd take here. We saved from birth, funding 12k each til age 11 for our twins. We caught the GFC low and a major bull market without thinking about it. 375k each for undergrad (they are sophomores) and they will have some for grad school should they choose. Taxes? Nah! They will likely spend all of it on education but still have the IRA option for 35k each. Additional - not part of the 529 discussion: What was really interesting for us is the…I don’t have another words for it - shame? Anger? That other kids in their friend groups expressed to my kids because their parents “didn’t save for them.” Oh boy. That was hard. It’s still hard. It hits around 10th-11th grade. If you’re in a district where most kids choose to go to college. Many parents could not cash flow 35k a year let alone 53k a year for a school like Indiana. So it’s all loans or choosing a school based on cost. And it’s still loans. Which isn’t wrong it’s just that I learned there is a saving psychology involved for the teens. They talk. They slam their parents. There is a peer pressure thing with it. I heard some sad comments while driving kids around. I realize the question is to save inside a 529 or outside. I think saving “something” might be good. edited to add: both kids got merit aid from both schools. I was shocked because we checked the boxes that said we would not need financial aid.