Saving for college is an important aspect of smart saving. Using some of the savings you have for college would be an amazing investment. It would allow you to get higher education, and give you a wider variety of occupations to choose from. If you end up doing it, you wouldn’t have to worry so much about being in student debt. There are also other ways to get into college other than saving financially. Options like scholarships, 529 plans, and student loans make getting into college an easier experience for those who wish to enter.

Scholarships are mainly earned by engaging in extracurricular activities, but could also be obtained through good grades, and building relationships with teachers, professors, and other people who can speak favorably on your behalf. The reason people mainly go for scholarships is because you can obtain them through school sports, which could be fun for other people. In other words, it could be more enjoyable to get a scholarship through sports than it would be to obtain it through the fruits of your hard academic work.

Other things like 529 plans allow you to take advantage of taxes to get a higher education. Money that you put in you 529 can only be withdrawn for school related expenses but that includes tuition, books, housing, necessary technology,  apprenticeship programs, and even student loan repayments. Any leftover funds can be used in different ways, including funding a Roth IRA. You need to be 18 to open up a 529 for yourself, but you can be a beneficiary of the funds starting at any age.  Investing in one for a younger family member is a gift that would set them on the right financial path.

Student loans allow you to borrow money for educational reasons but pay it back later with interest. While this is the most commonly known option, it is important to consider your other options as well. Avoiding debt is a great way to start out in your adult life!