In six months, my son will be headed off to college just one year after my daughter started her freshman year. As my husband and I have navigated college applications, school choices, and the seemingly never-ending expenses that come with high school ending and college beginning, I am so thankful we chose to start Florida Prepaid back in 2004.
For more than 30 years, Florida Prepaid has helped more than 1 million families save for college and supported more than a half-million students attending college affordably and with less debt. Last year, we were able to experience firsthand the difference our decision to start Florida Prepaid 16 years ago made. As we prepare for our second and final child to head off to college later this year, we don’t have to worry about what having two kids in college will do to our empty-nest budget.
As a family who has been there and done that, I wanted to share a couple of things we learned along the way to make your choices and experience down the road even more convenient.
Fees. Don’t overlook those fees when you plan for your child’s college time. We elected to sign up for both a Prepaid Plan and a Florida 529 Savings Plan, and we are so glad that we did. Hello, enrollment and dorm fees! It felt like every day we were being asked to pay another $100, and that was before our daughter even stepped foot on campus. It was nice to know we had a plan to cover many of those unexpected expenses.
Scholarships. When our daughter qualified for Florida Bright Futures, we were originally unsure how that would work with our Prepaid Plan. Good news! It’s easy to take advantage of both scholarships and the benefits of a Prepaid Plan. Between her scholarship and Florida Prepaid, we’ve been able to cover tuition, dorm costs, fees, and food while having some funds left over.
As someone right in the middle of the college years and the expenses that come with them, I can’t recommend Florida Prepaid enough, and with the ability to earn up to $500 as part of the Cash4College incentive program, now is the perfect time to enroll. All you have to do is sign up for a new Florida 529 Prepaid Plan or add additional coverage to an existing plan. You’ll earn $125 for each year of College or University Prepaid enrollment purchased and enjoy peace of mind (at least financial peace of mind) when your kids start choosing their college path.
Prepaid Plan Open Enrollment is February 1–April 30, 2022. Plan prices are valid through April 30, 2022. With no application fee, you can enroll for free. Also, earn up to $500 with the Cash4College incentive program when you enroll in a Prepaid Plan today.
