I want to give an honest account of how I think about college savings as a parent with kids ages 7 and 10.

Current 529 balances: $34,000 for my 10-year-old, $28,000 for my 7-year-old. Both are invested in age-based portfolios that automatically shift toward bonds as college approaches.

Projected needs: assuming 5% annual tuition inflation, 4 years at an in-state public university will cost roughly $180,000 for my 10-year-old and $220,000 for my 7-year-old.

Projected 529 values at college start: approximately $60,000 and $72,000 respectively at 6% return with current contribution rate ($200/month per child).

The gap: I'm on track to cover roughly one-third of projected costs. The remainder will come from current income during college years, scholarships, and potentially the students contributing.

My conclusion: I'm not trying to fully fund college in the 529. I'm trying to meaningfully reduce the debt load my children would otherwise take on. Every dollar in the 529 is a dollar they don't have to borrow at 7%.