Investigate college options with your child. Accompany your child on visits to schools and help evaluate the pros and cons of each one. Help him or her assess whether the environment will be a good one in which to learn. Assess your savings in relation to your financial goal. Adjust your budget and your lifestyle.
Some families wait until their child enters college to streamline their expenditures.
But by then it is often too late. Delaying the purchase of major items is often necessary when planning to finance a higher education. Learn about college financing options. If you think you'll need help with costs, it's time to learn about what types of assistance is available. See the section on Financing Options for a brief description of the major federal and state programs.