Step 2: Am I saving enough?

College is a long-term investment. Like other investments, such as buying a home, most families pay for college through a combination of savings, current income, and borrowing.

The more you save, the less you'll need to borrow, and the less you'll need to take from current income. Saving any amount of money can make a difference in what you can afford to pay. The earlier you start saving the better, but don't pass altogether because you think it's too little or too late.