The day the erstwhile Kid Down the Hall landed in the universe, Mr./Mrs J. Thinwallet opened a 529 college savings account, into which we faithfully deposited X-number of dollars a year. Jillian the Magnificent arrived three-plus years later, we upped the amount significantly.
This pained Mr.Thinwallet, who studied the bottom line on his bank account like a cat studies mice. Direct deposit and automatic withdrawal were wonderful inventions. You might feel the cuts, but you never see the blood.
Eighteen and 22 years later, the kids college educations were paid for. They took out no loans, we barely missed all that cash.