@thebudgetmom I get asked all the time, “What if your child doesn’t go to college?” — and I get it. That was my biggest concern too when I opened my first 529 back in 2013. But so much has changed since then. These accounts have become more flexible than ever. They can now be used for trade schools, apprenticeships, student loans, and even rolled into a Roth IRA for your child’s retirement one day. For me, having 529 accounts isn’t just about paying for college. It’s about giving my kids choices. It fits with my financial goals and my values as a parent – planning ahead, creating options, and building something that supports whatever future they choose. If you liked this post, make sure to save or comment so I continue to show up in your feed. Follow @thebudgetmom for more!
@thebudgetmom I get asked all the time, “What if your child doesn’t go to college?” — and I get it. That was my biggest concern too when I opened my first 529 back in 2013. But so much has changed since then. These accounts have become more flexible than ever. They can now be used for trade schools, apprenticeships, student loans, and even rolled into a Roth IRA for your child’s retirement one day. For me, having 529 accounts isn’t just about paying for college. It’s about giving my kids choices. It fits with my financial goals and my values as a parent – planning ahead, creating options, and building something that supports whatever future they choose. If you liked this post, make sure to save or comment so I continue to show up in your feed. Follow @thebudgetmom for more!
@thebudgetmom 🏃♀️RUN! Make sure your money is actually invested and not just sitting in cash in your investment account! Here’s the thing no one tells you! Contributing to a Roth IRA is only HALF the job. It’s a two-step process for any investment account: 1️⃣ You contribute (add money) 2️⃣ You invest (choose where that money goes) If you skip step two, your money just sits there in cash doing nothing. This goes for your Roth IRA, 401(k), brokerage account, or even your HSA if it offers investing. Once you’ve contributed, you can make both steps automatic! Here’s how to do it through Charles Schwab 👇 To set up automatic contributions: 1️⃣ Log in to your Schwab account. 2️⃣ Go to Transfers & Payments → Automatic Transfers. 3️⃣ Select your funding account (like your checking account) and your destination account (your Roth IRA). 4️⃣ Choose your contribution frequency (monthly, bi-weekly, etc). 5️⃣ Enter the dollar amount (remember the 2025 limit is $7,000 if you’re under 50 or $8,000 if you’re 50 or older). 6️⃣ Confirm your schedule. Now Schwab will move money into your Roth IRA automatically. To set up automatic investing: 1️⃣ Inside your Roth IRA, go to Trade → Mutual Funds. 2️⃣ Search for the fund you want to invest in — for example SWTSX (Schwab Total Market Index Fund). 3️⃣ Choose Automatic Investment Plan. 4️⃣ Select how often you want to invest and how much. 5️⃣ Review and confirm. Now every month, your Roth IRA receives money and invests it for you, no extra clicks needed! Set it up once, let it run, and check in a few times a year to make sure it still fits your goals. If you liked this post, make sure to save or comment so I continue to show up in your feed. Follow @thebudgetmom for more!
@thebudgetmom I’ve learned that investing isn’t about chasing trends or trying to predict the next big thing. It’s about building something steady that grows quietly in the background while you live your life. I don’t invest in single stocks because I don’t want my future tied to one company’s success. Even if I love a product, like Peloton (PTON), that doesn’t mean I need to own the stock. Loving what a company makes and betting your retirement on it are two very different things. For me, investing is about peace of mind. I’d rather own the market than try to outsmart it. If you liked this post, make sure to save or comment so I continue to show up in your feed. Follow @thebudgetmom for more!
@thebudgetmom I’ve learned that investing isn’t about chasing trends or trying to predict the next big thing. It’s about building something steady that grows quietly in the background while you live your life. I don’t invest in single stocks because I don’t want my future tied to one company’s success. Even if I love a product, like Peloton (PTON), that doesn’t mean I need to own the stock. Loving what a company makes and betting your retirement on it are two very different things. For me, investing is about peace of mind. I’d rather own the market than try to outsmart it. If you liked this post, make sure to save or comment so I continue to show up in your feed. Follow @thebudgetmom for more!
@thebudgetmom I’ve learned that investing isn’t about chasing trends or trying to predict the next big thing. It’s about building something steady that grows quietly in the background while you live your life. I don’t invest in single stocks because I don’t want my future tied to one company’s success. Even if I love a product, like Peloton (PTON), that doesn’t mean I need to own the stock. Loving what a company makes and betting your retirement on it are two very different things. For me, investing is about peace of mind. I’d rather own the market than try to outsmart it. If you liked this post, make sure to save or comment so I continue to show up in your feed. Follow @thebudgetmom for more!
@thebudgetmom I’ve learned that investing isn’t about chasing trends or trying to predict the next big thing. It’s about building something steady that grows quietly in the background while you live your life. I don’t invest in single stocks because I don’t want my future tied to one company’s success. Even if I love a product, like Peloton (PTON), that doesn’t mean I need to own the stock. Loving what a company makes and betting your retirement on it are two very different things. For me, investing is about peace of mind. I’d rather own the market than try to outsmart it. If you liked this post, make sure to save or comment so I continue to show up in your feed. Follow @thebudgetmom for more!
@thebudgetmom I’ve learned that investing isn’t about chasing trends or trying to predict the next big thing. It’s about building something steady that grows quietly in the background while you live your life. I don’t invest in single stocks because I don’t want my future tied to one company’s success. Even if I love a product, like Peloton (PTON), that doesn’t mean I need to own the stock. Loving what a company makes and betting your retirement on it are two very different things. For me, investing is about peace of mind. I’d rather own the market than try to outsmart it. If you liked this post, make sure to save or comment so I continue to show up in your feed. Follow @thebudgetmom for more!
@thebudgetmom I’ve learned that investing isn’t about chasing trends or trying to predict the next big thing. It’s about building something steady that grows quietly in the background while you live your life. I don’t invest in single stocks because I don’t want my future tied to one company’s success. Even if I love a product, like Peloton (PTON), that doesn’t mean I need to own the stock. Loving what a company makes and betting your retirement on it are two very different things. For me, investing is about peace of mind. I’d rather own the market than try to outsmart it. If you liked this post, make sure to save or comment so I continue to show up in your feed. Follow @thebudgetmom for more!
@thebudgetmom I’ve learned that investing isn’t about chasing trends or trying to predict the next big thing. It’s about building something steady that grows quietly in the background while you live your life. I don’t invest in single stocks because I don’t want my future tied to one company’s success. Even if I love a product, like Peloton (PTON), that doesn’t mean I need to own the stock. Loving what a company makes and betting your retirement on it are two very different things. For me, investing is about peace of mind. I’d rather own the market than try to outsmart it. If you liked this post, make sure to save or comment so I continue to show up in your feed. Follow @thebudgetmom for more!
@thebudgetmom I’ve learned that investing isn’t about chasing trends or trying to predict the next big thing. It’s about building something steady that grows quietly in the background while you live your life. I don’t invest in single stocks because I don’t want my future tied to one company’s success. Even if I love a product, like Peloton (PTON), that doesn’t mean I need to own the stock. Loving what a company makes and betting your retirement on it are two very different things. For me, investing is about peace of mind. I’d rather own the market than try to outsmart it. If you liked this post, make sure to save or comment so I continue to show up in your feed. Follow @thebudgetmom for more!
@thebudgetmom I’ve learned that investing isn’t about chasing trends or trying to predict the next big thing. It’s about building something steady that grows quietly in the background while you live your life. I don’t invest in single stocks because I don’t want my future tied to one company’s success. Even if I love a product, like Peloton (PTON), that doesn’t mean I need to own the stock. Loving what a company makes and betting your retirement on it are two very different things. For me, investing is about peace of mind. I’d rather own the market than try to outsmart it. If you liked this post, make sure to save or comment so I continue to show up in your feed. Follow @thebudgetmom for more!
@thebudgetmom I’ve learned that investing isn’t about chasing trends or trying to predict the next big thing. It’s about building something steady that grows quietly in the background while you live your life. I don’t invest in single stocks because I don’t want my future tied to one company’s success. Even if I love a product, like Peloton (PTON), that doesn’t mean I need to own the stock. Loving what a company makes and betting your retirement on it are two very different things. For me, investing is about peace of mind. I’d rather own the market than try to outsmart it. If you liked this post, make sure to save or comment so I continue to show up in your feed. Follow @thebudgetmom for more!
@thebudgetmom If you’ve ever Googled “Roth vs. Traditional IRA” and ended up more confused than when you started, this is for you. When people ask me which one they should open, what they’re really asking is: 👉 “When should I pay taxes. Now or later?” Here’s what most people miss: your IRA choice is more than just a retirement decision. It’s a tax strategy. It shapes how much control you’ll have over your money in the future. And that flexibility? It’s powerful. Because when your income in retirement comes from both taxable and tax-free accounts, you get to choose how much tax you pay each year, not the IRS. If you’d like to see more posts that make investing feel simple and doable, make sure to like and save this post so @thebudgetmom shows up in your feed. Follow for more!
@thebudgetmom If you’ve ever Googled “Roth vs. Traditional IRA” and ended up more confused than when you started, this is for you. When people ask me which one they should open, what they’re really asking is: 👉 “When should I pay taxes. Now or later?” Here’s what most people miss: your IRA choice is more than just a retirement decision. It’s a tax strategy. It shapes how much control you’ll have over your money in the future. And that flexibility? It’s powerful. Because when your income in retirement comes from both taxable and tax-free accounts, you get to choose how much tax you pay each year, not the IRS. If you’d like to see more posts that make investing feel simple and doable, make sure to like and save this post so @thebudgetmom shows up in your feed. Follow for more!
@thebudgetmom If you’ve ever Googled “Roth vs. Traditional IRA” and ended up more confused than when you started, this is for you. When people ask me which one they should open, what they’re really asking is: 👉 “When should I pay taxes. Now or later?” Here’s what most people miss: your IRA choice is more than just a retirement decision. It’s a tax strategy. It shapes how much control you’ll have over your money in the future. And that flexibility? It’s powerful. Because when your income in retirement comes from both taxable and tax-free accounts, you get to choose how much tax you pay each year, not the IRS. If you’d like to see more posts that make investing feel simple and doable, make sure to like and save this post so @thebudgetmom shows up in your feed. Follow for more!
@thebudgetmom If you’ve ever Googled “Roth vs. Traditional IRA” and ended up more confused than when you started, this is for you. When people ask me which one they should open, what they’re really asking is: 👉 “When should I pay taxes. Now or later?” Here’s what most people miss: your IRA choice is more than just a retirement decision. It’s a tax strategy. It shapes how much control you’ll have over your money in the future. And that flexibility? It’s powerful. Because when your income in retirement comes from both taxable and tax-free accounts, you get to choose how much tax you pay each year, not the IRS. If you’d like to see more posts that make investing feel simple and doable, make sure to like and save this post so @thebudgetmom shows up in your feed. Follow for more!
@thebudgetmom If you’ve ever Googled “Roth vs. Traditional IRA” and ended up more confused than when you started, this is for you. When people ask me which one they should open, what they’re really asking is: 👉 “When should I pay taxes. Now or later?” Here’s what most people miss: your IRA choice is more than just a retirement decision. It’s a tax strategy. It shapes how much control you’ll have over your money in the future. And that flexibility? It’s powerful. Because when your income in retirement comes from both taxable and tax-free accounts, you get to choose how much tax you pay each year, not the IRS. If you’d like to see more posts that make investing feel simple and doable, make sure to like and save this post so @thebudgetmom shows up in your feed. Follow for more!
@thebudgetmom If you’ve ever Googled “Roth vs. Traditional IRA” and ended up more confused than when you started, this is for you. When people ask me which one they should open, what they’re really asking is: 👉 “When should I pay taxes. Now or later?” Here’s what most people miss: your IRA choice is more than just a retirement decision. It’s a tax strategy. It shapes how much control you’ll have over your money in the future. And that flexibility? It’s powerful. Because when your income in retirement comes from both taxable and tax-free accounts, you get to choose how much tax you pay each year, not the IRS. If you’d like to see more posts that make investing feel simple and doable, make sure to like and save this post so @thebudgetmom shows up in your feed. Follow for more!
@thebudgetmom If you’ve ever Googled “Roth vs. Traditional IRA” and ended up more confused than when you started, this is for you. When people ask me which one they should open, what they’re really asking is: 👉 “When should I pay taxes. Now or later?” Here’s what most people miss: your IRA choice is more than just a retirement decision. It’s a tax strategy. It shapes how much control you’ll have over your money in the future. And that flexibility? It’s powerful. Because when your income in retirement comes from both taxable and tax-free accounts, you get to choose how much tax you pay each year, not the IRS. If you’d like to see more posts that make investing feel simple and doable, make sure to like and save this post so @thebudgetmom shows up in your feed. Follow for more!
@thebudgetmom If you’ve ever Googled “Roth vs. Traditional IRA” and ended up more confused than when you started, this is for you. When people ask me which one they should open, what they’re really asking is: 👉 “When should I pay taxes. Now or later?” Here’s what most people miss: your IRA choice is more than just a retirement decision. It’s a tax strategy. It shapes how much control you’ll have over your money in the future. And that flexibility? It’s powerful. Because when your income in retirement comes from both taxable and tax-free accounts, you get to choose how much tax you pay each year, not the IRS. If you’d like to see more posts that make investing feel simple and doable, make sure to like and save this post so @thebudgetmom shows up in your feed. Follow for more!
@thebudgetmom If you’ve ever Googled “Roth vs. Traditional IRA” and ended up more confused than when you started, this is for you. When people ask me which one they should open, what they’re really asking is: 👉 “When should I pay taxes. Now or later?” Here’s what most people miss: your IRA choice is more than just a retirement decision. It’s a tax strategy. It shapes how much control you’ll have over your money in the future. And that flexibility? It’s powerful. Because when your income in retirement comes from both taxable and tax-free accounts, you get to choose how much tax you pay each year, not the IRS. If you’d like to see more posts that make investing feel simple and doable, make sure to like and save this post so @thebudgetmom shows up in your feed. Follow for more!
@thebudgetmom If you’ve ever Googled “Roth vs. Traditional IRA” and ended up more confused than when you started, this is for you. When people ask me which one they should open, what they’re really asking is: 👉 “When should I pay taxes. Now or later?” Here’s what most people miss: your IRA choice is more than just a retirement decision. It’s a tax strategy. It shapes how much control you’ll have over your money in the future. And that flexibility? It’s powerful. Because when your income in retirement comes from both taxable and tax-free accounts, you get to choose how much tax you pay each year, not the IRS. If you’d like to see more posts that make investing feel simple and doable, make sure to like and save this post so @thebudgetmom shows up in your feed. Follow for more!
@thebudgetmom If you’ve ever Googled “Roth vs. Traditional IRA” and ended up more confused than when you started, this is for you. When people ask me which one they should open, what they’re really asking is: 👉 “When should I pay taxes. Now or later?” Here’s what most people miss: your IRA choice is more than just a retirement decision. It’s a tax strategy. It shapes how much control you’ll have over your money in the future. And that flexibility? It’s powerful. Because when your income in retirement comes from both taxable and tax-free accounts, you get to choose how much tax you pay each year, not the IRS. If you’d like to see more posts that make investing feel simple and doable, make sure to like and save this post so @thebudgetmom shows up in your feed. Follow for more!
