 1) Save as early and as often as possible. Begin saving from the birth of your baby, even earlier, and save as often as you can. The sooner you begin, the more you can benefit from compounding. It will also help you get into the habit of saving.
2) Save as much as you can. Start from small amount if you think you can’t afford saving. You will find that you will arrange your spending habits, and can little by little increase the amount you save. Don't worry too much about beginning small, since the compounding of interest over time will increase your savings. The first step is to get used to saving.
3) Save regularly. Rather than save money at casual intervals, try to save a small amounts every month. The oftener you can save the better, but at the worst save once a year. The best solution is to save with the same frequency as you receive your salary, it will be easier for you to get used to saving.
4) Don't spend your windfalls try to invest them. If you received a windfall, such as winning the lottery, an inheritance, a large income tax refund, or a bonus at work, put it in the college savings fund. You will benefit from saving rather than from spending.
5) Each year try to make large the amount you save. It is good to increase the total amount you save each year by at least 5%. For instance, if you save every month $100 this year, you should save at least $105 a month next year. This will adjust your savings with the college tuition inflation rate. Increase the amount of money you save when you are promoted.
6) If you can’t afford saving ask relatives to help. Set up a section 529 plan, and ask relatives (especially the grandparents) to invest money to the plan. 60% of grandparents say that they would agree to invest to a section 529 plan if asked, especially since they know the money will be spent on the child's education.
7) Redirect old regular payments towards the savings aim. If you have a regular payment that stops, try change the money you were previously paying into college savings. In such a case saving will be relatively painless for you as you have already got into a habit of saving. For example, when your children start to attend kindergarten, redirect the money you were previously spending on daycare to college savings.
8) Try to teach your children how to save. Ask them to participate in selecting the right investment decisions. It is a good possibility to tell them about the advantages of saving, since it involves their future. For instance, you could let them to control a small portion of the investment portfolio and track its growth. Some parents will even establish a "matching" plan, where money the child saves for their college is matched by additional money from the parent. Delayed gratification is a difficult concept for younger children (and even some adults) to appreciate, so inspiring it early will help develop good habits. It will be much easier for you to save when you act as a role model for your children.
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