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Many people love showing their holiday spirit with Christmas lights, whether just a strand of twinkle lights around a window or going all-out like the Griswolds.

While these lights are festive, it’s worth noting that they aren’t free. In fact, the cost of running holiday lights rose 13% last year, costing the average household $15.48 vs. $13.41 the prior year.

In this economy, every dollar can count, so if you want to learn how much it costs to run Christmas lights for a month and how to reduce that expense, read on.

Here, you’ll learn more about:

•   How much do Christmas lights cost to run?

•   How much does it cost to run Christmas lights for a month?

•   How can you save money on your holiday light electric bill?

Factors Affecting the Cost of Running Christmas Lights

Running Christmas lights uses energy, which can translate to higher utility bills. How much of an increase you see in your electric bill can depend on a number of factors, including:

•   How many strands of lights you use

•   The type of bulbs used in each strand

•   The number of hours you run your lights each day

•   How many days you run Christmas lights for

•   Where you live and what you pay per kilowatt hour for electricity.

All of these things can influence how large your Christmas lights electric bill turns out be once January rolls around. Understanding what you could wind up paying can help if affordably celebrating the holidays is your goal.

Keep in mind that other costs can drive up electric bills during the holidays, apart from Christmas lights. If you’re using the oven more often to prepare holiday meals, for example, that can result in a higher electric bill. You may also see a bigger bill if colder weather means the heat is kicking on more often or your kids are home all day using electronics more while school is out. Lowering your energy bill may require a multifaceted approach.

How Much Electricity Do Christmas Lights Use?

The amount of energy used by Christmas lights can depend on the type of bulb and the number of bulbs per strand. The most popular options for Christmas lights include incandescent mini lights, mini LED lights, and ceramic C7 lights.

So which type of bulb uses the most energy?

The simplest answer is to look at the wattage of Christmas lights, based on bulb size and number of bulbs per strand. For example:

•   With C7 lights, for instance, you’re typically getting 25 lights per strand.

•   With mini LED lights, you’ll normally have 50 bulbs for a 14-foot strand and 100 bulbs per 32-foot strand.

•   With mini icicle lights, you often have 300 bulbs for a 26-foot strand.

Here’s how the average wattage for each one compares, though note that incandescent bulbs stopped being manufactured and sold in August 2023 (some people may still own and use strands of these, however):

•   C7 lights: 5 watts

•   C9 incandescent lights (2-¼” long): 7 watts

•   Mini incandescent lights: 0.4 watts

•   Mini LED lights: 0.07 watts

Between those three options, mini LED lights draw the least amount of energy per strand while C7 lights draw the most.

LEDs possibly lowering energy costs by up to 90% vs. the other options. Switching to LEDs could be a way to save money daily during the holidays.

Also note that you’d need four strands of C7 lights to equal the same number of bulbs in just one strand of incandescent or LED mini lights. This is important to understand because it can affect the number of kilowatt hours used and your overall energy costs.

Recommended: 23 Tips on Saving Money Daily

Cost of Running Christmas Lights

So how much do Christmas lights cost to run for a month? Or longer? Calculating your estimated cost of running Christmas lights matters when trying to lower your electric bill during the winter months. Again, what you’ll pay can depend on a variety of factors, including where you live and how much electricity costs.

The average household pays $0.17 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, but prices may be significantly higher or lower in different parts of the country due to cost of living differences.

If you live in Connecticut, for example, you might pay an average of $0.21 cents per kilowatt hour. People living in Florida, however, might pay an average of $0.11 cents per kilowatt hour. Residents of Hawaii typically pay the most, currently spending $0.32 cents per kilowatt hour.

Here’s how to figure out how much you’ll pay for Christmas lighting:

•   Multiply the wattage of the lights by the hours per day the lights will be on, then divide by 1,000 to find kilowatt hours per day

•   Multiply kilowatt hours per day by your cost of electric usage to get the cost per day

•   Multiply the cost per day by the number of days your lights will be on

Calculating the Cost of Christmas Lights

Now, for how much does it cost to run Christmas lights? Here’s a look at what it would cost to run C7 lights, C9, and mini incandescent lights, and mini LED lights for six hours a day for 30 days, using a price of $0.14 cents per kilowatt hour. Here’s what you’d pay for each one:

Keep in mind that these costs are for just one strand of lights, as noted. If you string together several strands on your tree, frame your windows with lights, and then drape your shrubs or street-facing windows outdoors with more, your costs will of course go up.

Also, in terms of what the average person spends on Christmas lights, it can vary by a state’s cost of living, as well as by what kind of bulbs are used. Louisiana residents who run LED lights, for example, would likely spend the least, since they are paying just over nine cents per kilowatt hour (currently the lowest rate in the US) and they would be using energy-saving bulbs. Meanwhile, Hawaiians who opt for incandescent bulbs would probably spend the most, since their bulbs use a considerable amount of power and they currently pay the highest national rate for energy of almost 33 cents per kilowatt hour.

Tips to Save on Your Christmas Lighting Bill

If you’re looking for ways to lower your energy bill when you start plugging in your holiday lights, follow this advice.

Embracing Energy-Efficient LEDs

As mentioned, the wattage of Christmas lights plays an important part in determining how much you pay for electric bills over the holidays. Between C7 lights, incandescent lights and LED lights, LED lights are highly energy-efficient. According to the Department of Energy, residential LEDs that are ENERGY STAR rated use up to 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lights.

People who use LED Christmas lights tend to pay far less than those using incandescent bulbs or C7 lights. So it follows that an easy way to save money on your electric bill and reduce energy usage would be to use mini LED lights as often as possible. Aside from that, LED bulbs emit less light and are less likely to overload sockets, making them a potentially safer option for Christmas lighting compared to other types of bulbs.

So if you still have some incandescent bulbs in your box of Christmas decorations, you may want to think about swapping them out for LEDs. (You won’t find incandescents made or sold in the US anymore either.)

Benefits of Solar-Powered Outdoor Lights

You might consider using solar-powered outdoor lights on your house over the holidays. These strands depend upon energy collected by small panels that gather and hold energy from the sun during the day.

These strands don’t plug in and draw no electrical power. So they can be especially easy and economical to use over the holidays.

Battery-Operated Lights for Smaller Displays

If you like to create smaller displays, you might consider battery-powered strands of lights. There is a wide range of how long these lights will stay illuminated, but this can be a good unplugged option to try for small-scale displays. While you do have to pay for the batteries, it can be cheaper than plugging in lights for weeks on end.

Recommended: 18 Common Misconceptions About Money

The Takeaway

A higher-than-usual electric bill can put a damper on your holiday celebrations. Estimating your potential costs beforehand can help you manage utility expenses. And you can decide whether it’s worth it to invest a little money in upgrading your current Christmas lights to energy-efficient options.

Having the right banking partner, such as one with budgeting tools, can also help make tackling high utility bills after the holidays easier.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with eligible direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.

FAQ

Do LED Christmas lights use a lot of electricity?

Compared to C7 lights or incandescent mini lights, LED Christmas lights use the least amount of energy. Specifically, they can use up to 90% less energy while lasting longer. LED Christmas lights also emit less heat and can be easier to install than other types of holiday lighting.

Do Christmas lights raise your light bill?

Holiday lights can raise your electric bill during the winter months. How much it costs to run Christmas lights can depend on several things, including the type of bulbs used, how many light strands you’re running, how long you turn the lights on for, and the average cost of energy per kilowatt hour in your area. Using timers and switching to energy-efficient bulbs can be helpful for reducing your Christmas lights electric bill.

Do Christmas trees use a lot of electricity?

Christmas trees can use a lot of electricity, depending on the type of lights you use, the number of strands on the tree, and how long you leave your tree plugged in each day. Using mini LED lights can reduce electric costs for Christmas tree lighting, while using C7 bulbs to light your tree could result in a higher energy bill.

Photo credit: iStock/BanksPhotos

SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. The SoFi® Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet

Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network every 31 calendar days.

Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. To ensure you're earning the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, we encourage you to check your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit posts to your SoFi account. If your APY is not showing as the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. As long as SoFi Bank can validate those details, you will start earning the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit from the date you contact SoFi for the next 31 calendar days. You will also be eligible for the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit on future Eligible Direct Deposits, as long as SoFi Bank can validate them.

Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, Wise, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder's Eligible Direct Deposit activity to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility.

See additional details at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOBK1023001

You may wonder if anyone balances their bank account manually anymore given how many aspects of personal finances have become electronic.

Today, paychecks are deposited digitally, automatic bill pay whisks money from one account to another, and smartphones enable check deposits anytime, from anywhere.

Nevertheless, tracking withdrawals and deposits via a checkbook ledger and tallying up amounts can have value.

Monitoring your checking account in this way can help you identify errors or fraud. It can reveal charges and fees you may not have known you were being assessed. It can also put you in better touch with your money and your spending. All those things are definitely positives.

This guide will help you learn the step-by-steps for balancing your checkbook as well as its benefits.

What’s The Purpose Of Balancing Your Checking Account?

Back in the not-so-distant past, most people who had a bank account received a paper statement once a month in the mail.

On the first few pages, the statement listed the past month’s transactions — checks that had cleared, deposits that had posted, ATM and other withdrawals — along with the account balance as of the day the statement was printed.

On the back page, there was a reconciliation worksheet. There, account holders could add or subtract anything that was missing on the statement (deposits or withdrawals that hadn’t yet posted) to be sure the balance they thought they had actually matched the one the bank was reporting.

While some considered the process of balancing or monitoring a bank account tedious and frustrating, others diligently did the math every month.

Times have changed. Though financial institutions are legally required to mail those old-school statements to customers who want them, most have been touting the benefits of going paperless for years. Plus, customers now have 24/7 access to their account information using a website or an app.

Many banks also will provide a monthly online statement with the same data as the old paper statement, usually in the same or a similar format. They’ll even send a notification when the statement is ready.

But since this requires taking the time to log on, review the numbers, check for errors, and maybe do some math, many people procrastinate or simply skip regular account reviews. This can be especially true if they have multiple bank accounts.

But monitoring and balancing a bank account still plays an important role in responsible money management.

People – and Institutions – Sometimes Make Mistakes

Even if you are a fastidious record keeper, logging every cash withdrawal, bill payment, and deposit into a paper ledger, spreadsheet, or app, we all make mistakes from time to time.

Maybe an ATM receipt went missing or bill payment was forgotten or recorded incorrectly. By reconciling an account regularly, these little mistakes can be quickly fixed. This will allow you to have an accurate picture of your account, and help avoid overdraft charges and/or bounced checks.

Banks also can make errors. Duplicate charges are rare, but they can occur. Automatic payments may occasionally go awry. And it’s possible for deposits to land in the wrong account.

Even though the mistake might be the bank’s fault (because of human or technical error), it’s up to the account holder to bring it to someone’s attention — either by calling or writing to the financial institution.

In most cases, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) gives an account holder 60 days after receiving the bank statement with evidence of an error to challenge a problem with a direct deposit, ATM use, phone transfer, and other transactions.

But the time frame for reporting other bank errors may vary — rules may differ from bank to bank. Consumer advocates advise making contact as soon as possible upon spotting a mistake.

Reviewing an account regularly can help limit a consumer’s liability.

It also can be a good idea to check on vendor charges. Reviewing debit card, pay-by-phone, and even recurring automatic charges on a bank statement every month can help catch small errors before they become bigger problems.

A bank statement can provide the official documentation needed to dispute the charge with the vendor or financial institution.

Scammers Hope People Aren’t Paying Attention

Every time a person makes an ATM withdrawal, pays for gas with a debit card, or places an order online, there’s a chance someone is out there, waiting to steal their identity and their money.

Scammers sometimes start by making small purchases and, if no one seems to notice, bump up the spending to a more serious level.

Consumers who check their accounts regularly may have a better chance of spotting fraud faster, limiting their own liability and helping the bank deal with potential problems.

Reconciling Regularly Can Help Manage Automatic Payments

Automatic bill payments are convenient and can help an account holder avoid late payments (and late fees).

But the downside is that those bills might not get the same attention as those we have to make some effort to pay ourselves every month by check, phone or online. Ready or not, the money comes out of the bank account as scheduled, and if the account is low on the payment date, it can lead to bounced checks and overdraft fees.

Account holders who check their statements regularly may find they’re more aware of and prepared for the amount and timing of their autopay charges. They also might find they’re ready to dump or reduce the cost of some of the services and subscriptions they’ve been paying for every month or year.

Reviews May Offer Insights into Spending and Saving Behaviors

Reviewing their bank statements may help those who need or want to take more control of their spending to see exactly where their money is going every day, week, or month.

Regularly scheduled reconciliations enable people to see exactly how much they’re spending every week on nonessentials, such as in-app purchases or happy hours. This kind of information can help people budget more effectively and help bring them closer to their savings goals, such as a downpayment on a home.

Identifying Unnecessary Fees Can Save Money

Bank fees can eat away at a bank balance so slowly, an account holder might not even notice. The average monthly fee for a checking account now runs around $12. An out-of-network ATM withdrawal fee currently averages more than $4. Overdraft fees are typically $35 a pop.

Those charges can quickly add up — but if it’s all laid out there in black and white on a statement, it might be harder to ignore how much money is slipping away every month. (It also might provide more motivation to find a way to avoid those fees in the future.)

Recommended: ATM Withdrawal Limits — What You Need To Know

How to Balance Your Checking Account

Of course, account holders can always check on their available balance by using an ATM, or by logging into their account online or with an app. But that’s just a snapshot — and the picture could change in just a few minutes, depending on what transactions hit the account throughout the day.

By reconciling your records with your monthly online or paper statements on a regular basis, account holders can dig into the details of where their money is going, and be confident they aren’t missing any mistakes or paying fees or bills they aren’t aware of.

•   Start by gathering the receipts and records for any spending and deposits for the period chosen. (If you use a check register, grab that. If you write your purchases down in a notebook or use software or a spreadsheet, use those. If you collect ATM receipts, pull that pile together, too.)

•   Match those records with the bank statement. If you missed something the bank has listed and you’re sure it’s accurate (an ATM fee, for example, or a birthday check you deposited and forgot about), add it to your records.

•   Take the statement balance and subtract payments that are in your records but haven’t yet cleared the bank, and add in any deposits that haven’t yet been posted.

•   The amount you come up with should match with the balance you have in your register/notes/spreadsheet. If it doesn’t, you may have to do a closer check to see what you might have missed or if your math is a little off.

•   If you’re confident that the bank made a mistake or you notice anything else askew, contact the bank by phone, email, messaging, or in-person right away to let them know about the inconsistency.

The Takeaway

With so many other tech tools available to help track saving and spending, reconciling a bank statement every month may seem unnecessary or even archaic.

But the process can serve as an important backup and safeguard, especially for those who have multiple accounts, or who have turned over certain financial tasks (deposits, withdrawals, bill-paying, and budgeting) to automation and apps. It can also help you avoid unnecessary fees and spot mistakes or fraud.

It might even point the way toward better budgeting and money management, and help you reach your short- and long-term financial goals sooner.

Looking for Something Different?

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with eligible direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.

SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. The SoFi® Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet

Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network every 31 calendar days.

Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. To ensure you're earning the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, we encourage you to check your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit posts to your SoFi account. If your APY is not showing as the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit, contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. As long as SoFi Bank can validate those details, you will start earning the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit from the date you contact SoFi for the next 31 calendar days. You will also be eligible for the APY for account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit on future Eligible Direct Deposits, as long as SoFi Bank can validate them.

Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, Wise, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder's Eligible Direct Deposit activity to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility.

See additional details at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOBK0823021

Saving for kids’ college expenses can be a massive undertaking, but a critically important one. If you’re a parent, you’ve probably heard the mantra that education is the key to a successful future for your child. You’re also likely aware that college isn’t cheap, and it isn’t getting cheaper.

The escalating costs of college may have you worried about how to pay for higher education. You’re smart to think about how to start saving for college, even if your kids are still young. If you truly want to give your child the gift of a college education and free them from overwhelming student debt, the time to plan is now.

When to Start Saving for Your Kids’ College Tuition

Generally speaking, the sooner you can start saving for your kids’ college fund or overall education, the better. Tuition, even at in-state public schools (which tend to be the least-expensive options for many people) are already in the four and five-figures territory, depending on where you live. And, as noted, it’s unlikely that costs are going to decrease in any meaningful way in the near future.

For parents who paid for college using student loans, emphasizing saving for their children’s college expenses may be a no-brainer. Those parents may benefit from looking through a student loan refinancing guide, too, to see if they can free up space in their budget to increase their capacity for saving – more on that in a minute.

Yes, there are schools that offer free tuition, but it’s probably best to plan on paying for attendance – you never know what could happen going forward.

With that in mind, it’s never too early to start socking away money for your children’s education. Getting a head start gives your money more time to grow over the long term and to rebound after any dips.

It also means you can recalibrate if your child seems to be on track for scholarships related to sports or academic achievements, or if your child decides to forgo college. Keep in mind that the money you save will generally affect the financial aid package your child qualifies for.

Before you launch a college savings plan for your kids, it’s best to have your other financial ducks in a row. You might first focus on paying off any credit card balances or other high-interest debt. Then you might want to make sure you’ve paid off your own student loans (or looked at student loan refinancing, at least) and saved an emergency fund (generally three to six months’ worth of living expenses), and are on track in terms of saving for retirement.

After all, your child always has the option to take out student loans, but you can’t rely on that to pay for a crisis or retirement. You wouldn’t want to have saved for your kids’ college only to burden them with your living expenses after you retire because you haven’t built a nest egg.

Again, if you’re still grappling with your own student loan debts, you can experiment with a student loan refinance calculator to see if refinancing can make it easier to pay it off, and put you in a better position to start saving for your child’s education.

The Best Ways to Save for Child’s College

If you’re ready to start saving for higher education, you may be tempted to keep that cash reserve in a savings account. While it might seem like that would protect your funds from market ups and downs, you might actually be losing money.

That’s because even accounts with the best interest rates aren’t keeping up with the pace of inflation. Especially if your child won’t be going to college for a while, investing your savings is a way you might see your money grow. Keep in mind that investments can lose money.

It’s also worth mentioning, again, that many parents may still be struggling with their own student loan debts. As such, it’s worth asking: should you refinance your student loans? It’s worth considering, at the very least, or speaking with a financial professional about if you think it may help you save for your child’s college expenses.

Here are some of the best ways to save for a child’s college:

529 Plans

A 529 plan, also known as a “qualified tuition plan,” allows you to save for education costs while taking advantage of tax benefits (the plan is named after the section of the Internal Revenue Code that governs it). 529 plans break down into two categories: educational savings plans and prepaid tuition plans.

Educational savings plans, which are sponsored by states, allow you to open an investment account for your child, who can use the money for tuition, fees, room and board, and other qualifying expenses at any college or university. You can also use up to $10,000 a year to pay for schooling costs before college.

You can invest the money in a variety of assets, including mutual funds or target-date funds based on when you expect your child to go to college. The specific tax benefit depends on your state and plan. Generally, you contribute after-tax money, your earnings grow tax-free, and you can withdraw the money for qualified expenses without paying taxes or penalties. If you withdraw money for anything else, you’ll pay a 10% tax penalty on earnings.

Not all states offer tax benefits, so be sure to look into this when choosing your plan.

💡 Quick Tip: All investments come with some degree of risk — and some are riskier than others. Before investing online, decide on your investment goals and how much risk you want to take.


Prepaid tuition plans, as you may expect, allow you to prepay tuition and fees at a college at current prices. These plans are only available at certain universities, usually public institutions, and often require you to live in the same state. A prepaid tuition plan can save you a lot of money, given how much college costs are increasing each year.

Depending on the state and the 529 plan, you may be able to deduct contributions from state income tax. However, if your prepaid tuition plan isn’t guaranteed by the state, you might lose money if the institution runs into financial trouble. You also run the risk that your child will choose to go to a school that’s outside the area covered by the plan.

Coverdell Education Savings Account

Like a 529 educational savings plan, a Coverdell ESA allows you to set up a savings account for someone under age 18 to pay for qualified education expenses. The money can be invested in a variety of stocks, bonds, or other assets, and grows tax-free.

Your contributions are not tax-deductible, and the plan is only available to people who earn under a certain income threshold.

When your child withdraws the funds for qualified educational expenses, they won’t pay taxes on it. The money can also pay for elementary or secondary education. But note that you can only contribute $2,000 per year to a Coverdell ESA per beneficiary.

UGMA and UTMA Accounts

You can open a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act account on behalf of a beneficiary under 18, and all the assets in it will transfer to the minor when he or she becomes an adult (at age 18 to 25, depending on the state).

Young adults are able to use the funds for anything they want. That means they won’t be limited to qualified education expenses. Another plus is that you can contribute as much as you want. The downside is that there are no tax benefits when contributions are made. Earnings are taxable.

A custodial account is an irrevocable gift to the minor named as the beneficiary, who receives legal control of the account at the age of majority.

The Takeaway

Given the increasing costs of higher education, parents are smart to save for a child’s college early and often. But rather than keep the money in a savings account, they’d likely benefit by choosing an option that lets their money grow.

The more popular routes for doing so often involve 529 Plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, and UGMA and UTMA accounts. But you’ll need to do some thinking and research before deciding on the right strategy and accounts for you and your child. Just remember: The sooner you start saving, the better — generally speaking.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).