Last weekend we took Zoe to the Buttonwood Zoo for the first time and I had all these funny flashes in my head of her getting into the cage with the monkeys and petting them! Honestly, lately with the way she has been running around and getting into things in a flash of a second, that is quite the possibility. Hah!
The weather was perfect this past weekend, which was a huge relief as it has been raining almost every other day this summer. The Buttonwood Zoo has a small selection of animals, train rides that go around the zoo, and a very beautiful rainforest-themed cafe. We walked around making animal sounds and waving to the people on the train rides.
While the baby was napping, we stopped at The U.Fund Dreams Tour tent to take a moment to chat with the team. (I had shared some details in the post here)
The tent offered a lot of insight about college savings, one topic that we have so many questions about, like when is a good time to start investing, how are the savings streamlined, what are the various saving options, how does the pre-tax benefit play in our overall strategy, etc.
Since this was a rather unfamiliar topic to us, it was nice having the opportunity to chat with someone in person and address our questions. We learned that most of the questions we asked were apparently the same as many people who are looking into this option!
While talking to the staff, they also mentioned helping to guide us through opening a college savings account. One of the best ideas I picked up from the discussion was to start a tradition of giving a contribution to Zoe’s college savings account for gifts on her birthday or special holidays. It might be a good idea to even ask your friends and relatives if they have a college savings plan set up for their kids, so you can make that practical gift, which will surely be beneficial and appreciated!
In addition, we learned that the funds can be utilized for other qualified expenses other than college tuition such as books, room, technology, etc. All of this information was very helpful in guiding us on how to evaluate our options pertaining to investing in the college savings plan.
If you missed the U.Fund Dreams Tour at the Buttonwood Zoo, it’s not too late. See the schedule of the tour at the bottom of this post, so you can find them at the various farms, festivals, zoos and fairs through October! It’s definitely a great way to make a day trip that is fun and educational!
14 comments
Oh the cutest little princess!
x Lisa | lisaautumn.com
She’s getting cuter by the day! So adorable of you and your mini!
xo, Jennifer
http://www.jennifer-lane.com
I can’t believe how big your little one is getting, she’s so precious! It looks like you both had so much fun. Thanks for sharing and have a great week ahead, beauty!
XO,
Jalisa
THE STYLE CONTOUR
We went to the zoo yesterday! Such a fun stop. Sounds like a neat time.
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
This post is too cute for words! Your daughter is so precious and the zoo looks so fun!
Happy Monday, babe!
xoxo, Vanessa
http://www.WhatWouldVWear.com
That means a lot. Thank you.
Love the pictures, especially Zoe’s single shot one. She is a cutie.
I hope you learned about 529 and started investing in one for Zoe. I wrote a full blog post about 529 a couple of years ago.
I am going to check your post. This is such an interesting topic that every parent should look into and evaluate how it fits in their strategy.
Definitely a lot of benefits.
Zoe is the cutest! I love her dress, so adorable!
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
Thank you so much.
I am obsessed with the little bows on her sleeves 🙂
Absolutely stunning photos, Neha!Great styling as always. Your daughter is getting cuter every time! You are so blessed!
Thanks for sharing babe!
Happy Wednesday!
Much love, Len
http://www.lenparent.com
XO
Thank you so much, Len. That means a lot.
She looks so adorable! I bet you all had a great time there!
StyleSprinter Blog by Katya Bychkova
Awww she’s so cute! I also love your dress!
http://innapishtoy.com/