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There are times when you’re saving that you can take some risks and there are times when you need to be a little more careful with your investments. So what should you be doing when it comes time to put up money for your child’s college education? That’s a pretty simple one, but there are a few options that come to mind. First and foremost, you need to be a little more conservative with this part of your savings plan. This should be much more about saving than it should be about growth, but that doesn’t mean that your money has to sit idly. Quite the contrary, it can grow at a small, constant rate over the course of a couple of decades. You should put a great deal of it in a savings account, with the idea being that this account will offer a 3% or so interest rate over time. Though this doesn’t sound like a ton, it can really add up over the course of more than a decade. Additionally, there are few rules on when you can take this money out, so if you get a better opportunity, you will be able to withdrawal without some huge penalty. On top of simple savings accounts, you should concentrate on finding some bonds that run on a 5-year or 10-year basis. These can offer enhanced rates of return that come with no risk. Since you’re buying bonds from the government, they are insured and you know exactly what you are going to get. These will offer a higher return than savings accounts, but the money can’t be touched while they are in term. This should be a significant portion of your savings for college, since you aren’t going to be taking it out anyway. The key is to keep it safe and use a couple of different types of investment and look around for the best saving rates. Earn a small percentage, and put a little bit away each and every month leading up to your child’s college career.