First, by the time your kids are 18, $21k probably won't be worth much (I mean, we see how far $1k gets people). Second, I wouldn't save in a 529 plan, because you don't know if your kids WILL go to college. My husband and I invest for our daughter and have a "trust fund". She can't touch it until she's 18, 21, and 25. $5k at 18, $15k at 21, and the rest at 25. If you don't want a home, time to invest in stocks/bonds and prepare for retirement!