Hunting down the perfect gift for a child in your life can be a stressful part of the holiday season. Squishmallows. Barbie’s Dreamhouse. A giant inflatable T-Rex?! These are among the most popular toys this holiday season, according to The Toy Insider. But while they may top wish lists, they often end up abandoned in a corner by spring and in the donation box by next Christmas.

This year, give the kids in your life a thoughtful, nontraditional gift that is unlike toys that are abandoned, forgotten or thrown away—the gift of education and a debt-free start to their adult lives. Whether for your own children, nieces and nephews, grandchildren or any young one in your life, a contribution to a 529 plan with The Education Plan® will be a gift that lives long past the holiday season.

With The Education Plan, you can gift as little as $25, making it a perfect fit for every budget. And because anyone can contribute to a 529 account with The Education Plan—from grandparents to friends to neighbors—it’s an easy way to wrap up holiday shopping for the kids in your life without the stress.

According to a recent 2022 Holiday Retail Survey, the average American household will spend nearly $1,500 on holiday gifts in 2022, with parents spending about $276 on each child’s gifts. Setting aside some of that budget for a gift contribution to their 529 plan is a meaningful way to show them that you believe in them and their dreams for the future. Making a gift contribution a holiday tradition can also be a great way to talk about their future dreams and the importance of saving for higher education every year.

Asking for a 529 Gift

For parents of young children, the holiday season often brings toy overload. Asking loved ones for a 529 gift contribution in lieu of more traditional gifts is an easy way to think outside the toy box and invest in their future. Not only can a 529 gift contribution assist your children with less debt, but it’s also a great way to ‘crowd-fund’ their education. You can even download and print one of these gift certificates so you have something to wrap and put under the tree or tuck into a stocking.

Setting up your 529 account to accept gifts is easy with Ugift. The system generates a unique code that you can share with loved ones to contribute to your child’s 529 quickly and easily.

It’s a great idea to set this up before any occasion, particularly birthdays, holidays, baby showers, and graduations. With gift contributions going into a plan from a few different people, a few times a year, education savings can really add up!

Log in to your Account and click the Ugift icon to get started.