How much should I be saving?

You're not asking because you don't know what you can afford. You're asking because you want to know if it's enough. If $200/month is going to matter. If $100/month is even worth it. If you should wait until you can do more.

Here's the answer: it's worth it. Whatever you can start with.

The numbers at different amounts

These projections assume starting at birth with an illustrative 6% annual return. Your actual numbers will depend on your specific plan.

$100/month

By age 18: around $38,700. By age 25: around $69,300. That's from $100/month - roughly the cost of a family streaming subscription. Over 18 years, you'd have contributed $21,600 total. The rest is growth.

$200/month

By age 18: around $77,400. By age 25: around $138,600. This is where most families start. About the cost of a streaming service and two coffees a week. You'd contribute $43,200 total. The plan nearly doubles it.

$300/month

By age 18: around $116,100. By age 25: around $207,900. Enough for a serious head start on college, a first home down payment, or seed money for a business.

$500/month

By age 18: around $193,500. By age 25: around $346,500. At this level, your child has real financial freedom at every milestone.

What if I can't do $200?

Start with what you can. $100/month still becomes nearly $39,000 by the time your child is 18. That's real money. You can increase your contribution later as your income grows.

The biggest mistake isn't starting with a small amount. It's not starting at all.

What if I start late?

Starting at age 5 with $200/month still gives you around $51,000 by age 18. Starting at age 8 gives you around $35,000. Every dollar still compounds. It's still worth it.

One thing most people don't realize

With the right plan, your money grows tax-free. And you access it tax-free. That means the numbers above are what your child actually gets to use - not what's left after taxes take a cut.

That's one of the reasons a Child Life Portfolio works differently from a regular savings or investment account. The tax-free structure makes every dollar go further.