With an 8-year-old, your strategy isn't much different from what it is with a newborn. Though if you're starting from zero, the amount you need to save each month is considerably higher. But it might be easier to find the money now, especially if your income has risen while your day-care expenses have decreased.
Invest aggressively. If you're starting from scratch, set your sights on the full amount for a public-college education, and step up the amount if you can. Whatever the size of your portfolio, you can keep it mostly in stocks for now but shift about 20% into bonds or moderately aggressive bond funds.
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