mamash: My husband’s benefits include pension and a meager life insurance policy. We opened (small) IRAs when we first got married (with gift $) for the maximum amounts that they are tax-deductible.
When my kids will, IY”H, be ready for marriage, then either:
a)my husband will be earning more than now;
b)I will work full-time;
c)they will get married in a shul/backyard, and the wedding will cost the same as one year’s tuition for 1 child. If the child wants a more costly wedding, he can pay himself.
d)You will sponsor. Seriously, do you have any ideas?
e)If I am doing my part, I think I can be assured that Hashem will send what we truly need (maybe not all the wants, but definitely the needs).
I omitted $2,000 (annually) for student loans (the rest of our schooling was covered between financial aid, scholarships based on need or merit, and gracious parents; however, I inflated some of the other categories slightly (eg- clothing, toys, sholom bayis, summer, trips) so the total remains roughly the same.