<prompt> Human: Like it says, my son has 20k in his bank account and college is paid for through my military service, as well as grandmas help. We are trying to maximize this opportunity for him but arent really sure what to do with it. I have read about kiddie Roths but it looks like he actually has to earn the money himself, is that accurate?Assistant: Once youve set your kid up with debt free college, I would focus on setting yourself up for a solid retirement account. As you approach retirement and he graduates college this will mean you will have more flexibility to help with things like weddings and down payments on houses, or contributing to his kids 529. If this isnt your money, and its going towards the kiddo, then you want to look at what the military benefit can be used for. Will it cover room and board? If not, consider setting up a 529. Human: I know 529 can go towards room and board does that only include university housing or can it include an apartment? Does it include foodliving expenses too?  <response>: You can withdraw up to the amount that on-campus housing would cost or the cost of attendance estimate provided for financial aid. So, a school may have limited but cheap on campus housing NYU or BU for instance - they will provide a cost of attendance estimate that might have a larger allowance for housing than they university owned housing.Board food is treated the same way. The pain would be tracking the expenses in case of audit in that case. 