Parents Putting Retirement Savings Ahead of College Savings; Allstate survey shows most seek a balance

When parents have to choose between saving for their kids’ college educations and saving for their own retirement, retirement wins, according to the fourth annual Allstate « Retirement Reality Check » survey.   ;   While most people with children younger than 18 say they can save for retirement and college expenses, when forced to prioritize, fully one-third (33 percent) admit they are saving mostly for retirement and putting only a little money toward college, the survey showed.   Allstate’s annual « Retirement Reality Check » survey examines Americans’ attitudes toward, and saving habits for, retirement. The 2004 survey shows that, regardless of age, gender, education or income, Americans are placing a higher priority on retirement.   ;   Overall, almost half (46 percent) of parents in the survey said they are saving equally for retirement and college. Another 14 percent said they are saving mostly for college while putting aside only a little money for retirement.   ;   Only 5 percent said they have put off saving for retirement until they have paid for their child’s college–compared with the 33 percent who said they’re doing the opposite.   « When weighing the importance of saving for a child’s education versus your own retirement,