Persistency in saving money

[The Raven]

All parents in foreign countries (my country is Serbia) start saving money for kids college which is okay. Now, how can they be persistent in it? What if something bad happens and they need the money? Will they fall into temptation to spend that money or will they find some other solution? 

Now, what about you? How persistent are you? Not on the short term saving but when it comes on saving the money for years.