Finding ways to reduce the cost of college is a top priority for most families—and one of the best strategies is to target colleges offering merit aid. While need-based financial aid is tied to your family’s income, merit aid is awarded for academic, athletic, or artistic excellence, regardless of financial need. To maximize your financial […]
List of Colleges Offering Merit Aid Read More »
The average college student spends about $765 to dine off-campus, according to Student Monitor. It’s all too easy to overspend when many restaurants and eateries in college areas let students pay just by swiping their school ID cards. There’s another reason students fork over a lot of dollars eating out: it’s their first time away
How to Cut Food Expenses While in College Read More »
Q: I have an outstanding medical bill from 2/2009 (DOS) for $92.00. I had a debt collector call me today. I am wondering if this medical bill is past the statue of limitations. I live in Florida. A: Thanks for reaching out to me about your $92 medical debt from Feb. 2009. Some debts have a statute
Dealing with Old Medical Debt Read More »
Recent data from the National Retail Federation show that college shoppers spend about $46 billion a year on apparel, supplies, dorm furnishings and more. On average, U.S. students and their parents dole out $837 on college purchases. The biggest collective chunk of that money, $232, went toward clothing, shoes and collegiate gear. During your college years, you
How to Save Money on College Clothing and Gear Read More »
About 60% of college students buy a new computer, MP3 player, smart phone or other device. If you go all out, and get a new flat screen TV or other electronics for a dorm room, your costs can quickly skyrocket. In fact, behind the clothing, shoes and collegiate gear category, the largest portion of college
5 Tips to Help College Students Save Money on Electronics Read More »
If you’ve figured out a way to pay for a slew of upfront college expenses – like tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies – you might think most of the spending you’ll need for higher education is over. Sadly, that’s far from reality. A report in the Fiscal Times once estimated that the true
Why College Costs Can Be Twice What You Expect Read More »
Q: Hi Lynnette, I have been working at repairing my credit for the last 4 years (intensely). I have paid off all debtors and have managed to obtain an unsecured credit card with $1000 limit that has been upped to $5000 due to my handling of the card. This month I pulled my credit file
The Impact of Closed Accounts on Your Credit Score Read More »
College students often complain about the high price of college textbooks. Plenty of parents decry these costs too – because it’s the parents who often get an 11th hour call from a son or daughter who needs money or a credit card to buy the latest book for Biology, History, Engineering or some other subject.
The Strategy That Saves You Money on College Textbooks Read More »
Your credit report and credit score remain important as you approach preretirement or retirement. Whether you cosign for a child’s or grandchild’s loan, tap your home equity to buy a vacation home, or simply finance the purchase of a new car, you’ll need to have good credit. Here’s what’s happening in the credit landscape this
Changes That May Impact Your Credit Score Read More »
Picture for a moment a world in which students attending college would get all their textbooks completely free. Does it seem like a pipe dream? Well, it’s a lot closer to reality than you might suspect — and not just for students formally enrolled in higher education institutions. There’s a fast-growing movement in the U.S.
Save Money With Free Open-Source Textbooks Read More »
Learn how to save money on college room and board with smart strategies like choosing the right meal plan, applying for housing scholarships, and becoming an RA.
How To Save Money on College Room and Board Read More »
How many times have you pinned images of homes and fun do-it-yourself projects to your Pinterest boards or tuned into HGTV? Every time you paint a room or refinish cabinets by yourself, you’re saving money. Whether it’s re-tiling bathrooms or tackling a living room design makeover, people are rolling up their sleeves and tackling jobs
5 Tips to Save Money When Selling Your Home Read More »
The Rise of Luxury College Housing Units What comes to mind when you think about college housing? If you’re imagining cramped dorms with shared bathrooms and instant noodles for dinner, think again. Today’s college students are increasingly flocking to high-end living spaces that rival luxury apartments—and it’s not just off-campus housing that’s going upscale. The
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College room and board expenses now average $9,804 at public four-year colleges—more than the average cost of tuition itself, according to the College Board. That means where you live while earning your degree could have a greater financial impact than you realize. While many assume that living at home or solo in a dorm is
Why You Should Re-Think Living at Home or Living Solo While in College Read More »
Q: I am considering going to grad school and am clueless re: what steps are needed to get started, hidden costs and fees, the procedures and requirements for enrollment and other pertinent information. I am currently unemployed and need all of the assistance I can get. I graduated from undergrad. school in 1999, and I’m 58
Paying for Grad School When You Are Over 40 Read More »
