I just got back over the weekend from FinCon, the annual financial conference for bloggers and, boy, am I glad I made the trip to Charlotte, NC! The founder of FinCon, Philip Taylor, who runs a terrific blog called PT Money, had invited me a couple times before to come out. But prior work commitments […]
FinCon Review: 10 Financial Bloggers of Color to Watch Read More »
If you need further proof that college in America has become more like big business, look no further than the emergence of “differential tuition” over the past decade. Differential tuition, as I explain in College Secrets, is a pricing structure under which colleges and universities charge some students a regular “base rate” of tuition but
Differential Tuition: A Hidden College Expense That Costs Families Thousands Read More »
Financial news reports are buzzing about the Millennial generation. The same is true of the general press as well. You can’t turn on the TV; read newspaper like theguardian.com, blog or magazine; or listen to talk radio, without hearing someone opine about the rise of Millennials, also known as Generation Y. This year alone, I’ve
6 Financial Facts About Millennials Read More »
How College Students Can Save Money on Cell Phone Bills: For today’s college students, having a cell phone is a must—but paying for it can be a major hit to the budget. With U.S. wireless service ranking among the most expensive in the world, it’s crucial for students to find ways to lower their mobile
How College Students Can Save Money on Cell Phone Bills Read More »
Q: My father is dying from cancer, and I have a major disability. What do I need as safety net to take care of myself as aftercare for me and to take care of his expenses. A: Thanks for reaching out to me, and I’m so sorry to hear about your father’s cancer, and your
Financial Steps to Take When a Parent is Dying Read More »
When socializing with friends in college, a couple of fun nights out here and there or a few extracurricular activities every semester may seem like a good idea at the time – but they can quickly put a dent in your wallet. No one wants to stop college students from having a life. After all,
How to Keep Socializing From Ruining Your College Budget Read More »
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 »
