It’s the final quarter of the year and that means it’s also the season when a lot of people do serious damage to their finances. To avoid becoming a negative financial statistic, make sure you avoid these three financial pitfalls at year-end. Holiday Overspending The temptation to spend a lot of money – or even […]
3 Financial Pitfalls To Avoid At Year-End Read More »
Forget about just charging you tuition and fees. One of the new ways colleges and universities are making money off students is by charging for a host of previously things that didn’t cost money – like academic fieldwork, research projects and internships. Conducting such research and academic work could costs hundreds or even thousands of
The Shocking New Trend With College Internships Read More »
Over the years, many people have asked me whether it’s worth it to pay a credit repair firm to remove negative information from their credit reports. My typical reply is: No, it’s usually not worth it – mainly because hiring a credit repair company to fix your credit is often a frustrating waste of time
7 Things Credit Repair Firms Won’t Tell You Read More »
If you tuned in recently to this season’s premiere episode of ABC’s “Black-ish,” you saw Emmy-nominated actor and comedian Anthony Anderson in rare form. In the season 2 opener of “Black-ish,” Anderson’s character (Dre) tackled a weighty subject – the use of the N-word in America – with a hefty dose of humor and grace.
No Joke: Financial Lessons From Black-ish Star Anthony Anderson Read More »
After a journalist recently asked me about owing my own company, it got me thinking about the pros and cons of entrepreneurship. Starting my own business with the help of One Indigenous Entrepreneur was absolutely the best thing I could have ever done for my career – and like a lot of successful entrepreneurs, I actually
The Joy of Entrepreneurship with My Spouse Read More »
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 »
