Free Money for College
[from ]
As the biggest high school graduating class ever gets ready to head to college in the midst of an economic slump, the scramble for breaks on tuition — not to mention room and board, books and airfare to get home — is on.
Why Does College Cost So Much?
[from ]
Consider that, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the 20 years from 1985 to 2005 energy costs have risen 108%, Medical costs 251%, and college costs increased 439% — but a college degree is worth it, right?
Not necessarily. While having a college degree does open doors, and increase the odds of earning a […]
The Strain To Pay for College
[from ]
With a 3.3 grade point average and a 1700 SAT score, Danielle Price has done better than many of her classmates. Getting into college won’t be a problem. Paying for it will.
Investment Properties for College Students
[from ]
I was chatting with a neighbor – Mike — over the weekend. Mike’s daughter is a senior in high school and looking at a lot of different colleges. Mike is a successful dentist but he is still worried about the economy and the costs of putting his daughter through school, even though he […]
Keeping College Debt Under Control
[from ]
I decided that to pay for college without borrowing money, I would have to make some serious income. So I started a janitorial service for the commercial businesses near my school. Sure enough, I got a few contracts, each of which paid an average of $800 to $2,200 per month. And I ended up…
College Aid for Rich Kids?
[from washingtonpost.com - Personal Finance]
Q I recently heard that a cousin’s son is attending our state university free, with a state-funded scholarship for brilliant students. His parents are millionaires and could easily pay the boy’s college expenses themselves.
Why Are Student Loans Acceptable?
[from SavingAdvice.com Blog]
By Cortni Marrazzo
I’m sure you have heard that there is a difference between “good debt” and “bad debt.” Bad debt is usually associated with credit cards, car loans, and other debts that aren’t secured by something that is growing in value. However, the term “good debt” is often given to such debt as […]
Which College Accounts to Tap First
[from washingtonpost.com - Personal Finance]
My son starts college this fall. Which account should I tap first to help pay the bills: a custodial account, his 529 college-savings plan or a taxable account?
Value Education: How Going to a Value College Helped Me Save Money
[from SavingAdvice.com Blog]
By Shannon Christman
Most financially prudent people search for a good balance of price and quality when shopping for televisions and groceries and automobiles, but few consider value when shopping for higher education. Though tuition costs alone are often a factor in choosing a college, the overall value — the quality of education received for the […]
Study Up on College Loans Before Learning About Debt the Hard Way
[from washingtonpost.com - Personal Finance]
There’s been quite a bit of news lately about how, as the credit crisis continues, it may be more difficult for some families to get student loans.
When a College Flouts a Donor’s Wishes
[from washingtonpost.com - Personal Finance]
Q: My late mother endowed a special program at her alma mater, and the donation record clearly states the college’s obligation to use her money for this specific purpose. Now I find that the college has discontinued the program, with no notification to our family. What can we do about this?
Credit Crisis May Make College Loans More Costly
[from washingtonpost.com - Personal Finance]
Many college students across the nation will begin to see higher costs for loans this spring, while others will be turned away by banks altogether as the credit crisis roiling the U.S. economy spreads into yet another sector, student lenders and Wall Street firms say.
Paying For Three Kids To Go To College Is Going To Be Expensive
[from No Credit Needed]
My wife and I have two children (and a third on the way) - and we think that it’s important to save for their college educations.
Our oldest daughter is eight, our son is four, and our daughter will be born in the next two months. We have been saving for our daughter’s education since […]
Tax Breaks for College Costs
[from washingtonpost.com - Personal Finance]
The big day has finally arrived. Your son or daughter applied to colleges, sifted through the acceptance letters and decided where to spend the next four (or five or more) years. Now all you have to do is figure out how to pay for it. Luckily, Uncle Sam offers several ways to ease the sting of…
Taxes 101: Graduating from College
[from washingtonpost.com - Personal Finance]
You’ve got a newly minted diploma and high hopes for landing your first job. But before you climb that first rung of the career ladder, there are some basic rules to understand about income taxes. Think of it as Taxes 101.
You Have 67 Days To Open A Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, Or ESA For 2007
[from No Credit Needed]
Just a quick reminder -
If you want to make contributions to a Roth IRA, a Traditional IRA, or a Coverdell ESA for 2007, you need to make them before April 15th.
If you haven’t opened an account, and you want contributions to count for 2007, you have until April 15th to open the account AND fund […]
Ways to Save for your Children’s Futures
[from SavingAdvice.com Blog]
By Ann Hartter
I know many kids who grow up and go to college on their own dime, spending all their own hard earned cash for the next twenty years getting out of that debt. I also know of several kids who had a stockpile of cash they could use for tuition, even if they skipped […]
I Forgot To Register My New Debit Card To My Upromise Account!
[from No Credit Needed]
I recently opened a new checking account. I have a new debit card, associated with the checking account. I’ve been using the debit card for a couple of months, mainly for smaller purchases like gas and food. Well, I logged in to my Upromise account today - and I realized that I […]
Opening A Coverdell Education Savings Account For My Child (Coverdell ESA)
[from No Credit Needed]
I just downloaded the forms for opening a Coverdell Education Savings Account for my son. I opened an ESA for my daughter a few years ago, when she was four. My son will be four in a few days, and I am ready to begin funding an ESA for him.
Contributions to a Coverdell ESA grow […]
9 Ways to Maximize Time in College
[from SavingAdvice.com Blog]
By Marilyn Brodeur
One of the major costs of college is the amount of time you stay there. By being able to graduate in a shorter period of time, students can not only save on tuition, but also college related expenses such as room and board. So what can college students do to ensure they spend […]
Cut College Costs in Half through Community College
[from SavingAdvice.com Blog]
By Marilyn Brodeur
While one way to cut the cost of college is take AP classes, many cost saving college pundits suggest another is going to a less expensive community college rather than starting straight off at a more expensive 4-year university. I agree with them. I also think those savings should also […]
How to Reduce College Credit Cost By 90%
[from SavingAdvice.com Blog]
By Marilyn Brodeur
Oh the AP tests. One 4-hour exam can determine the fate of a whole college course. The 1st two weeks each May, high schoolers across the US gather at testing sites to spill their brains onto their testing booklets in the hopes of proving they are worthy of college credit. […]
How Local Schools Can Help You Save Money on Entertainment and Services
[from SavingAdvice.com Blog]
By Shannon Christman
It’s a catch-22 for many young people: to get the job, you need experience, but to get experience, you need the job. Many schools are aware of this problem and encourage students to get as much practical experience as possible during their academic careers. Their quests to gain experience sometimes benefit the […]
10 Financial Moves I Made in My Youth That Secured My Financial Future
[from SavingAdvice.com Blog]
By Jennifer Derrick
My neighbors’ oldest child just left for college this fall. Watching him load his car with electronics, clothes, and “stuff,” headed for his new apartment, I started reminiscing about when I was just starting out. When I was younger, I lived a life that made others think I was poverty stricken. I didn’t […]
5 Reasons to Ditch the Car in College and 5 Ways to Do It
[from SavingAdvice.com Blog]
By Marilyn Brodeur
Last year I went without a car in my first year of graduate school. The result? I saved myself $2000 in student loans, just in parking, gas, and insurance. With education costs rising, cutting out car expenses can really be a smart move to consider for any student. Here are […]
Student Loans: How to Pay Them Off and Build Wealth
[from SavingAdvice.com Blog]
By David John Marotta and Beth Anderson Nedelisky
The average college student graduates with almost $20,000 in student loans. While this is a daunting sum, it is still possible to build wealth even while paying off student debt. But earning the degree and paying for the degree require two different kinds of smarts. In fact, […]
Pearlstein: College Tuition
[from washingtonpost.com - Personal Finance]
Washington Post business columnist Steven Pearlstein discusses college tuition costs.
Kiddie Tax Loophole Dead - UGMA & UTMA Now a Poor Choice for College Savings
[from SavingAdvice.com Blog]
By David John Marotta and Beth Anderson Nedelisky
Income-shifting is one of several tax planning tools families have used to lower their tax bill. Historically, parents could save a bundle by transferring highly appreciated investments to their children who are in lower tax brackets. However, this year, Congress has made income-shifting a dream of the past, […]
College Loans, The Price Of Procrastination
[from washingtonpost.com - Personal Finance]
Every parent knows that college costs are painfully high, and yet so many people fail to save anything, even an amount that will get their child through one semester. Instead, they wait until their child is ready to go to college, panic and then turn to loans.
Saving For College - What Is An ESA - Coverdell Education Savings Account - Education IRA
[from No Credit Needed]
I have opened two ESAs, one for my daughter and one for my son. An ESA - Education Savings Account - is an account created as an incentive to help parents and students save for education expenses. (See IRS Pub 2007 -59)
Overview of the account -
The annual contribution limit per beneficiary (student) is $2000.
A […]