Tag: budget


How college students can save money on food costs

Posted on October 20th, 2016

Food (and of course, beverages) tend to make up a large portion of college students’ budgets.

But given the high cost of college, students don’t always have a lot of money to pay for meals — especially if they’re not on a campus meal plan that’s automatically added to their college bill.

The video above from NBC News explains how college students on a budget can save money on food costs without feeling deprived.

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5 ways to reduce college costs while kids are still in high school

Posted on September 18th, 2014

Reducing college costs doesn’t just happen once the kids have already been accepted. Planning early is the best way to reduce your college costs later on.

In this video from THV11 News, Little Rock Family Magazine editor Heather Bennett shares her five best to reduce college costs while your student is still in high school.

Check out our tips and watch the video to find out more.

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Purdue president calls on colleges to reduce costs

Posted on August 25th, 2014

"Instead of asking our students' families to adjust their budgets to our spending, let's try to adjust our spending to their budgets for a while." -- Mitch Daniels

College costs have gotten out of control, but rarely do you hear a college administrator take responsibility for rising costs. Instead, they announce tuition increases with promises that they’ve “increased financial aid.” But Mitch Daniels, President of Purdue University, isn’t like most college administrators. In a recent appearance on CNBC, he blamed colleges themselves for […]

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9 Reasons To Work With A Financial Aid Consultant

Posted on February 11th, 2014

Whether you or your child is preparing for college or already enrolled, your family can benefit from working with a financial aid consultant to save time and money on college.

Here are 9 reasons you should consider working with a financial aid consultant.

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Advice for millennials, from millennials on student loans & money management

Posted on November 22nd, 2013

"Does an 18 year old really understand the concept of what $40k in debt is? I hardly think so. " -- Shay, Polson, Montana

In a recent Guardian article, millennials were asked what they wish their parents had taught them about choosing a college, student loans, and managing their finances. Millennials regret taking on student loan debt Many millennials expressed regret that they had spent so much on their college degree and wished they had looked into less expensive […]

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College “extras” aren’t worth it

Posted on October 30th, 2013

Trust us, you can handle doing your own laundry.

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How to manage your financial aid award

Posted on October 9th, 2013

If you’re a college student on financial aid, it’s not easy to stay within a budget.

Most colleges put college students’ financial aid awards toward tuition and fees first and then give the remaining money to the student as a financial aid refund in one or two installments a semester. This makes it difficult for students to manage their money and avoid blowing it all before the semester is over.

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8 tips for taking out student loans

Posted on September 26th, 2013

Are you planning on taking out student loans to pay for college? It’s important to have a plan in place before taking on too much student debt. Remember, unlike other forms of debt, student loans can’t be discharged if you declare bankruptcy.

When choosing a college, it’s important to keep future student debt in mind. Forbes advises that students should keep college debt below their expected first year’s salary. While this may seem impossible given the rising cost of college, it demonstrates the need to be diligent in your college search to find a school that offers significant financial aid while providing a quality education.

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5 credit killers for college students

Posted on August 27th, 2013

College is a good time to start building up your credit. Some landlords take credit scores into account when deciding whether or not to let you rent an apartment, so it’s beneficial to have a good credit history. And if you’re looking to buy a car sometime in the future, having a high credit score can help you secure a low interest rate on a car loan.

Using credit cards, and paying them off in full each month, is a good way to establish your credit. But some college students make financial mistakes that end up hurting their credit scores.

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Budgeting tips for college students

Posted on August 23rd, 2013

If you’re a college student relying on financial aid, it’s essential to live within your budget while at school. It can be tempting, however, to splurge on expensive dinners out, new clothes, and late night food and drink.

Check out these tips for college students on spending within your means and avoiding the temptation of going into further debt for frivolous expenses.

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