Topic: Money Management
Financial advice for graduating students and recent graduates
Develop a Budget
Following a budget will help you stay on track with your financial goals. Document regular monthly expenses such as credit card bills, rent, utilities, and car payments. After paying your bills, you will be able to tell… More »
Tips on managing your credit score
The seven most common mistakes that can lower your credit score:
Paying bills late
Not paying the minimum amount required
Keeping debt levels too high
Owning too many credit cards
Not alerting current or potential creditors if you’ve moved or… More »
Give yourself a financial check-up once a year
You change your oil in your car every 3000 miles, change the filter on your furnace every 3 months, and change the batteries in your smoke detectors twice a year – but when was the last time you gave your… More »
Building good credit for college students and recent graduates
Young people who are living on their own for the first time often experience financial pressures they've never before faced. That's why it's critical they plan ahead to create and maintain good credit. Your financial discipline now will pay off… More »
Credit card debt management for college students
Studies show that college students are under the illusion that credit cards are free money; unlike mortgages, car payments, or student loans, credit cards with their high interest fees and rates is bad and expensive debt. The average college student… More »
What is student financial aid?
Student financial aid is, quite simply, money to help you pay for higher education. It comes in two forms: money you have to repay, and money you do not have to repay. Funds can come from both government and private… More »
Considering the cost of college in the admissions decision
Written by Don Betterton, Principal in Betterton College Planning LLC and former Director of Financial Aid, Princeton University
Assuming you are among the 75% of American families that cannot pay the cost of college without assistance, you should increase the… More »
Savings or student loans: does it pay to save for college?
For parents with young children, the two most common questions we are asked are:
Is it worthwhile to save for college?
If I do, am I penalized for saving?
The short answer to the first question is yes. The main… More »
Thinking ahead: budgeting for college expenses
Determine Your College Expenses
If you have a good handle on your exact expenses, then your life will be a lot easier. Start by contacting your school and getting estimates on what it will cost to attend. Colleges generally compute… More »
Teaching your college-bound teenager financial responsibility
As the parent of a future college student, you have a lot to worry about already – from how you’ll handle the empty nest to paying tuition bills.
One huge and often unspoken subject between parents and their (almost) adult… More »
