college graduates

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

June 9, 2015 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: A guide to student loan debt for new college grads. Also in the news: What parents should teach their kids about finances, what to do before hiring a financial adviser, and major money mistakes made by seniors and retirees.

The New Grad’s Guide to Student Loan Debt
Congratulations! Time to pay up!

11 Financial Words All Parents Should Teach Their Kids
Get them on the right path early.

4 things to do before hiring a financial adviser
Research is key.

Major money mistakes for seniors and retirees
Fraud can wreak havoc on seniors’ finances.

Don’t Touch the Minibar! How to Avoid 10 Annoying Hotel Fees
Don’t even breathe near it.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

May 8, 2015 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: Credit card mistakes you need to avoid. Also in the news: Costly financial aid mistakes, avoiding debt for new grads, and when you should see a financial therapist.

5 Credit Card Mistakes Driving You Into Debt
Pay close attention.

How to avoid these costly financial aid mistakes
Don’t leave money sitting on the table.

Graduates, Here’s How to Avoid Debt and Get Rich
Oh, the places you’ll go!

5 Signs You Should See a Financial Therapist
Knowing when it’s time to get help.

The Best Browser Extensions That’ll Save You Money (and Which to Skip)
Save money with just a click of the mouse.

High school graduates are losing ground fast

February 21, 2014 By Liz Weston

We’ve known for awhile that incomes have been dropping for people with only high school educations. But there was a statistic in a recent Pew Research Center study that really set me back on my heels: 22% of people aged 25 to 32 who graduated high school, but not college, live in poverty. That compares to 6% of people with college degrees.

The poverty rate overall and for the college educated has doubled since 1979, when the early wave of the Baby Boom was in the same age bracket. For those with just a high school diploma, though, the rate has more than tripled.

Meanwhile, the earnings gap between college graduates and high school graduates is the widest it’s been in 50 years.

For more on the Pew study, read my latest Reuters column. You can subscribe here to weekly updates of my education column.