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financial aid

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

May 12, 2015 By Liz Weston

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: How to negotiate your medical bills. Also in the news: How to file a financial aid appeal, gifts to set graduates off on the right financial foot, and ways to maximize Social Security benefits.

7 Tips for Negotiating Medical Bills
You don’t have to pay $7.00 for that aspirin.

How To File A Financial Aid Appeal
Don’t take no for an answer.

5 Gifts to Set Graduates Off on the Right Financial Foot
It’s graduation gift season!

3 Ways to Maximize Social Security Benefits
Getting the most from your earnings.

How to Get Back on Track with Retirement Savings
Making up for lost time.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: college graduates, financial aid, medical bills, retirement savings, Social Security, Social Security benefits

Friday’s need-to-know money news

May 1, 2015 By Liz Weston

download (1)Today’s top story: Balance transfer mistakes to avoid. Also in the news: What to do with an unexpected windfall, the savings cell phone carriers don’t want you to know about, and the eight loans to use for paying college tuition.

4 Balance Transfer Credit Card Mistakes
Making sure your transfers go smoothly.

Got a load of unexpected cash? Here’s what to do
What a great problem to have!

Savings Big Cell Carriers Don’t Want You to Know About
Contracts are becoming a thing of the past.

Use These 8 Loans To Pay For College in 2015-2016
Not all at once, of course.

Avoid “Keeping Up With the Frugals” to Improve Your Finances
It’s not a race to see who’s the cheapest.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: cell phone bills, college loans, credit cards. balance transfers, financial aid, saving tips, windfall

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

April 29, 2015 By Liz Weston

105182624Today’s top story: Time for some financial spring cleaning. Also in the news: Apps that can make your summer vacation less expensive, how to appeal a college financial aid offer, and how banks and credit unions protect your information.

Financial Spring Cleaning; 5 Steps To Get Your House In Order
Getting rid of the winter dust.

9 Helpful Apps, Sites That Make Summer Vacation Cheaper
More money for souvenirs!

How to Appeal College Financial Aid Offers
Making your case.

How Banks and Credit Unions Protect Your Personal Information
Protecting you from identity theft.

How to Make Sense of Your Paycheck
Deciphering your pay stub.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: financial aid, financial aid appeals, financial apps, financial spring cleaning, Identity Theft, paycheck, paycheck stubs

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

April 23, 2015 By Liz Weston

money-down-the-drainToday’s top story: Common money mistakes you need to avoid. Also in the news: When should you get professional help for education expenses, what you need to do in order to retire in the next five years, and five of the craziest credit card perks.

11 Common Money Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make
Watch out.

When To Pay For Education-Related Financial Help
Knowing when to call in the experts.

If You Want to Retire in the Next Five Years, Do These 9 Things Now
Time to get busy.

5 Crazy Credit Card Perks
Virtual flight simulator!

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: credit card perks, Credit Cards, financial aid, money mistakes, Retirement, retirement savings

Why “Get scholarships!” is bad advice

April 22, 2015 By Liz Weston

Student-LoansWe had a great Twitter chat today about preparing financially for college, hosted by Experian. (You’ll find the tweets using #creditchat.)

I was distressed, though, that many believe people should look for scholarships as a way to reduce college costs. That’s not how it usually works.

If you have financial need, colleges typically deduct the amount of so-called “outside” scholarships from the free aid such as grants and their own scholarships that they otherwise would give you. Schools don’t have to reduce the loan portion of your package unless your outside scholarships exceed the grants and other free aid they were planning to bestow.

They’re not just being mean. It’s what federal financial aid rules require, according to FinAid. If you don’t have financial need, outside scholarships could reduce the merit aid a school would otherwise give you.

Does that mean you shouldn’t search and compete for outside scholarships? No. But it’s certainly not a reliable solution to the college affordability problem.

A better approach for students and families is to look for generous schools. Colleges themselves are the greatest source of scholarships, but most don’t meet 100 percent of their students’ financial need. Some meet 70 percent or less. If you want a better deal, look for schools that consistently meet 90 percent or more of their students’ need. College Board and College Data are among the sites that can help you find this information.

 

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: college, college costs, CSS Profile, EFC, estimated family contribution, FAFSA, financial aid, grants, scholarships, Student Loans

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

April 8, 2015 By Liz Weston

635522783074355959-holiday-cardsToday’s top story: Finding the best credit monitoring service. Also in the news: The best move to make at tax time, how to get the best financial aid package, and how to keep your digital transactions safe.

How to Compare Free Credit Monitoring Offers
With credit theft becoming a near daily occurrence, it’s important to keep an eye on yours.

The Single Best Move to Make At Tax Time
Time to beef up your emergency fund.

4 insider tips to get the best financial aid package
How to make paying for college less traumatic.

5 Ways to Protect Your Digital Wallet
Keeping your online transactions safe.

How to Live Richly When You’re Feeling Broke
Cutting costs without cutting your favorites.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: credit monitoring, digital transactions. budgets, financial aid, tax tips

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