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Get smart with your money

Student Loans

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Caring counselor offers real help in student debt crisis. Staying away from envelope stuffing scams, make money with online surveys, and five mistakes to avoid when paying for college.

Caring Counselor Offers Real Help in Student Debt Crisis
This is how help in the student debt crisis should be.

Stay Away From Envelope-Stuffing Schemes
Don’t get scammed.

Making Money With Online Surveys: What to Expect
There’s money to be made…slowly.

Don’t make these 5 mistakes paying for college
Things to consider.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Cheated by student loan ‘Debt Relief” firm? What you should do. Also in the news: Rules rollback won’t keep defrauded student borrowers from loan forgiveness, 3 costly mistakes beginning investors make, and what to give and spend during Wedding Season.

Cheated By Student Loan ‘Debt Relief’ Firm? What To Do
Important steps to take.

Rule Rollback Won’t Keep Defrauded Student Borrowers From Loan Forgiveness
A little good news.

3 Costly Mistakes Beginning Investors Make
Ignore stock tips.

Weddings: What to give, what not to give, how much to spend
Wedding season is underway!

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Fed point fingers as ‘Debt Relief’ companies prey on student loan borrowers. Also in the news: Distressed borrowers say student debt help was anything but, why investors care about rate hikes, and why your credit cards shouldn’t retire when you do.

Feds Point Fingers as ‘Debt Relief’ Companies Prey on Student Loan Borrowers
Looking for easy targets.

Distressed Borrowers Say Student Debt Help Was Anything But
Compounding a problem.

Why Investors Care About the Fed (and Rate Hikes)
The impact on investments.

Credit hit: Why your credit cards shouldn’t retire when you do
Building credit is still important.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How to take the heat off your summer budget. Also in the news: How to find out if you’ll owe taxes on an inheritance, 3 things your student loan servicer might not tell you, and what happens to your credit score when you transfer a balance.

How to Take the Heat Off Your Summer Budget
Keep your costs in check.

Find Out If You’ll Owe Taxes on an Inheritance
Don’t spend all that money quite yet.

3 Things Your Student Loan Servicer Might Not Tell You
They’re not always forthcoming.

What Happens to Your Credit Score When You Transfer a Balance?
Looking at the numbers.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How to keep Mother’s Day spending down. Also in the news: How the rise in student loan rates will affect borrowers, where to sell your stuff online, and will you see a Social Security check in your lifetime.

Mother’s Day Spending Is up, but You Can Keep Costs Down
It’s the thought that counts.

How Rise in Student Loan Rates Will Affect Borrowers
What to expect.

Where to Sell Your Stuff Online
Making some extra cash.

Will You See a Social Security Check in Your Lifetime?
What are the odds?

Go nuclear on your debt – move away

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Ken Ilgunas paid off $32,000 in student loans two and a half years after graduation — starting with a $9-an-hour job.

With zero job offers in his chosen field of journalism, he instead moved from Wheatfield, New York, to Coldfoot, Alaska, a truck stop and tourist camp north of the Arctic Circle, so he could put every possible dollar toward his debt.

Every possible dollar meant virtually every dollar. His job as cook, maintenance worker and tour guide provided room and board. What Coldfoot (population 10) didn’t provide was places to spend what little he was making.

In my latest for the Associated Press, how literally moving outside of your comfort zone can help you pay off debt faster.