Chipping Student Loans Away through Shopping

New Year’s is just around the corner, and it looks like I’ll get to celebrate fulfilling one of my 2011 resolutions: pay off one of my graduate school student loans! In three years, I chipped away a $15,550 student loan balance, which now stands at just over $200. I’ll use some Christmas money to finish [...]

Three Tips for Filing FAFSA

If you are returning to school this year as a graduate student, filing the FAFSA this time around might be slightly different from when you did it for college.  Here are a few tips to maximize your financial aid. File as soon as possible – While FAFSA requires information from your 2009 tax return and schools will [...]

When Grace Runs Out

For many of you who graduated college or any other tertiary institution this past spring, your monthly fixed costs are about to hike up.  As the 6-month grace period on your federal Stafford loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) comes to an end, it is time to revisit your payment strategies.  Here are some points to consider [...]

Upromise: One Bad News and Two Redeeming Factors

Last week, I wrote about Upromise, a program that gives members cash back for purchases at certain stores, websites, and restaurants, which can then be transferred to Sallie Mae student loan accounts or 529 Plans.  But here’s an update, straight from my inbox: As of July 1, 2009 (never mind that I only got the [...]

Paying for Education, One Purchase at a Time

If you have student loans to repay to Sallie Mae or are trying to save for education through a 529 Plan, you may want to use Upromise to help you out.  Upromise is a service that gives you cash for certain purchases from grocery stores, restaurants, online retail sites etc., which can then be transferred to [...]

Countdown to Lower Student Loan Interest Rates

Last week came with really good news on student loans – the WSJ and USA TODAY both published changes to student loans, including lower interest rates, effective July 1st.  The bulk of these changes are part of the phased-in plan of the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, which stipulated increases in Pell Grant maxima, [...]

Use the Grace You’ve Got

So you’ve just graduated and the last thing you want to hear about is the debt you’ve accumulated over the last 4 years.  Luckily for you, you likely won’t have to deal with your federal student loans for at least another 5 months or so.  Stafford Loans – subsidized or unsubsidized – give you a [...]