For most people getting student loans is a pretty easy process.  You fill out some paperwork, sign your name, and before you know it, tuition is paid in full.  Unfortunately, getting the right student loans is not so simple.  Repayment plans, interest rates, fees and cosigners make navigating the student …

Last weekend the local paper had a financial advice column for parents of students headed off to college.  This “financial expert” suggested that even though building a credit history important, college freshman and sophomores are likely not ready for the responsibilities of a credit card.  In this experts eyes, credit …

A couple days ago reader Alex posted a great question in response to our article about whether student loan consolidation was good or bad for your credit score. Alex wrote: I have a student loan that shows up on my credit record as 4 Dept of Ed/Sallie Mae accounts. When …

Student loans have been the subject of great debate in both the halls of Congress and in our classrooms.  With well over a trillion dollars of student loan debt in the United States and many people hurting because of it, the student loan debate has become a hot button issue.  …

Are you paying more than the minimum payment on your student loans?  Great choice!  The money you save on interest in the long run will make your sacrifices of today worth the effort. However, you need to be careful about how you apply your extra payments to your loans.  Banks …

It is no secret that student loan lenders are not charities, but in fact, they are in business to make money.  Over the years the law has progressively become more and more lender friendly.  As a result, many borrowers and their cosigners have found themselves in ridiculous positions. One of …

Earlier today I received an email from a terrified reader who was worried she would make the “wrong move” and that it would hurt her credit score.  Because she, like many others, had medical debt and credit card debt in addition to her student loans, she wasn’t sure about the …

This past week another heart breaking student loan story hit the press.  CNN published the devastating report about the death of a 27-year-old nursing student and how her parents were left to raise her three children – and deal with her over $100,000 in student loans. Her father Steve, a …

One of the many firsts that often happens after graduating from college is salary negotiations.  Since the recession, many employers are all too willing to cut corners when it comes to paying employees.  One of the ways employers can save a few bucks is to negotiate salary with the new …

The retirement vs. student loans debate doesn’t have one simple answer.  The reality is that a number of different factors can affect your personal situation.  By carefully reviewing the following six variables, you can be on your way to the smartest allocation of your money. First variable: Your Student Loan …