Finance Book

College can be expensive, it’s no hidden secret. Between room and board, textbooks and semester after semester of classes, the costs can really add up. Student loans are a route many take just to get by while still working towards their degree. But, sometimes it’s tough to know which loan to apply for or where to go for information.

Student loans are almost like credit cards. You have your interest rates, grace periods and maximum amounts, similar to any typical credit card. However, there are undergraduate loans and loans designated for those attending grad school. If your credit isn’t the greatest, consider signing up for a student loan with a cosigner, such as a parent or spouse. That way, if they are in better standing with the credit bureaus, you have a better chance of snagging lower interest rates.

6StarReviews.com reports that one student loan provider, NextStudent, provides instant pre-approval, as well as an online application. Many similar sites allow you to compare and contrast student loans right on the Web, letting you shop around for loans fitting your financial needs. Another popular company providing student loans is Sallie Mae, which houses some great resources on scholarships, financial aid and grants. Like NextStudent, they allow you to sign up for and manage your loan right on your PC.

About 50% of college graduates hold some form of student loan under their belts and the average student has around $10,000 to pay off. Education is vital in this day and age and these numbers reflect that sentiment. When signing up for a student loan, it’s important to consider interest rates, minimum and maximum loan amounts and repayment time periods. There are plenty of options to choose from, it’s simply a matter of wearing the shoe that fits.

By: Kelly Liyakasa

Our college-bound son just bought his first home at 21. He was able to buy a home for forty thousand under the appraised price, get a low interest rate, finance the closing costs, and pay no money down. How could he possibly do this? His credit score is over 700.

You can help your teenager prepare for his or her financial future by establishing a high credit rating. Offer your teenager these three crucial credit tips for a great financial future:

1. Start early. Begin by successfully managing a checking account– the first credit requirement. Wells Fargo Bank has a program for children to open joint accounts with a parent as young as 13 years of age. For a free individual checking account, Washington Mutual requires a minimum age of 18 or a manager’s approval for younger account holders.

2. Apply for a major credit card at 18. It’s easier to get a first-class credit card with favorable rates and terms while a student attends college before the age of 22. Why do banks want to open accounts for students who have no credit history or employment? Because lenders know that college graduates in general make more money and also pay their bills on time. Also, most consumers don’t like shopping around for credit and tend to keep their credit accounts. Therefore, lenders desire to establish strong relationships with the preferred market early in their credit experience.

This doesn’t mean that you as the parent need to co-sign; banks expect parents to help out with the payments when necessary. Just be crystal clear with your child what you expect regarding debt management. The purpose is to teach responsibility and to establish credit–not to go into debt.

3. Manage the credit card account with credit scores in mind. Once the account is opened, encourage your child to use the card for necessities that would be purchased with cash–not luxuries–and to pay the debt before finance charges accrue. However, don’t pay the entire balance off each month; let a little roll over at least every two months. Banks don’t appreciate accounts paid in full each month. More important, paid accounts don’t factor into the credit score as much as an account with a low balance.

Explain to you teenager that the purpose of using a credit card is to establish good credit. To do this, a credit card should never have a balance over 50% of the available credit. The best credit scores have accounts with only 10% of the credit line used.

Setting up a checking account and a credit card account helps your teenager learn about responsible money management, with the bonus of building strong credit to finance a home.

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher All rights reserved.

By: Jeanette Joy Fisher