Student Loans: Tips And Tricks Which Will Turn You Into A Master
Almost
everyone who goes to school, especially a college will have to apply
for a student loan. The costs of these schools have become so
outrageous, that it is almost impossible for anyone to afford an
education unless they are very rich. Thankfully, there are ways to get
the money you need now, and that is through student loans. Keep reading
to see how you can get approved for a student loan.
If
you have extra money at the end of the month, don't automatically pour
it into paying down your student loans. Check interest rates first,
because sometimes your money can work better for you in an investment
than paying down a student loan. For example, if you can invest in a
safe CD that returns two percent of your money, that is smarter in the
long run than paying down a student loan with only one point of
interest. Only do this if you are current on your minimum payments
though and have an emergency reserve fund.
If
at all possible, sock away extra money toward the principal amount. The
key is to notify your lender that the additional money must be applied
toward the principal. Otherwise, the money will be applied to your
future interest payments. Over time, paying down the principal will
lower your interest payments.
To keep the
principal on your student loans as low as possible, get your books as
cheaply as possible. This means buying them used or looking for online
versions. In situations where professors make you buy course reading
books or their own texts, look on campus message boards for available
books.
To keep your overall student loan
principal low, complete your first two years of school at a community
college before transferring to a four-year institution. The tuition is
significantly lower your first two years, and your degree will be just
as valid as everyone else's when you graduate from the larger
university.
Never sign any loan documents
without reading them first. This is a big financial step and you do not
want to bite off more than you can chew. You need to make sure that you
understand the amount of the loan you are going to receive, the
repayment options and the rate of interest.
One
form of loan that may be helpful to grad students is the PLUS loan. The
highest the interest rate will go is 8.5%. Although this rate is higher
than that of the Perkins and Stafford loans, it is lower than the rates
charged for private loans. This loan option is better for more
established students.
To make sure that your
student loan turns out to be the right idea, pursue your degree with
diligence and discipline. There's no real sense in taking out loans only
to goof off and skip classes. Instead, make it a goal to get A's and
B's in all of your classes, so you can graduate with honors.
If
you have yet to secure a job in your chosen industry, consider options
that directly reduce the amount you owe on your loans. For example,
volunteering for the AmeriCorps program can earn as much as $5,500 for a
full year of service. Serving as a teacher in an underserved area, or
in the military, can also knock off a portion of your debt.
Rid
your mind of any thought that defaulting on a student loan is going to
wipe the debt away. Unfortunately if you do this, the federal government
will use all means necessary to recover this debt. Claiming part of
your income tax return or your Social Security payments are only two
examples. They can also claim up to fifteen percent of your income that
is disposable. You can easily find yourself in a very bad position that
will take many years to get out of and cause many headaches.
Make
sure you stay current with all news related to student loans if you
currently have student loans. Doing this is just as important as paying
them. Any changes that are made to loan payments will affect you. Keep
up with the latest student loan information on websites like Student
Loan Borrower Assistance and Project On Student Debt.
If
you are in a position to do so, sign up for automated student loan
payments. Certain lenders offer a small discount for payments made the
same time each month from your checking or saving account. This option
is recommended only if you have a steady, stable income. Otherwise, you
run the risk of incurring hefty overdraft fees.
Many
people, especially when returning to school later, end up having
student loans with multiple companies. When you consolidate your student
loans, you can lump them all together at a much lower interest rate.
And, you can often get your payment lowered as well in the process. It
makes things much easier.
To make the student
loan process go as quickly as possible, make sure that you have all of
your information in hand before you start filling out your paperwork.
That way you don't have to stop and go looking for some bit of
information, making the process take longer. Making this decision eases
the entire situation.
As you explore your
student loan options, consider your planned career path. Learn as much
as possible about job prospects and the average starting salary in your
area. This will give you a better idea of the impact of your monthly
student loan payments on your expected income. You may find it necessary
to rethink certain loan options based on this information.
After
reading the above article you should be aware of the entire student
loan process. You probably thought that it was impossible to attend
school because you didn't have the funds to do so. Don't let that get
you down, as you now know getting approved for a student loan is much
simpler than you thought. Take the information from the article and use
it to your advantage the next time you apply for a student loan.
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