Getting Student Loans Can Be Easy With Our Help
Student loans can help you achieve your dream of getting a college degree. But they can also get you in serious debt if you don’t consider all of the consequences before you borrow that money. Take the time to read up on student loans and how they can impact your future. Start with the tips below.
Make sure you keep track of your loans. You should know who the lender is, what the balance is, and what its repayment options are. If you are missing this information, you can contact your lender or check the NSLDL website. If you have private loans that lack records, contact your school.
Never ignore your student loans because that will not make them go away. If you are having a hard time paying the money back, call and speak to your lender about it. If your loan becomes past due for too long, the lender can have your wages garnished and/or have your tax refunds seized.
Before applying for student loans, it is a good idea to see what other types of financial aid you are qualified for. There are many scholarships available out there and they can reduce the amount of money you have to pay for school. Once you have the amount you owe reduced, you can work on getting a student loan.
Pay extra on your student loan payments to lower your principle balance. Your payments will be applied first to late fees, then to interest, then to principle. Clearly, you should avoid late fees by paying on time and chip away at your principle by paying extra. This will reduce your overall interest paid.
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.
Anyone on a strict budget who is facing the repayment of a student loan is put in a difficult situation. You can make things a bit easier with help from loan rewards programs. For example, check out the LoanLink and SmarterBucks programs from Upromise. These give you rewards that you can apply toward your loan, so it’s like a cash back program.
Try to make your student loan payments on time. If you miss your payments, you can face harsh financial penalties. Some of these can be very high, especially if your lender is dealing with the loans through a collection agency. Keep in mind that bankruptcy won’t make your student loans go away.
Bad credit will mean you need a cosigner on a private loan. You must be current on your payments. If you don’t, then your co-signer will be held responsible for those debts.
To get the most out of your student loan dollars, take a job so that you have money to spend on personal expenses, rather than having to incur additional debt. Whether you work on campus or in a local restaurant or bar, having those funds can make the difference between success or failure with your degree.
Heed caution when dealing with private loans. The terms of such loans can be difficult to ascertain. Often, you don’t know until you have already signed on the dotted line. And at that moment, it may be too late to do anything about it. Learn all that you can prior to signing. Compare offers and see if banks are willing to compete with each other for your loan.
To get the most out of your student loan dollars, make sure that you do your clothes shopping in more reasonable stores. If you always shop at department stores and pay full price, you will have less money to contribute to your educational expenses, making your loan principal larger and your repayment even more expensive.
When you’re trying to fill out a financial aid application, be sure that you’re not making any errors on it. This will determine how much money you get. If you have any questions about the application, consult with your financial aid adviser at school.
Stretch your student loan money by minimizing your living expenses. Find a place to live that is close to campus and has good public transportation access. Walk and bike as much as possible to save money. Cook for yourself, purchase used textbooks and otherwise pinch pennies. When you look back on your college days, you will feel very resourceful.
If you want to make sure that you get the most out of your student loan, make sure that you put 100 percent effort into your school work. Be on time for group project meetings, and turn in papers on time. Studying hard will pay off with high grades and a terrific job offer.
To make sure that your student loan funds just go to your education, make sure that you have used other means to keep the files accessible. You don’t want a clerical error to lead to someone else getting your money, or your money hitting a big snag. Instead, keep copies of your files on hand so you can help the school give you your loan.
To get the most out of your student loan dollars, consider commuting from home while you attend university. While your gasoline costs might be a bit higher, your room and board costs should be significantly lower. You won’t have as much independence as your friends, but your college will cost much less.
Find out which of your loans have the high interest, and pay those off before the others. This prevents the interest from piling up, causing you to fall further into debt. You must keep track of your loans. Pay your loans on time and keep accurate records.
The advice from above is just the beginning of what you need to know about student loans. Student loans are an incredible investment in your future. So you need to take the time to carefully consider what you will be borrowing and how it will all add up. The choices you make today can have great impact on your financial future.
