What to do when you overdraft LinkedIn Print Republished February 27, 2023 First published February 23, 2018 Here’s what happens when you spend more than you have in your checking account — plus tips to help avoid doing it. It can happen to anyone: You may eventually find yourself with a negative balance in your bank account from overspending. When a transaction exceeds your available balance1, the bank may choose to cover that transaction for you. This leaves you with a negative balance and is known as an overdraft. What happens to your account when you overdraft? Overdrafts occ ..read more

Supercharge your search for scholarships LinkedIn Print Republished February 27, 2023 First published January 29, 2020 A step-by-step guide to creating your profile on the scholarship database TFS Scholarships When it comes to searching for scholarships, you may find yourself asking: Where do I even start? How can I find scholarships for someone like me? Where can I find help? Luckily, Tuition Funding Sources (TFS Scholarships) has you covered, free of charge. This scholarship database has more than 7 million scholarships to search and apply for, totaling over $41 billion in ..read more

3 ways to seek emergency aid while in school LinkedIn Print Published July 28, 2022 Hit by a crisis? Your college and community offer help to cover basics like food, housing, medicine, and more. It’s a difficult truth that the students who benefit the most from the earning power boost that a college, university, community college, or trade school degree can provide are sometimes the ones facing the greatest financial challenges on their way to that degree. In fact, research shows nearly three out of every five college students face some level of basic needs insecurity, and studen ..read more

4 solutions to explore before dropping out of school LinkedIn Print Published July 28, 2022 If you’re thinking about putting your education on pause or dropping out of school entirely, these ideas may help you stay in school. There’s no question that college can be a big financial commitment, but it’s also an important investment in your future. If you’re considering pausing or giving up on college for financial reasons, don’t give up too quickly. You might be able to finish your degree using one of the following ideas. 1. Talk to your academic advisor about how switching majors ..read more

Your credit score vs. credit report LinkedIn Print Republished July 13, 2022 First published January 16, 2020 Learn the difference between a credit score and a credit report — and who will be checking each. You’re good at saving money, so you’ll have no problem taking out a loan to buy a car or a house, right? Not exactly. Banks, landlords, and even employers may look at your credit to determine if you’re likely to be financially responsible. But your credit score is different than your credit history. Read on to learn more about credit scores, credit history, and when each is ch ..read more

Glossary of financial terms LinkedIn Print Republished November 16, 2021 First published January 30, 2020 Terms to know as you start managing your money. Accrued interest. The interest that has accumulated since the loan proceeds were disbursed, or since the previous interest payment if there has been one already. Aggregate loan limit. The maximum amount that can be borrowed over the life of a student’s education, either from a specific loan program or all loan programs combined. Alternative loans. Education loans made by lenders other than the federal or state governments — also ..read more

Managing money at an entry-level salary LinkedIn Print Published November 5, 2021 $50,000 is the average starting salary for a college graduate. Whether you end up making more or less, these tips will help you build financial confidence on your entry-level salary.1 You’ve landed your first job after graduation — congratulations! Now that you know what your initial salary will be, you can build a realistic and sustainable budget that’s based on your take-home pay. This new budget might look a little different from the one you used in college — so, to get you started, we ..read more

The CollegeSTEPS® 14-Day Job Search Boot Camp LinkedIn Print Published October 19, 2021 Want to find and land your next — or first! — job? Read the lessons and complete the challenges to help make yourself stand out. Congratulations on graduating! The job market is hot right now, with lots of companies hiring. But there’s also a lot of competition, as 2020 grads, job changers, and people reentering the workforce after being laid off go for the jobs they missed out on because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But don’t worry — you can still become an outstanding candidate and land a good ..read more

Can I get a scholarship to go to grad school? LinkedIn Print Published September 20, 2021 The short answer? Yes. Now, let’s talk about how to find them to help cover your grad school costs. If you’re thinking about continuing your education — congratulations! Getting an advanced degree can increase your earning potential — we’re talking earning 15% more — and help you deepen your knowledge within your field.1 As you consider your options, make a plan to pay for this next step. Unlike your undergraduate education, where scholarship and financial aid options are regularly discussed ..read more

What I wish I knew when applying to college LinkedIn Print Published September 14, 2021 Three previous college students share their experienced advice on transitioning from high school to college.  Applying to college takes a lot of consideration and support — but thankfully, plenty of students have done it before and can share their experiences. Three former college students talk first-hand about transitioning from high school to college and share the advice they wish they had been given beforehand. Here’s what they had to say.  Tarren  ..read more