November 7, 2007

Need Student Loan Help?

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I suggest that if you need student loan help… Just write a blog.

How can blog help?  I allows you to post ideas or your needs for a community to read and possibly provide you with good input to solve your needs.  It also provides a forum where other people may join and create valuable content in the subject matter.   Here's a great article about the power of blogging and it's impact.

The book "Blogging for Dummies" by Brad Hill is an awesome resource to use when you are thinking about starting a blog.  And if you need a blog installed contact blog@inetbizbuilder.com  and you can have one in just 2 hours for $75.00

 

 

 

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October 31, 2007

Why Consolidate Student Loans?

Many people who consolidate student loans don’t even why they did it. Many were solicited by email, phone or a postcard in the mail. They are attracted by offers that promise lower monthly payments, and/or lower interest rates.

While lower monthly payments sound like a good idea consider that you will be paying for a longer period of time, eventually costing you more money.

Now, lower interest rates are good, however consider that the lower interest rate is a product of “blending” your existing rates and rounding them UP to the nearest 1/8.

So let’s take a look at when this would be advantageous to you. Let’s say you have a Federal Perkins Loan balance of $2500.00 at 5% fixed, and the rest of your loan balances add up to $28,000.00 at 8.25% variable, by consolidating then that means that you will be consolidating a total debt of $30,500.00 at 6.75% fixed. That’s a 1.5% rate reduction from the 8.25% you are being charged on the $28,000.00.

If your balances were 60-70% lower on the loans carrying 8.25% then it would probably NOT make sense to consolidate to lower your interest rate, as the effect of a lower interest rate would be negligible, and all you would have is a lower interest to brag about, but would effectively have NO benefit to you.

Keep in mind that you should still try to pay the loan at a faster pace than the one you are contracted to when the consolidation is complete. Why? Because even if your lower interest rate is lower that 8.25% for the bulk of the balance you would still end up paying more in interest over the longer period of time. To get a FREE, NO-OBLIGATION Benefits analysis so you can make sure Student Loan Consolidation makes sense for you, click here.

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October 30, 2007

Purpose for Consolidating Federal Student Loans

The purpose for consolidating your federal student loans should be to provide immediate payment relief.  Federal Student Loan Consolidation was enacted by Congress to provide this relief and should be used for this purpose only.

Don't be confused, payment relief is not debt relief.  The only thing student loan consolidation does is reduce your payment.  This is mainly accomplished by extending the payment period, meaning you will pay less each month because you are going to pay for a longer period of time.  Doing this may add more to your total debt because you will accrue more debt due to the fact that interest is charged during the period you extend.  So while your immediate payment and monthly obligation each month is reduced, you should try to make a larger student loan payment when you are financially able to do so.  This you can cut your term or payment period.  Student consolidation is a short-term solution to a financial situation.  You can ask us to review your situation and see if student loan consolidation makes sense for you, without obligation or concern of being sold anything.

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October 29, 2007

Student Loan Consolidation While in Grace Period

We can't eliminate our student loans, but for many Spring 2007 college graduates this the best time to consider consolidating any loans taken out before July 2006, as this would save the at least 0.60% in interest rate. 

Many don't know about this benefit, and many won't even look in to it, however we are here to assist id you would like to explore a student loan repayment reduction.  This benefit only applies to Federal Student Loan Consolidations while in "Grace Period".

Grace Period according to The Federal Student Loan Act is defined as a no payment required period not to exceed 6 months after college graduation, while not working.

If you graduated in Spring 2007 you'll have till sometime in November, December or January before you are required to make a student loan payment, as long as you are not employed in the field you studied.

Why does this benefit only apply to loans taken out before July 2006? Because Congress changed the law and interest rates from variable or adjustable interest in May 2006, to a lower fixed interest rate. 

How can you find out if this benefit applies to you?  You can apply here and we'll help you do the research. 

You can also call 1-800-4FEDAID.  When you call this number you'll be calling The Department of Education's Federal Aid section.  Here you can ask for student loan balances, status of student loans, dates the loans were originated, and get answers to other student loan related questions. 

If you decide to apply online with us, we'll help guide you through the process and the program without obligation or fear of being sold anything.  We don't ask for your social security number or date of birth, why? Because we think your privacy is something you should guard and it should be until you understand and feel comfortable about the process and program should you fully proceed with this government repayment benefit.

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October 17, 2007

Found a business for college students

Found this business that could help pay your way through college.  It's a fashion jewelry business opportunity.  With a high profit potential, you can host parties in your dorm or share the jewelry with friends, family and professors.  I thought I would share this as this is a business opportunity that you can work at your own pace.

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August 10, 2007

featured

The Student Loan Shop has been featured online by Best of The Web.

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July 5, 2007

The rising costs of tuition.

The famous Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore wrote in his poem:  where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, Where knowledge is free Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake.” Noble words from a noble man. He wanted knowledge to be freely available in this world. Unfortunately it is not so. Education has become very expensive especially in America. In the 1950s when Russia sent â Sputnik  into space the then American President felt that if all our citizens are educated then we can become a super power not only in the world but in space too. With this idea in mind student loans were introduced so that even the middle and lower middle class can educate their kids. Till then college education was only for the rich. The federal government introduced loans collaborating with the colleges and education department to help students secure loans at low interest rates. These loans are available at 5% interest with no collateral or guarantee. The repayment starts after graduation and there is grace period also. Still students find it difficult because besides tuition there is room rent, boarding, books and equipment to be purchased. The amount really is a hefty sum for a youngster who is just stepping out of college. He starts life with a loan and ends up paying for almost half his life. Law schools have many loans and schemes where the interest is slightly higher like 8%. One can even avail a direct loan from the lenders but here again your credit worthiness needs to be established. There are some loan programs where parents can take the loan for their kids. This helps in tax deduction but if a family has four children then the load becomes heavier on the parent. Scholarships and aids have become dearer now as funds have been reduced for education. With inflation touching an all time high interest rates are sure to rise and a student will end up paying almost double the principal. Many colleges in collaboration with lenders are giving direct loans with approval of the education department. But here again the lender decides the rate of interest. Since your interest is locked it doesnt change even if the rates lower due to changes in budget. Divorce rates are increasing day by day. Due to this social change teenagers are moving out of homes and learning to live independently. Paying for tuition has gone out of reach for these kids as they have to work to make ends meet. Since tuition costs keep increasing foreign students are opting for other countries like U.K and Australia. In this situation one shudders to think about the future of educated people in America.

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July 2, 2007

Investments Pay for School…

There is this beautiful advertisement on TV where a small boy earns his first nickel by helping a granny and rushes off to show his father his new income. He proudly tells his father how he earned his first nickel.

Financial discipline is the hallmark of independence.

The first step towards investmenting is to plan out the goals in one's life. Next, the goals should be broken into short term, medium term, and long
term chunks. Once this objective has been achieved, then savings should start for the short term, as it is for educating oneself. This has to
be given the topmost priority.

One of the ways of investments is to study for sometime then take a break from education go to the market, and earn for two, three years.
Make it an objective to save 60% of the earning for the fee and try to live with the 40% of the income. That way the major funding for
education is taken care off.

Another way of financing the education is to select an area of study which would be financed in part by investors and which would be
compensated once the student is through with his education by passing a part of his income to a portion of the funds which funded his
education. This is an attempt whereby the future earnings of the student are mortgaged to fund his present needs of education.

An education saving account is another way by which the education can be funded. This account is contributed in parts by the parents as well
the student. The earlier the account is opened the better. There are brochures and mailers received by dozen, which come with attractive offers, and which have an in-built plan of investing for the future education funds, and in exchange work for the present has
to be done by the student.

The investment opportunities can knock at any time; one should always be on the look out for sacrificing something from the present
to fund for a safe future.

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July 1, 2007

Should College Be Free

By T.G. Farmer
Contributing Author

Geographically the world has shrunk due to the advent of internet and mobile phones. Outsourcing and off shoring work for cheap labor has made capitalist America lag behind in growth and countries like India have prospered. This is possible because the Indian population feels the need to educate their children and knowledge based education is popular among the middle class and lower middle class in India. The expense to educate a child in college is fairly cheaper compared to U.S.

Knowledge and education is the key to growth and development in any society.

Nobel Laureates and philosophers and great thinkers have always said that society will improve and flourish only if knowledge and education is free and easily available.  Since the Soviet Union was a communist, socialist country where there was equality in income levels. Higher Education was readily available. This helped the society to progress. Education is the key to success.

If India is emerging as an IT hub it’s mainly due to knowledge and education. This education is very expensive in America. University education has become so expensive that other countries like U.K and Australia are wooing students to study in their country. They are less expensive and there are many attractive incentives and benefits.

Instead of providing student loans, our government can make the schools free and also have programs where the students could serve in rural areas and government health centers. This way the rural areas will have access to latest technology and expertise in all walks of life.

Military education can discipline a society. If students can join and serve the army or Navy or Air force in any capacity then the government can write off their loans. Society as a whole prospers and America will retain its super power status. Illiteracy is increasing all over the world. United Nations program on education and literacy should be focused in all countries besides the developing nations. China with its large population has managed to educate the people and it is predicted they are emerging as the super power by the next decade.

Americans need to educate themselves as well as their children. Colleges could provide free education enabling every one education. Education in America is so widely sought after largely due to the great reputation American Universities have around the world. 

If everything becomes free, then the value of education goes down. There can be contests and entrance tests where the top students can earn free aid for higher studies. This may induce students to study and aim high in life. Achievement, ambition, success and money all are attained through knowledge and education. Not everyone can become a Bill Gates being a school drop out. The people employed by him are highly educated and they are assisting him in raking the money.

E-learning is another platform that can offer free education to the students of America. Very few subjects require campus attendance. Most of the other subjects can be studied virtually. This can reduce the cost for the colleges so that their tuition becomes free. E-Learning can also refer to other educational web sites such as those offering learning scenarios, worksheets and interactive exercises for students. Fays are not far off when sitting in Chicago a student logs on to the New York state University website for Masters in management. Not only will more people be educated world will become a positive place to live in.

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June 16, 2007

What is a subsidized vs. unsubsidized student loan

Students have to manage their finances well while in school and knowledge of student loans is important if not critical to survival. In a study conducted by the government, more and more students are availing loans and over 70 5 have credit cards with balance carried over from month to month.

There are three types of student loans. Perkins, Stafford and PLUS. Perkins and Stafford loans are taken directly by students themselves.  A  Subsidized loan means the government picks up the interest on the loan till you start paying back the loan, which is often six months after leaving school.

 

Often a subsidized loan by itself is not sufficient to sustain full student tuition. In that case an unsubsidized Stafford loan is the next option. Here, the interest on the loan starts accruing from the day loan is granted. The only caveat is that the interest and pament is deferred and has to be paid after schooling. The essential differenc