November 16
New rules make student loan repayment easier for some
The U.S. Department of Education has approved final regulations that revamped a generous but not widely known student loan repayment program known as Pay As You Earn.
November 9
Online holiday shopping means online holiday scams
According to “ethical hacker” Dave Aitel, identity theft and credit card fraud occur more often than most people realize, and the problems are getting worse. No one is bulletproof, including kids who have grown up with computers, said Aitel.
November 2
Happiness is a locked-up cell phone
Invented by a father of six from Brooklyn, Cell Lock-Up is just that, a jail cell large enough to hold up to six cellphones at a time. It comes with bunk beds and stanchions, and in the right circumstances it makes a perfect conversation starter.
October 26
Emailed unsolicited job offers can be a scam
Of course, you know to be cautious about unsolicited job offers that land in your email inbox. Of course, you’re also tired of looking for work since graduating from college last spring with a degree that’s tethered to a six-figure loan balance.
October 19
Try Harry Potter to teach about money and economics
More so than most college educators, Lynne Stover knows how children’s literature can be put to use teaching valuable lessons about money and economics. Her recommended titles range from the blockbuster Harry Potter books to hidden gems such as Uncle Jed’s Barbershop.
October 12
Some colleges flunk the price calculator requirement
Even though the U.S. Department of Education laid out website guidelines last year, many schools have done a poor job on the execution, according to the Institute for College Access & Success.
October 5
In most checking accounts, fee is replacing free
You can still find big banks that offer free checking, but some of the best deals are offered by credit unions and community banks.
September 28
Foster kids can overcome extra financial obstacles
Eddye Vanderkwaak’s dramatic transformation might not have happened if not for Opportunity Passport, a financial education program developed by the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative that teaches participants about budgeting, banking and other money matters.
September 21
In youth sports, don’t play games with personal information
At a time of rampant identity theft, parents should try to control how much of their kids’ personal information is floating around and be aware of how the records are stored.
September 14
Sneakers sneak in a money lesson
By rolling out tthe LeBron X Nike Plus for $270, Lebron James and Nike have provided parents with a perfect opportunity to discuss smart money habits with their youngsters on saving, planning, goal setting and even how to spend NBA money.
September 7
Older iPhones are about to get cheaper
If your teen can live with an older version of the iPhone that’s not totally up to date, you should be able to save some big bucks on marked down iPhone 4s and other iPhones in the weeks ahead. And, the experts say, the deals could get even better around the holiday shopping season.
August 31
A school lesson about identity theft
Back-to-school season tends to bring out identity thieves — along with warnings to parents on how to keep their youngsters’ birth certificates, Social Security numbers and other personal identification information from falling into the wrong hands.
August 24
K-State professor develops textbook flexibility
Predictions that electronic textbooks would replace traditional books on college campuses have so far proved overly optimistic. But Brian Lindshield, an assistant professor of human nutrition at Kansas State University, remains a big believer.
August 17
Pay attention to your electronic payments
Paying bills electronically sounds so foolproof. You have no checks to write, no need for envelopes and stamps, and no late-night drives to an out-of-the-way post office to drop a bill in the mail to avoid late fees. But that doesn’t mean the service is glitch-free.
August 10
Report details the high debt from higher education
Mark Kantrowitz, an expert on college financial aid, scoured federal records from 1992 through 2008 to come up with a more complete picture of students who tap the loan window the most. Kantrowitz’s research shows that less than 1 percent of students graduate from college with debt exceeding $100,000.
August 3
The first college course is finance
When it comes to the tab for tuition, room and board, textbooks and even travel expenses, there aren’t many surprises at this point. Most of those checks have been written. But knowing how much of a bankroll your new college student will need to cover monthly personal expenses requires a bit of math and trial and error.
July 27
Don’t be soft when it comes to scams
You may have trained your kids to protect what’s in their wallet and what’s on their computer, but that won’t stop scam artists from trying new ways to trick them. One of the latest is called the Microsoft scam.
July 20
Cellphones aren’t just for adults anymore
Not too many years ago, kids had to wait until high school to get a cellphone. It was a rite of passage. But now more parents are providing tweens with wireless devices, and in such numbers that marketing experts call this age group the new growth market for cellphone carriers.
July 13
Readers offer cable bill fixes
Whenever I struggle to recommend ways for families to save money in their household budgets, I can count on readers to come to the rescue. Take the monthly cable bill. This has been a persistent thorn in my side, especially since our cable television service is packaged with Internet and phone.
July 6
Income-based repayment eases student loan crunch
Income-based repayment is one of the federal government’s best-kept secrets, and therein lies the problem. It’s called , or IBR. It’s a creative way to help borrowers — in particular those not earning a lot of money — shrink their monthly student loan repayments.
June 29
Check out these financial lessons organized by age
Parents want to know when allowances should be introduced, the right age to explain wants and needs and when to broach the dangers of credit cards. So it was a pleasant surprise to discover a new list — endorsed by a federal commission — of 20 age-appropriate financial lessons for children.
June 22
Consider individual health coverage for your student
One thing about health care coverage: It never fails to leave you challenged and confused. The latest evidence is that many colleges and universities are phasing out or scaling back their school-sponsored medical plans sold to students. Blame it mostly on escalating costs associated with the higher coverage requirements of health care reform.
June 15
Consider car sharing for your student
Your college freshman-to-be is lobbying relentlessly for a car on campus this fall. You’re just as adamant that the set of wheels remain in the garage and that he learn to take the bus, bike or just walk when the need arises for a shopping trip, a haircut or weekend entertainment.
June 8
Making the transition to financial independence
For a new worker about to head out on his or her own, here are few financial pointers that could make the transition easier on everyone’s bank account.
June 1
Take advantage now of student loan consolidation
The Special Direct Consolidation Loan program offers advantages over traditional plans, the biggest being a 0.25 percentage point decrease in the borrowing rate. That’s because these “bargains” can be expensive and impulsive and have more than the usual strings attached. But a special one-time loan consolidation offer from the U.S. Department of Education is an exception to my rule.
