As a soon-to-be college student (or the proud parent of one), the prospect of taking out student loans can be intimidating. Grants and scholarships are great if you can get them, but they don’t always cover the full cost of tuition and books. Before you sign on the line, carefully consider your options and know what to expect.
Always figure out what the details of the loans you have out are. Know your loan balance, your lender and the repayment plan on each loan. This helps when it comes to payment plans and forgiveness options. You need this information to budget yourself appropriately.
Keep in contact with the lender. Update your address, phone number or email address if they change which sometimes happens quite frequently during your college days. Read all of the paperwork that comes with your loan. Make sure you take action whenever it is needed. If you miss something, that can mean a smaller 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.
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.
If you want to apply for a student loan and your credit is not very good, you should seek out a federal loan. This is because these loans are not based on your credit score. These loans are also good because they offer more protection for you in the event that you become unable to pay it back right away.
Which payment option is your best bet? The ten year repayment plan for student loans is most common. If you can’t make this work for your situation, check out other options if you can. For instance, it may be possible to stretch out your payments for a longer period of time, although you will end up paying more interest. Once you start working, you may be able to get payments based on your income. A lot of student loans will be forgiven after you’ve let twenty five years go by.
Select the payment option best for your particular needs. Many loans offer payment over a decade. There are other options if this doesn’t work. If it takes longer to pay, you will face a higher interest charge. Think about what you “should” be making in the future and carefully go over everything with a trusted adviser. Sometimes student loans are written off after an extended period of time.
To ensure that your student loan funds come to the correct account, make sure that you fill out all paperwork thoroughly and completely, giving all of your identifying information. That way the funds go to your account instead of ending up lost in administrative confusion. This can mean the difference between starting a semester on time and having to miss half a year.
Starting to pay off your student loans while you are still in school can add up to significant savings. Even small payments will reduce the amount of accrued interest, meaning a smaller amount will be applied to your loan upon graduation. Keep this in mind every time you find yourself with a few extra bucks in your pocket.
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.
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.
Plan your courses to make the most of your student loan money. If your college charges a flat, per semester fee, take on more courses to get more for your money. If your college charges less in the summertime, be sure to go to summer school. Getting the most value for your dollar is a great way to stretch your student loans.
To maximize the return on the investment that you make when you take out a student loan, make sure that you do your very best when you go to class each day. Make sure that you are prepared to pay attention, and have your assignments completed beforehand, so you get the most from each lesson.
If you experience economic hardship after graduation, you may be able to defer your student loan payments. Other reasons for deferment include continuing education and graduate studies, residency programs or internships. Additionally, if you are on parental leave or if you are a working mother, you may qualify for deferment.
The better your understanding of student loans, the more confident you can be in your decision. Paying for college is a necessary evil, but the benefits of an education are undeniable. Use everything you’ve learned here to make smart, responsible decisions about student loans. The faster you can get out of debt, the sooner you can earn a return on your investment.
