Why Student Debt Consolidation Is Both Good And Bad For You

When you think about the debts you have incurred as an undergraduate, do not get upset about it. There are many undergraduates who come out college with both student loans and credit card debt. With the cost of tuition increasing and many students responsible for their schooling and living costs, it is only understandable why you will have debt coming out of college. This article will break down into three sections: the situation, the goods, and the bads of debt consolidation.

To think that you are the only one who has debt problems is to isolate yourself in the financial situation you are in. If you talk with friends, you will find they may be in the same boat as you are. You may even want to ask your friends if they are in the same situation so you have someone to talk about with this. If you do not feel comfortable doing this, Google the group Debtors Anonymous. You can talk about your debt problems with others in anonymity. This can be a very emotional process so it is important to have an outlet in which to express and share your emotions with others.

Debt consolidation can be very good for you because it can help you find a solution to your problem. Many people get themselves in debt but have no idea how to find a solution to reduce and eliminate the debt. Using a debt consolidation company will allow you to work with a trained professional who is able to look at your situation objectively. It can be very difficult to create solutions to your debt problems when you are so deep into the problem.

You are emotionally involved so you will not be thinking as clearly as the trained professional. Debt consolidation companies are able to talk with your creditors to often create one payment for you every month, which can eliminate the hassle of many different bills. These companies often can negotiate lower rates on your outstanding debts and help you create a budget to help you for the future.

Debt consolidation companies can be very good for you but there are drawbacks to using one as well. This can potentially have a negative effect on your credit. Your creditors may report that you have not paid your account as agreed in the original terms. Some debt consolidation companies have bad track records and you have to watch out for scam artists. You may have to pay fees to use these companies and this may be the last thing that you can afford when you are struggling to already pay your bills.

Hopefully this article has given you good insights into why you may want to work with a debt consolidation company or why you may shy away from one. Ultimately, the decision is yours but there is one main fact to keep in mind: do not isolate yourself simply because you have debt. There are many different resources available out there for you so do not be afraid to use these.

What Are Student Loans_

There is a myth that only the rich can afford to get a college education. This could not be further from the truth. The sad truth is that in today's highly technical and fast paced society, a college education is a vital necessity. Even the simplest of tasks is becoming computerized to a point that it takes specialized training to operate the equipment. By the time most middle and high school children reach graduation, even a janitors position will be in need of a two or four year degree.

When one mentions a college education the first thought is some big foreboding university and four years of either drudgery or partying. There are, however many new fields of study opening up that require only an Associates degree. But, even though these are earned at community colleges, there are still expenses to be paid. Most of the two year programs are at colleges that are accredited. This accreditation allows students to apply for the same grants, scholarships and loans that would be applicable to the four-year institutions.

Student loans are monies that are borrowed at a lower interest rate than traditional loans. Many of the requirements for loans other than college require good credit ratings and often some form of security. A student loan is the only loan one can get that does not required the person to be gainfully employed. The repayment period is also not started until the person completes their education or leaves school for any other reason. There is an automatic six-month grace period.

Depending upon the type of loan the interest may or may not accumulate from the release of the funds. Some of the loans go directly to the college or educational institution and others are awarded to the student directly.

Top Three Myths About Student Credit

This article will explain a few of the different myths about student credit and bust those myths wide open. Whenever you talk about finance in general, there are many false statements out there. These statements can be spread from well-meaning people but these statements can cause you to follow bad advice which can hurt your finances.

The first myth about student credit is that you must open a credit card to begin building credit. This is completely a false statement. When you talk about credit and beginning a credit history, this can involve loans as well. Student loans are reported on your credit report but these often aren't used to begin building credit since they are often deferred until after the graduation of a student. Credit history is important but to build a good credit history, monthly payments must be made towards credit accounts.

Depending upon where you live, you may want to inquire at your bank or another bank about taking out a credit helper loan. Some banks will allow you to borrow a small sum and then work to repay that. This can help you in a couple of different ways. You are able to rebuild your credit starting at a younger age than many do. By borrowing this thousand dollars and paying it back, you are also saving money because the money will be yours once the loan is paid off. You are developing good positive financial habits.

The second myth is that you must carry a balance on your credit card so that it can be positive information on your credit report. This is completely false as well. Your credit report will show on time payments and it does not matter whether they are full payments or partial payments for your credit card balance. While you are making the payments, you will want to make sure that if you keep a balance on the credit card, you should keep it below fifty percent of the available balance. Your balances on your credit report do play a part within your credit score.

The third myth is that a higher credit limit is always a better thing. This does help with your balances and keeping your balances below fifty percent of your total credit limit. To give a little background on the next part of this point, think about getting a loan. When a lender pulls your credit report, he or she may calculate your debt to income ratio using a percentage of your overall credit limit. This can show that you have a chance to get yourself deeper in debt and can raise your debt to income ratio. This can cause the loan to be declined if you are close to the debt to income ratio of the loan company's underwriting standards.

Hopefully these top three myths about student credit have given you good information. It is always good to have people help you with your finances but you must make sure that the information is accurate. Much information given about credit and finances is based off of past truths and this is not the way for you to get ahead financially.

The Four Federal Student Loan Consolidation Plans

Anybody studying in the United States and owing a student loan is eligible for federal student loan consolidation plans.

Federal student loan consolidation plans are applicable for all students whether you are still in school or a recent graduate or already into your new career. If you currently have several student loans, it is easier if you use federal student loan consolidation to consolidate them into one loan payment thus making it easier to manage.

There are four kinds of federal student loan consolidation to choose from:

* Standard Student Loan Consolidation

The maximum student loan period is 10 years and the payment amount per month is fixed. This type of plan is suitable for students who can afford to pay a fixed amount per month. The interest rate would not be a big factor in huge student consolidation loans. This is easiest for those on a budget.

* Extended Payment Plan

This type of plan is similar to standard student loan consolidation except it has a longer repayment period of between 15 to 30 years. The repayment period is dependent on the student loan amount.

* Graduated Payment Plan

This type of plan is suitable for students still schooling and can only repay the student loan when they have a job after they graduated. The payment period is between 15 to 30 years. The payment amount per month starts low and increases steadily every two years.

* Income Contingent Payment Plan

This type of plan is complicated and is based on the student's income level over a period of years. It is also based on the family's annual gross income, other loan amounts owed, other assets, mortgages etc.

Most student usually choose graduated payment plan or the extended payment plan for their federal student loan consolidation

Student Loans

College is not cheap. Although there are many ways to pay for the education it usually involves some form of loan. The best ones are from parents because the payback time and interest rates are always much better. Since this source is not always available, the federal government has a program that will. This is the federal student loan program.

The most popular federal student loan program is the Sallie Mae fund. This program arranges loan through private institutions at a much lower interest rate than is otherwise charged. Application is usually done through the financial aid office of the schools. The amounts lent are based upon the applicant's financial needs as well as the fees and tuitions charged at the educational institution.

This loan, like most grants and scholarships takes into account both the student and his families financial liabilities. Most of the loans of this type are paid directly to the schools. Once the school has deducted the tuition and fees, a check is given to the student for the purchase of books and other supplies necessary.

Other sources of loans are banks and credit unions. These are private institutions and will base the amount of the loan upon the person's credit rating. Some of requirements may include collateral to ensure payback. One of the most common forms of this collateral is a second mortgage. For young borrowers, many financial institutions will require a parent or guardian to co-sign the loan.

The terms of most of these loans signify that payback is to start upon graduation or after a six-month grace period from graduation. Should the student decide to go on to an advanced degree, most loans will be again deferred until the degree is obtained or other arrangements are made. These requirements will vary from institution to institution.

The Background Of Student Credit

This article will explain the reasons why you should begin building your credit as a student. Whether you are taking night classes or are going to school full-time, this article applies to you. It is very often stressed that any young person who wants to get ahead should attend college. What is not stressed and is very important as well is to establish credit.

To give a little background on credit, you and everyone else in the United States who has a Social Security number and is over the age of eighteen will have a credit report. You may have never had credit in your life but you will still have a credit report. This credit report will often show as blank with no credit but a credit report is still kept.

Credit is not something to be afraid of but it is merely a reflection of your financial history. There are many factors which go into your credit report and the following sentences will explain what these are. Your credit report will show any open credit cards you have along with loans you have taken out. For each open credit account such as a credit card or a loan, there will be a history of this account. It will tell what your account limit is along with what your current balance is.

It will list your monthly payment as well as your payment history. With payment history, this is an indication if you pay your bills on time. If you do not pay on time, this is a negative and causes your credit score to go down. This goes in as either usually thirty, sixty, or ninety days late. If you have not paid your bills and had a company file for collections, this can show on your credit report as well.

There are other factors but these are the main ones. The credit report shows that you are paying your bills on time and that you manage your accounts correctly. If you ever apply for a credit card or want to buy a car and need to take out a loan, a loan officer will pull your credit. He or she wants to make sure that if he or she lends you the money that you will pay the money back to them.

With your credit report, there is a score associated with this and the number depends upon what credit bureau you are talking to. There are three different credit bureau agencies and these are Equifax, TransUnion, and Experiean. With each of those three credit bureaus, your respective score will fall within a range and this will determine what interest rate you will pay when borrowing money.

The more you pay your bills on time and manage your credit accounts responsibly, the higher your credit score will be. This will allow you to get the lowest interest rates. If you don't manage your credit responsibly, you will have a lower credit score and will have a higher interest rate. It is simple when you think about it: the lower the credit score, the riskier you are and the bank or loan company needs a higher interest rate to offset that risk.

See how it is important for your student credit when thinking about what you want to do with your future. Managing your credit will save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in the long run because you will receive lower interest rates. This article has given a background on credit and showed you why it is important to start this process young rather than old.

Student Loan Repayment Tips For The Life Of Your Loans

It is often said that the most effective debt management strategy is to be debt-free. But, in order to pay for your college education, you may need to take out student loans.

Student loans are applied by many people these days. It is for the hope that student loans can greatly support their education. Well, that is primarily the purpose of student loans, but there are some instances that getting student loans is what lead people to be buried deep in debt. This is common among those who failed to repay their debts or those who actually escape from their obligations.

Now, planning for successful repayment involves a lot of considerations. The planning should start before you place and strike your pen on your first promissory note. Just as you are making a commitment to your career by way of investing time and money in higher education, you should also make a commitment to your financial future by way of effectively managing your student loans from the beginning.

Here are the most recommended tips and tactics that may help you handle your student loan debt effectively and repay the loans successfully.

Tip #1: Do Your Own Research

Always note that not all loans are the same. Some of them, such as the ones provided by the Indiana Secondary Market for instance, offer benefits during school as well as after graduation in the form of repayment incentives, while other do not. They will pay the 3 percent origination fee normally charged on Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loans, and this process actually means more money for the books, school supplies and living expenses. And, after you graduated, there is a chance that you will be qualified for reduced interest rates especially when you ready your payments up on automatic withdraw. So, with the differences in student loans, it is necessary that you do your research before signing the first promissory note.

Tip #2: Pay Attention to the Mail

Typically, every borrower receives important information regarding the student loan he or she took out. The mail usually comes in before, during and after school. So, it is somehow important that you read all of the materials you receive carefully. In case, you have questions, the source of the materials is available to welcome you with your questions. Don't hesitate to ask, and never ignore the correspondence or you may miss out a very vital deadlines or details about your loans.

Tip #3: Be Organized

When taking out student loan from a particular institution, it is always best to save all of your student loan documents and correspondences. This makes you aware of what exactly you've agreed, what is expected from you as a student loan borrower, and how much you have borrowed. At the start of the student loan process, you may find it unnecessary to keep all the documents, but when the repayment period is approaching, there is a great possibility that you may refer to some or all of these documents.

To makes things easier for you, begin by setting up an easy to use record-keeping system where you can store your student loan documents and correspondence. As you may know, there are a number of books and software products on personal finance to help you get started. Whatever you may use, whether file folders, binders, portfolios, or envelopes, it is a good idea that you set up one folder for every type of loan or account you have and keep the items sorted accordingly.

Here is what you should keep:

* Important documents like your student loan applications, promissory notes, disbursement and disclosure statements, as well as loan transfer notices. * Copies of all correspondences between you and your student loan lender, loan holder, and/or servicer, including your school's financial aid office. * Addresses and telephone numbers of your lender, loan holder, and servicer. These must be maintained up-to-date. * The name, the date and time of the conversation, as well as a summary of what you have discussed. These must be considered especially when you are speaking with anyone regarding your student loans as these may be valuable for future reference or clarification.

Also, when setting up your record-keeping system, be sure that it is comfortable to use. This means a system that you will find easy to maintain over the life of the loan. This record-keeping system must also be secured from theft or fire. Many experts also suggest that you should keep all your student loan related documents and correspondences until all the education loans you've taken have been fully repaid.

Tip #4: Be present at All Required Entrance and Exit Sessions

When you take out student loan, you will be required to complete student loan counseling sessions. This is often considered when you first obtain the loan and upon graduation. Also, it is worth noting that some schools these days offer this on-line and the sessions will not require a great amount of your time. However, they will provide you with a great deal of information on your right and responsibilities as a borrower.

Tip #5: Learn to Manage Money like an Expert

It has been said that if you live like a professional while you are in school, you will live like a student once you've finished your degree. In other words, it is important that you know very well how to handle your money while you are attending school. This will help you lessen the total amount you end up borrowing, and in turn, the amount you will responsible for repaying. Here are some of the tactics that are worth considering:

* Develop realistic budgets for while you are attending school and even after you graduate. This will allow you to borrow not more than you need, giving you a great chance to repay your loans. * Learn to live as cheaply as you can. Always remember that you are just a student. You will enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle once you've graduated especially if you lessen your borrowing while you are in school. Some of the most recommended ideas for how to be thrifty include getting a roommate, renting a movie instead of going out to the theater, as well as bringing your lunch from home instead of eating out. Be thrifty as possible. * For any credit card bills you receive, try to pay the full amount due. * Establish a budget for yourself and follow it. While you are in school, it is important that you know how to resist the urge of using credit cards or your student loan funds to purchase things that are included in your budget. Don't just buy unnecessary things. * If possible, explore work-study or other part-time employment. As often said, it may give you an opportunity for you to study or obtain valuable professional experience, other than help cover overheads.

Tip #6: Maintain at least Half-Time Enrollment

Considering a half-time enrollment is highly necessary in order for you to qualify for an in-school deferment. The half-time enrollment normally takes six credit hours. Regarding your school's requirements for half-time status, see your financial aid officer.

Tip #7: Take Advantage of Tax Savings

Some of the student who takes out student loans qualifies for tax credits. To see your own status, check with your tax advisor. The credits are actually based on your qualified tuition payments, and they can help reduce the amount of Federal tax you pay. Now, if you are paying interest on a student loam, you may also be able to take a deduction on your Federal tax return for those interest payments. Therefore, to obtain the full benefit of the credits as well as the deductions, grab the opportunity of employing the additional tax refund to pay down your student loan debt, or perhaps to handle your educational overheads.

Tip #8: Repayment Tips As you enter the repayment period, note that being aware of your student loan obligations is very crucial. This is where the student loan default usually happens. It occurs when you fail to pay back the loan as agreed or meet the other terms of your promissory note. The promissory note for each of the loans must then be referred prior to your graduation or before you leave school so that you know what your rights and responsibilities are in repayment.

Here is what you should do as you enter the repayment period: * Send your education loan payments when due every month, for the full monthly payment amount or more. This must be done regardless of whether or not you receive a bill. * Note and understand the repayment options provided by your student loan lenders. With some available options, there is a possibility that you can lessen the total cost of the loan by making a high monthly payment. Other options may even lessen your initial monthly payments and may make it easier for you to pay back your leans early in your career. * Understand the deferment as well as forbearance. In case you need them, just learn to exercise your options. * Remember that the loan consolidation and its repayment options have its pros and cons. So, understand them. * Keep your school, lender or servicer informed of your whereabouts. Contact them immediately if you change your name or address; have questions about billing statements; have problems making your scheduled payment on time; or if you want information on or application for deferment or forbearance. * Read, note and understand all the correspondence you receive from your student loan lender, loan holder, or servicer. And, respond them promptly if asked to do so. For Further Information If for instance you need further information regarding your student loans, always remember that the financial aid staff at your school is probably your most important resource. However, there are also some consult publications from federal and state governments, lenders and scholarship granting organizations, and financial ad guidebooks that are available from your local bookstore. They are great enough for you to start your own search.