Friday, January 30, 2009

Consolidating Student Loans - The Major Benefits

Consolidating student loans is simple, easy, and quick.  You'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.  Here are the major benefits you enjoy when you consolidate:

• Simplify your life.  After combining your student loans together, you'll have just one loan, one interest rate, one payment and one lender.  If you're a busy adult like most of us, this is a valuable benefit.  You'll save time and the stress of paying two or more payments each month.

• Save money over the life of your loan. The amount of money that you will save will depend on your choice of a lender, and the amount of student debt you currently have.  Many lenders have incentives in the form of a small interest rate reduction for paying your payment by automatic debit from your checking account or credit/debit card monthly.  Others offer lower interest rates after a certain number of on-time payments have been made.  Every little bit counts.  Just a small reduction in the interest you are paying can result in significant savings over the life of the loan.

• No credit check required. Did you know that you don't even have to undergo one of those bothersome credit checks to qualify for a consolidated student loan?  Well, you don't.  How's that for easy qualifying?

• Improve your credit rating. Is this really possible?  Yup, it really is.  When consolidating student loans, your old loans are paid off and your credit report will show only one new loan open.  Creditors usually rate one open loan at a higher rate than a few open loans, so you will be rated as more credit-worthy and your FICO score will rise within a few months as long as you keep your payment current. This will raise your credit score and improve your chances of qualifying for new credit when it comes time to buy a car or a home.  There are only a few ways to improve your credit score quickly, and consolidating student loans is one of them.

• Lower your monthly payment.  Depending on your lender, you may be able to get a lower interest rate going into the consolidation loan.  With that drop in interest along with discounted interest rates for on-time payments, etc., you will most likely have a lower monthly payment on your student loan.  Could you use extra money each month?  What a silly question!  Of course you could.  Consolidating student loans will free up some cash for you every month.  And I'll bet you can find a lot of uses for that extra cash!

• Safeguard your future.  With a lower monthly payment and extra cash each month, it should be much easier for you to stay current on your student loan payment.  Now you won't be in danger of being disqualified from future Pell Grants for higher education if you need them.  You also won't risk falling behind on a federal debt which can bring out the IRS forces and other methods of collection that the government uses.  You can be assured that your financial future is secure, and you can focus your energies on building your assets and cash reserves.

College Financing - Student Loan Debt Elimination

Student loan debt can be a daunting thing to face when you first graduate from college. You have spent the past four to eight years or more concentrating on your future endeavors and now find yourself at the end of your academic road with a mountain of debt and looking for a job. There are a number of easy to eliminate student loan debt and this article with share the two main ones with you to help you find a light at the end of your student loan tunnel of debt.

Student loan debt is inescapable and can not be gotten rid of with bankruptcy or other financial tactics. The first thing you need to do to find a way to get rid of your student debt is to understand it. Many students go through their entire college career and never even open an envelope from their creditors. While, you were not receiving bills on your student loans while attending college, you should have been receiving monthly or quarterly statements about the current balance and state of your loan. You need to be familiar with the conditions of your loans and how they sit not that you are done with school.

Make a list of all your student loan creditors and include the following information: monthly due date, minimum payment due each month, interest rates, creditor contact information and the current balance of each loan. Reorder the list putting the highest balance at the top and star the highest interest rate. This will give you a clear picture on what you owe to whom and how much they are expecting to receive each month. Now with this approach it's is highly likely that with some dedication you can work to pay off the loans yourself in the matter of a few years depending on the level of debt you have.

To do this start paying off the largest loan first while still making the minimum payments to all the other loans. Once that loan is paid off roll over the amount you were paying to the next highest balance or interest rate and so on until everything is paid. It's vital to always pay at least the minimums on the other loans along the way to avoid default and negative financial action against you.

If this plan is too much for you, there are debt consolidation companies that specialize in student loan dent and can help you consolidation all your student debt into one loan leaving you with one payment and one interest rate and still satisfying the original loan companies.

Whichever method you choose to eliminate your student loan debt, it's important to take the time to understand the debt and make a serious plan on how to pay it off in a reasonable time period. This will help protect your future and your finances offering you more opportunity throughout your new life.

Recommended School Grants

School grants are provided to parents who cannot meet the educational expenses of their children. You can meet the expenses such as tuition fees, books, study materials and many more with the help of these grants. School grants are meant for students who cannot afford the educational expenses and it is awarded based on the financial requirements and qualifications of the student. Families who cannot afford the expenses of private school also get private school grants. These grants do not need repayment as it is the free money from the government or other organizations.

It is not easy to get a school grant because it is provided only to a limited number of people. If you are really in need of a school grant, then the application have to be submitted within the deadlines. In order to become eligible for the school grants, you have to fill the application for the amount required to meet the educational expenses of your child. You also have to submit the financial papers and other details such as tax returns, credit scores and other related information requested by the school.

The school will review the application and the amount received as grant is determined by the amount received by the school from government as well as the financial background of the family. The two types of school grants are need based and merit based. Grants for financially background students are called need based grant and grant for meritorious students are merit based grant. After the approval of your application, you will receive a check for the desired amount through mail. You can deposit the check in your bank account and can use it to meet the educational expenses of your child.

10 Things You Need to Know About College Loans

Here are some important details on getting a college loan. You don't have to spend more for college than necessary.

1. Your school may have its own college loan program, though it may not always be the best deal around. Some may have arrangements with private lending firms, which tend to offer higher rates. Always consider different loan providers and the different loan programs available to you to get the best value.

2. Choose between the lowest rates around. Because college loans do not require payment while you're still in college, choosing a policy with the lowest rate proves vital in preventing a post-college financial struggle.

3. You don't have to borrow the maximum amount they are offering. Borrow only the amount you really need, determined by taking into consideration your financial status, the total amount of expenses you'll be incurring, and the amount that will be shouldered by your parents or family. Minimizing the amount you intend to borrow will be of big help when the time comes that you have to include the payments in your monthly budget.

4. Applying for college loans takes time, so submit your application early. This way, you won't have to miss the first few classes. Also, follow instructions meticulously to avoid delays.

5. You can earn enough during college to significantly reduce your loan. You can cover part of the expenses by taking on a part time job, so that you won't have to borrow as much money as you initially determined.

6. Choose a loan policy that has a fixed student loan rate, and stay away from fluctuating loan rates. While fluctuating rates can either be an advantage or a disadvantage, a fixed rate will keep a low rate at such level until the end of the loan term, and thus help keep your finances more manageable come repayment time.

7. You can avail of an additional loan, but do so only after consulting with a financial aid counselor. You'll do well in paying for the interest of the loan while you're in college, instead of letting it accumulate and add to your future obligations.

8. Student loans are the least expensive of the options around, followed by federal or direct loans, while alternative loans are the most expensive.

9. When opting for a direct or Stafford loan, expect a deduction of up to 4 percent, as a fee, from the amount that is supposed to be sent to your school.

10. Once your loan becomes effective, it would be wise to monitor your loan account or the repayments due monthly after you have finished college. This is to make sure that no unnecessary or unfair adjustments are made, and help you determine what you could do to lower the amount.

What Student Loan is Right For You?

For many individuals in this country paying directly out of pocket for their college education is not a reality, so they need to look into financial aid packages, personal student loans, or just a personal loan.

Personal student loans are normally ideal for college students because unlike many of other types of funding given from financial institutions. With these loans you do not have to start to repay the loan until six months after you have finished your education. This allows individuals a chance to find a job after they have graduated. The down side to this type of loan is they are often concidered on a first come, first served basis, because of the limited number of government funding available

The federal loan is the most frequently found student loan. This type of loan has a smaller limit, so they are normally used for paying tuition fees. They normally have really small interest rates, and are good for establishing credit because all payments and money owed show in the student's credit score. More often than not there is a six month no payment period, so that from after the time the student has become a half-time attendee or graduates they will not have to start payments on the loan for six months. These federal student loans are watched very closely by the government. You can obtain this loan through the school's financial aid program. Just know that with this type of federal loan you might not have to start payments for six month but the interest begin as soon as you graduate or become a part-time student.

Private student loans are not regulated by the government and are normally given to people who need more than the regular amounts given to standard students. Private loans have the highest limits but also come with the highest interest rates. A private loan is a loan the parents can get instead of the student but if the parents do get it, because it is not in the student's name the interest begins to accrue immediately. Private student loans can be obtained through institutions or private loan companies. If required a student can have a private loan and a federal loan at the same time. If a student was going to go to a prestiges university and federal funding wasn't enough they might look into this type of loan.

Having bad credit doesn't make getting a student loan impossible, but there are many things that you will want to keep in mind before you apply for one. Like for a bank to offer you the funding you will have to pay unusually high interest rates. This is because the financial institute feels they are taking a greater risk lending you money then someone with a good credit score. Banks do not consider any reasons why your credit might be bad they just feel that if you have bad credit, then you do not know how to manage your money and will be a bigger risk of defaulting on your loan.

Lastly if you are considering on getting a student loan to help pay for college, you should take into consideration that just because you can borrow more then you will need, it might not be a good idea because when the time comes to repay your loan you will have bigger payments. Bigger payments mean that you will have to get a better job right out of college which might not be that easy since better jobs usually require experience to go along with the diploma.

College Loan Consolidation - An Understanding

The majority of college students accumulate quite a debt throughout their time spent in college. The average student, after a 4-year term, has accumulated over $40,000 in debt before he/she has ever worked for their first paycheck. This can be downright daunting to a lot of students.

Most students who are still in high school will apply to any college they fancy. Most don't take into consideration how much it would cost to go to said school if they are actually accepted. This also can create a problematic scenario for the parent, because the child has obviously put forth enough effort to be accepted into a major university, and at times the parent feels like they are obligated to send them to that particular university since their child worked so hard to achieve it.

The Stafford Loan is a low interest-rate loan that is borrowed under the students name. There is no credit check for this loan and co-signers are not required. The funds for this loan come from private lenders and are guaranteed by the federal government. Generally speaking, federal loans are easier to acquire.

Very few families, though, can afford to pay for their child to attend a university unless they are able to get some form a financial aid, be it a scholarship, grant, or loan. All this, for most students, can be very very stressful. Financial management is not always an easy task.

The Federal Stafford Loan, available to undergraduates and graduate students, Is probably one of the easiest ways you could pay for school. No credit check is required and there are no fees (in fact, the government prohibits lenders from charging fees).

You can find out more information about College Loan Consolidation, as well as other things to pertaining to scholarships and grants.

College Loan Consolidation Made Easy

For most of you who made have attended college already, you can probably confirm the fact that most students can build up quite a debt throughout the years they spend getting educated. This can cause stress, this can even sometimes affect children while they are in college. Their is more pressure for them to succeed and they have this cloud hanging over their head, this huge hole that they need to dig themselves out of.

After graduation, usually about six months after, they want their money back. It's time to start making payments. A college loan consolidation can can help put some ease to those payments, and put less stress on both you and your bank account.

There are many companies and banks that offer college loan consolidations, the basic idea is to take all the loans that you have accumulated and convert them into one, financially feasible payment that you make on a recurring basis. As you look for a company that will consolidate your college loans, you need to be aware that they all have a different method of doing business. They have different interest rates above all else. All these little factors should be carefully considered when deciding on which loan consolidation to accept.

The consolidated loan will give you one key benefit, and that is that you will only pay an interest charge once per month. The interest rate is usually around 4%, whereas at the end of your grace period out of college, it usually sets at almost double that, an average of 7%.

You can read more on College Loan Consolidation, as well as other topics relating to students financial aid.

Student Loan Debt Relief (Debt Solution Options to Help Students Get Out of Debt)

When It Comes To Student Loan Debt... You're Not Alone!

Escalating college tuitions are making student loan debt an eerie fact of life for students everywhere. The average cost of tuition for 4-year colleges has more than doubled over the past 30 years. By the time you add up the cost of tuition, plus room and board, the cost of attending a private college hovers around $29,026 per year and around $12,127 at four-year public universities. Consequently, debt from educational loans has reached overwhelming epic proportions. As we face these uncertain economic times, more individuals are feeling the pressure of the costs of education.

The facts don't lie; graduates are having a hard time coping with debt and are in need of debt relief. The percentage of Americans with outstanding student loans that say this debt is preventing them from making major purchases, such as a house or a car is increasing. Thirty percent of those polled say their student loan debt is a major burden. Once an individual becomes part of the student loan abyss, they must tread lightly. If this debt is not managed properly, it can not only lead to bad credit, it can also lead to loss of eligibility for future federal aid, and the possibility of wage garnishment and the withholding of tax refunds.

I truly believe it is time for college students and graduates to rally together and establish a grassroots organization that lobbies for student loan reform. Unless that happens, the powers that be will gladly sit back and watch as the student loan debt meter continues swelling to epic proportions.

If you are having challenges with paying your student loan, there is help with nonprofit organizations such as American Student Assistance. They offer outreach and education, loan repayment counseling, budget planning, information on repayment options, and even help for borrowers who have defaulted on their loans.

If you have federal loans through the Direct Loan program, you may qualify for an income contingent repayment plan. Or, if your income isn't sufficient to repay a federal loan, you can apply for an economic hardship deferment or forbearance, which would suspend or reduce your monthly payments. Just bear in mind that the interest will continue to multiply on student loans that are not federally subsidized. The important thing is to act now! Don't wait until action is taken against you. To determine if you qualify for any these programs, check out the website Finaid.org

What We Have: Clear and Concise Paths To Help You End Your Debt Problem. You Won't Find This kind of Guidance Anywhere Else, Not For Free.

Who It's For: ANYONE who needs, wants and passionately desires to GET OUT of DEBT and live Debt Free without losing their sanity and dignity.

Finding the Educational Loans You Need Now

Attending school or college is an expensive endeavor to say the least. When you factor in the costs of tuition, textbooks, housing, transportation, lab fees, computer equipment and software, are just some of the expenses that you will face each year that you attend the college or university of your choice. Although government aid in the form of scholarships and grants is available to most students, there is still a wide gap of unmet need that is not totally covered by meager financial aid packages. That is when educational loans can be the most beneficial.

Pay For Expenses Now

An educational loan is meant to cover the expenses that you will incur while attending college that are unmet by your financial aid packages or part-time employment. An educational loan gives you the money you need today, usually with repayment terms that begin after a period of time has passed following graduation and receiving your final degree, or if you fall beneath at least half time enrollment. Some educational loans are credit based, and others require no credit check.

Different Loan Types

The first type of loan that you will probably consider is a federal Stafford loan. These types of loans can be either subsidized (meaning the government pays the interest until the loan enters repayment) or unsubsidized (meaning that interest accrues on the loan while you are still in school). The Stafford loan is granted in payment increments that coincide with your standing as a student, with juniors, seniors, and graduate students receiving larger amounts than freshmen and sophomore students. Determination of the amount of Stafford loan money you qualify for is made once annually, before the start of the academic year. Your Stafford loan will be divided into two payments, one for each semester.

Another loan, the Perkins loan, is a government loan that is partially funded by your school. Perkins loans are usually only granted once you have exhausted your Stafford loan limits, and can be quite difficult to get. Perkins loans cost less than Stafford loans in terms of interest.

For students who wish to borrow more money than the federal government educational loan limits, private student loans provide up to $50,000 per academic year in additional funding. A private student loan is a credit based loan, so having good credit will determine your eligibility. For students who have no credit, limited credit, or credit problems such as damaged credit ratings will generally be asked to apply with a creditworthy cosigner to receive a private student loan. A cosigner can be a parent, relative, or other individual who has established a good credit history and is willing to assume your private student loan payments if you fail to honor your loan agreement.

It is important for students to remember that most student loans, including those that are received from the federal government, must be repaid. Only in instances of proven total disability or death will a student loan be discharged without payment. If you fail to repay your student loans, your annual tax refund can be offset to repay the amount you have borrowed, and your future paychecks can be garnished until the amount you owe is collected in full.

Save Online

Online lenders often offer lots of choices when it comes to private student loans. Online lenders also service these loans at interest rates that are comparable to those of the federal government educational loans, and also have better approval rates.
Kate Ross has a Master in Finance and has been a university teacher as well as a financial consultant for years. She specializes in Unsecured Loans and also in helping people to get approved for Guaranteed Loans for Bad Credit, home loans, guaranteed loans, bad credit auto loans, guaranteed credit cards among many other financial products.

Types of Grant Money For College

State grants

Depending on the state that you are in, the value of the grants that you receive varies. Other factors that influence the amount of state grant that you receive is your particular need and the type of study that you are taking. There are also other deals that are being offered by different states. In the state of Ohio for instance, your eligibility for a state grant is dependent on your income. If you only have one child and you are making in excess of $35,000 then you may lose your eligibility to apply for a grant.

Institutional grants

Unlike state grants, institutional grants are grants that your college gives their students in order to help them continue their studies. However, this type of grant cannot be applied for because these grants are only given by the school on a particular student that they want to study in their institution.

Federal Pell Grants

The Federal Pell Grants are the biggest grant programs of all the grants that are available. Moreover, the range of this type of grants can be a hundred to few thousand depending on your need since the grant is based on what college that you want to attend in.

Another thing that you need to know about Federal Pell grants is that the colleges that receive the Pell grant money only have a fixed amount per year. This means that when the money runs out, it's gone till next year. So if you want to apply for a Federal Pell grant, you need to apply early so you can ensure that you can have the money that you need. Also, even if you are already receiving you Pell grants, a math or science major can also apply for the Academic Competitiveness grant or the National SMART Grant.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity grants are grants that only the poorest students can apply for. You can go to your college's financial aid office and inquire of the different requirements that you may need to apply for this grant money for college.

Federal Stafford Student Loans - Pros and Cons of Federal Student Consolidation Loans

The main components of the federal Stafford student loan are the two types of financing programs for post-secondary students.

Stafford loans are under the administration of the US Department of Education and comprise the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program.

Only students can apply for a Stafford loan by filling an FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and send it to whatever school they want. Once the form is reviewed, the school decides the financial eligibility.

For direct student loans, the federal government is the lender but the FFEL program allows you to choose the lender using a list offered by the school or a qualified lender.

Under this program, the federal government will guarantee for the loan. 
The loan can be subsidized (the federal government pays the accrued interest while you're in school) or unsubsidized (the accrued interest will be included in your loan balance).

If a student brings all the correct documents, then he/she can benefit from a subsidized Stafford loan.

Each year in school influences the federal Stafford loan limits and also the subsidized / unsubsidized financing. Below you can find the current regulations that can influence your loan:

Pros: 
- The credit checks are not required because the Federal government guarantees for the loan. 
- The fixed rate interest rates are the lower interest rates on the market 
- The repayment plans offer very flexible terms. This means that you will set the payment plan that fits you best and also you can consolidate your other loans into a single and more affordable one. 
- During student enrollment the repayment is deferred.

Cons:

- Sometimes the loan limits are insufficient especially considering today's post-secondary education costs. 
- You have to submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). 
- You have to ask for Stafford loans every year and in time this leads to multiple payments and loans that will affect your post-graduation life. 
- You will only direct the use of the funds because they are processed and collected only by the school for your lab fees, books, tuition, etc.
Discover where to get the best federal Stafford student loan rates online. Learn more about student loan consolidation comparison at my site today.

Consolidating Your Student Loans is a Wise Choice

Over the years, you might have incurred lots of student loans with various lenders. Chances are you make multiple payments each month to many different loan services. Perhaps you did not know that you can save tons of money by consolidating all of your student loan debts into one.

Are You Buried In Student Loan Debt?

The cost of attending college has skyrocketed over the years. Being a student is a very expensive occupation! Many students find that after they have worked so hard to obtain their degree they come out of college with not only a degree but a mountain of debt with huge payments looming within the next six months. This can put a strain on your finances as you try to find a job. Or perhaps your student loan payments have already begun to get out of hand and you feel like you will never get them caught up. If so, now is the time for you to consolidate your student loans.

Consolidating your student loans means that you will take every loan that you are paying for and bundle it together to be paid by a new lender. In most instances, you can negotiate a consolidation loan for all of your student loans to get more favorable terms than you are currently carrying with the bulk of your student loans.

Lower Your Total Monthly Payments

One of the major advantages of consolidating your student loan debt is that you can lower your monthly payments. Whereas you might be paying a combined payment of $500 for multiple student loans, when renegotiating your student loan debt, you might make one payment for $250 or less to your new lender. This is just an example of how consolidation can benefit you - your payment will be based not only on how much you owe, but also on how much you can afford to reasonably pay each month according to your income and other obligations that you might have outstanding.

Pay Less Interest - Keep More Money In Your Pocket

An additional advantage of consolidating student loan debt is that consolidation allows you to pay less interest, which can literally mean thousands of dollars in savings over the life of your repayment schedule. While most of your current student loans have differing rates of interest attached to them, your new loan will have an interest rate that is less than or comparable to the loan that you are now paying the least amount of interest on.

Further, consolidation provides a great opportunity for you to rid yourself of any variable rate interest loans that you might have (which means you pay fluctuating amounts of interest on the principle) and lock in a new, fixed rate that will feature a predictable payment amount - again, saving you a bundle of cash in the way of interest.

You can find the best consolidation loan packages for student loans on the Internet. Online lenders often have the lowest interest rates across the board when consolidating your student loans.
Mary Wise is a personal loan consultant who has been associated with Bad Credit Loans and has more than thirty years of experience in finances. She has helped a lot of people to obtain Fast Unsecured Loans, home loans, car loans, unsecured credit cards and many other products regardless of their credit situation.

Ways to Pay Off Student Loans Debt

Student loans debt is the second highest form of debt facing Americans today, just after credit card debt. College financings is a catch-22 in that you took the time and expensive to build your education and plan for a better future, just to be left at the end with a mountain of debt and the need to find a job with all that education. Student loans debt is permanent, meaning you can not get rid of it with bankruptcy.

When looking for a way to deal with student loans debt, it's important to understand the different loans you have and formulate a plan to deal with and pay off each of those loans in the best way possible. There are many ways to do this, you can pay off the loans separately starting with the highest balance or highest interest rate first, while still making the minimum payments on the others, or you can consider getting a debt consolidation loan that is specifically designed for student loans.

Debt consolidation loans allow for you to take all your student loans debt and roll it over into one loan with one interest rate and one monthly payment. It works by allowing you to get another loan that then pays off all the existing loans, leaving you with the single loan. The key for this to work in your favor is to get a loan big enough to cover all your student loans debt with an interest rate lower than the ones you were paying and a monthly payment you can handle. Another way to make debt consolidation loans work better for you is to first negotiate with your creditors to see if they will take a settlement amount that is lower than the current balance. This will make your new loan smaller than it needs to be and easier to pay off.

If you want to work to pay off your student loans debt by yourself, then it's important to put together a list and some information to help you be successful in doing so. Make a list of all your student loan creditors with current balance, interest rate, monthly payment, due date and contact information. This will allow you to see the largest loans and those with the highest interest rates, which should be your first focus on paying down. While, you are working to pay those loans down you must continue to pay the minimum payments on the other loans to avoid default. Then once one loan is paid off, you take the amount you were paying and apply it to the next highest loan amount or interest rate.

Regardless of the method you choose to use to pay off your student loans debt, it's important to make the right decision for you and your financial situation in order to start your new life off on the right start.

Bad Credit Student Loan Consolidation Tips

It's pretty safe to say that having one or more college degrees can usually improve your employment situation greatly. Most employers are generally impressed when they see those extra letters behind your name. Therefore, a college education can be a very valuable asset.

However, after graduation (in order to better manage your finances) you may find yourself needing to consolidate your loans. Consolidation may become a little more expensive if you find yourself with bad credit, however it's still a smart move. While bad credit student loan consolidation may be a little more difficult, it still holds lots of benefits.

First of all, even with bad credit student loan consolidation, you will more than likely still find yourself paying out less money monthly than you would by paying each loan individually. Additionally, through consolidation, you will be able to lengthen your repayment period. This can benefit you greatly because it gives you more time to straighten out your financial situation while keeping your payments current. Many companies will allow you to utilize a graduated payment schedule where you start off with low monthly payments which gradually increase over time as you near the end of your repayment period.

Another reason to opt for bad credit student loan consolidation is that even though your rates may be a little higher, the interest rate for federal student loans is still capped at 8.25% which means that it can never go beyond this. The bottom line is that even with bad credit you can still utilize the benefits of consolidation to help you get back on track and begin to straighten out your credit situation.

The Best College Student Loan Consolidation Plan

So you've just graduated from college and you're entering the real world with a brand new degree as well as a lot of student loans. You've decided that consolidating your loans would probably be the most effective way to handle them, but you're unsure of the best route to go. If you're confused about the best college student loan consolidation plan, here are a few tips.

First of all, the best college student loan consolidation plan should always include a low interest rate. This will help you to ensure that you pay back the least possible amount of money. The good thing is that federal student loan consolidation interest rates are capped at 8.25 percent meaning they can go no higher. Find a consolidation plan that offers a fixed interest rate because they can never change during the life of the loan.

You may be tempted by variable interest rates with low introductory rates but after the initial period those rates can really start to get up there and you have no control over what your rate will be. With a fixed interest rate you have the comfort of knowing what your payment will be every month.

Additionally, the best college student loan consolidation plans are the ones with few fees and that offer the option of graduated payments. These are payments which start off very low and gradually increase over the repayment of the loan. Graduated payments are excellent, especially if you're starting out with a relatively low income. They give you a chance to get on your feet and get your financial situation to a more stable place.

The bottom line with finding the best consolidation plan is to know your needs and do the research on different companies to find the best fit.

The Best Government Student Loan Benefits

Having a college education is a wonderful achievement and extremely beneficial when it comes to navigating the job market. However, with the current economy, student loans are becoming a necessity for many in order to realize their collegiate dreams.

There are tons of available routes to take when it comes to getting a loan to further your education. You could go the private route and use a bank, credit companies, or loan companies to get the needed funds. Additionally, you could choose to get a government student loan which could benefit you the most.

One of the best government student loan benefits is the fact with a government loan, while the application process may take a little longer, this type loan is often a lot easier to get approved for. When it comes to getting a private loan especially through banking institutions the requirements are usually a lot more stringent and if they find too many blemishes on your credit report you can forget it. When first entering college most students have little if any credit. While this may be a problem with a private loan, federal student loans will not hold this against you.

Additionally, one of the best government student loan benefits is that compared to private loans there aren't as many fees. Government loans don't charge application fees while most private loans do in addition to many others fees such as penalties for earlier repayment and late payment fees. If you do your homework when it comes to choosing the best student loan for you, you'll more than likely find it to be a government loan.

Canadian Student Loan Consolidation

As recently as January 21, 2009, CTV News reported that "Canadians who have pursued post-secondary studies now owe the federal government $13 billion in outstanding loans, according to new figures from the Canadian Federation of Students.

The CFS says Canada Student Loan debt increases by $1.2 million per day and will cross the $13 billion mark on Wednesday."

CFS national chairperson Katherine Giroux-Bougard told CTV that "the government must do more to help stem the growing levels of Canadian student debt." She added, "What the priority of the government should be is really to make post-secondary education affordable," she said.

Now the scary part is that all we keep focused on is longer finance terms. Here's my simple thinking: Why doesn't the government offer companies who hire these debt-laden students, a specific tax break. As part of the hiring process, companies could assume part or all of the student debt. The companies are after all the ones who gain the most in hiring these highly educated people. They should play a role in the debt financing as well. We used to fund apprentice programs remember or am I showing my age? Don't answer that.

It solves many issues. Instead of the government just backing loans and extending payment terms, let's transfer the debt to the companies who benefit the most, through a specific tax break. It will essentially free up government from backing loans, and free the student from a rather unrealistic debt. Now I realize this just seems too easy, but then again, we really seem to always make it more complicated that it has to be.

Some employers still assert that they like their employees to be in debt, that means they need their job more. This of course is old fashioned moronic thinking! More modern companies want to see their employees flourish and enjoy the good things life has to offer versus having to have a night job and work weekends just to barely keep up. A happy employee becomes an inspired worker who gives and achieves more. But this is reserved for the very special few employers who look at their employees through a holistic looking glass and not some tired old sweat shop mentality.

Okay have I stepped over the line here? Well at least it got you thinking. Whether you agree or not, I think you will concur that we simply can not lose sight of what these students mean to our future.

You know $13 billion in student loans is only the tip of the iceberg. Look at the transfer payments that provincial governments already give to post secondary institutions. The U of T alone gets almost a billion a year, from the province of Ontario to offset their tuition costs. And these huge transfer payments happen every year!
And what happened at York University recently is just unconscionable! Students held at ransom, they seem to be the only one's with no real voice in all this. Well that's my rant on the subject. I know nothing much will change and students will continue to be stuck with these massive debts.

Tips on Refinancing Your School Loan

If you're one of the millions of students who have taken out loans to finance their college education and find upon graduation that you can't pay them back, you are not alone. Many people, just like you, are having a difficult time repaying their student loans. Instead of defaulting, you may find that you can refinance those loans instead. Well, in this article, I will provide you with specific tips on refinancing your school loan. Let's begin.

Know the benefits of consolidating. Many students have more than one loan and many of these have different interest rates. Therefore, by consolidating, you can transfer the higher interest loans to smaller ones. This lower interest rate will make your monthly payments lower and lower the total amount you will pay in the end. In fact, refinancing multiple school loans has saved students thousands of dollars.

Be smart about refinancing your school loans. There are several things to consider before refinancing student loans:

- Take a look at your credit report. In order to get a good student loan refinancing rate, you need good credit. Take care of any issues that would improve your credit score.

- Check your payment history on your existing school loans. It will be difficult to refinance your student loans if you have a poor payment record.

Apply baby, apply. You will then need to apply for student loan refinancing. There are several ways to do this. Many students choose to refinance through there bank or credit union, but an online lender has recently become a more popular option. Many online lenders offer very competitive refinancing rates.

No matter where you decide to go to refinance your student loans, make sure you take time to research all your options. Compare lenders, rates and the terms of the loan so you ensure you are getting a good deal. If you do not scrutinize all your options, you may end up getting a bad deal and it could make paying off those students loans even more difficult and costly.

In conclusion, refinancing your school loans is a very smart decision. To do so, simply follow the above mentioned tips and you'll be well on your way to making one of the best financial decisions you've ever made! Good luck!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Private Student Loan: Introduction

The student loans just like the other forms of financial aid are a service that is subject for repayment. However, although aware of such fact, many borrowers still fall to the trap of walking away from student loan debt which then results to series of consequences. They tend to ignore their being summoned to enter repayment usually either 90 or 120 days after separating from school or after dropping below half-time enrollment. With this, the loans remain delinquent for 270 days or become 270 days past due at any time, leading the loans to “default” status.

Best student loan consolidation

Best student loan consolidation, a way to slim down your monthly burden 

Going to college is very important. Thus, Americans, even married once still continue to go to college. This is because you have better future if you are able to finish college; this is true in American and even in the other parts of the world. 

To help you with this important factor in your life, student loans are available to help you go through college education. However, students end up with knee-deep in student loans. 

If you are one of these students, you need not despair; you may shop around to find the best student loan consolidation entities to help you in the process of getting out of debt. 

Best student loan consolidation will help reduce your monthly payment of up to 50%. 

You cannot find any better deal than that. Reducing your monthly payment will mean that you can have some spare money for other purposes. Best student loan consolidation will thus help you have some money to meet other expenses like car payments, household needs, and childcare. 

Additionally, because of the best student loan consolidation program, your credit rating will improve and you can even extend your paying period from the usual ten years to as long as thirty years. 

You may also find the best student loan consolidation company that will give an additional percentage of interest on top of the savings from the consolidation. This will be good to lessen your monthly burden. 

Additionally, if your student loan is under the federal direct student loans, you may qualify for the best federal direct loan consolidation program. 

In this program, in addition to the 50% or more reduction in your monthly payments, there is a lock in lower interest rate available for you. 

This lock in lower interest rate is best for your student loan consolidation program because it will shield you against inflation rates. 

This will mean that you will not have to worry about additional charges due to the inflation rate fluctuations. 

To top is all off, the best student loan consolidation deal under the federal direct program is easy to apply, and there are no fees, credit checks, application, or original charges. 

Thus, it is a clean way through paying your student loans and can even spare you some money for other purposes. Is this not the best student loan consolidation program you will ever find? 

If you are not sure if your student loans are under the federal direct student loans program, you may check out the Internet. Match your student loans if they will qualify for the best student loan consolidation program. 

You can also find in the Internet additional information that you can use to help you get out of that knee-deep debt.

Unsecured debt consolidation loans

Bankruptcy is an ugly word, but a very real possibility to many people struggling to pay a laundry list of bills that never seem to end. At times, that pile of bills seems impossible to deal with, a mountain you'll never get out from under without taking drastic measures. But bankruptcy isn't the only alternative to a life chained to the never-ending cycle of bills, late fees and more bills. Think about consolidating your debt in a single loan, a form of refinancing that helps you put your finances back in your control and your life back in order. But refinancing is for people who own a home, right? What if you don't have a home, or you don't want to risk losing it by putting it up for collateral? That's where an unsecured debt consolidation loan comes into play. 

Unsecured debt consolidation loans do not require collateral. You can pay off all your other creditors and keep your house - or lack thereof - out of it. Lenders are able to stay in business by covering their risk with higher interest rates than they offer on secured loans. 

But this can still translate into lower monthly payments for you, especially if your credit cards carry high interest rates to begin with and you've fallen into the trap of paying late and accruing late payment fees. Those disappear when you pay off that debt with the moneys from your are competitive and you may be able to negotiate a better interest rate. It helps to have a good unsecured debt consolidation loan. And don't forget, shopping around always pays off; lenders credit score since lenders do look at your credit and employment history when they consider you for a loan. 

If you shop around, negotiate, and still find that the interest rate is not going to make enough of a difference in your monthly payment to make life comfortable again, consider choosing a long-term loan. While you will generally end up paying out a greater total amount by the end of the loan, lengthening the life of your unsecured debt consolidation loan will lower your average monthly payment. That right there could make all the difference in the world. 

Unpaid or slow-paid bills wreaking havoc on your credit score? Some lenders will consider you despite your credit history. A good employment history proves stability, and even if you don't have the best employment history there are, again, lenders who will offer unsecured debt consolidation loans to almost anyone. While the interest rates are higher and the limits to what they'll loan are lower, your credit score will improve when you get the loan, and having all those creditors paid off will do nothing but increase your credit score. 

If you bills are getting the best of you to the point that you're actually considering bankruptcy, stop. Gather up those credit card bills, utility bills, department store card bills, medical bills and any other bill that's costing you sleep at night. Look into an unsecured debt consolidation loan and see how easy it can be to save your credit and peace of mind.

Student loan consolidation rates

Student loan consolidation rates are competitive and can be lend through government or private lender. There are many options available for a student to select the best provider of student loan consolidation, you can search for a lender online and can check their interest rates. In student loan consolidation interest rates plays a great role. Today in the market, thousands of lenders are lending loans to student but when it comes to their interest rates, they are charging very high which is unaffordable by a student. 

Consolidating loans and getting good student loan consolidation rates can help a student shift into responsible bill paying consumer. A student can take a leave from paying monthly on student loans. In student loans, a student has to pay interest every month and for their monthly bills, he has to pay separately but in student loan consolidation, a student has to pay only one payment. 
It is uncommon for a borrower to get a fixed interest rate that is up to 0.6% lower than their current rates. According to federal regulations, calculating the interest rate on a consolidated loan disbursed on or after July 1, 1994 involves the weighted average of the interest rates of the old school loans you are consolidating under the new one, rounded up to the nearest one-eight of one percent. Fixed interest rates on a consolidated loan cannot exceed 8.25 percent. 

It is researched that Americans are the first one in the row of taking the advantages of student loan consolidation rates. Now a days thousands of student getting advantage of applying for student loan consolidation as it not only allows you to study well but give you the options of shopping also. Consolidations are one way of getting control over spending and effectively planning a budget. For a best student loan consolidation rates you can surf on net and can be able to find lenders who are proposing affordable payment plans. They give best advices to the students to choose the best student loan consolidation in low rates. 

Thinking about the student loan consolidation is very easy, when it comes on the student loan consolidation rates, you have to browse different company's brochures, need to enquire about the company's creditability, the most important thing you need to ask yourself about your requirements which is very important for the application of student loan consolidation. When a student applies for student loans, it is advisory to check the terms that are offered by the student loan provider. But in the student loan consolidation you don't have to apply for different types of loan, only one will solve all your problems. You have to make one monthly loan payment every month, instead of several loan payments every month over time. This not only saves the student's time, but keeps them relax from the tensions of paying differently on their loans.

NextStudent Encourages Students to Take Advantage of Federal Work-Study Opportunities

Since some colleges start posting available work-study positions as early as the summer, students looking to get their first choice of campus jobs in the fall may want to get a head start by already having their résumé and cover letter written and polished. The Federal Work-Study Program provides part-time jobs for both undergraduate and graduate students with qualifying financial need and encourages students to participate in community service and try out employment opportunities related to their course of study. Work-study jobs are required to pay at least the current federal minimum wage but might pay more, depending on the type of work the student does and the skills required.

NextStudent Helps College Students Formulate College Funding Strategy

By now, college students across the country have had ample opportunity to enjoy their summer vacation, and their break from school soon will be drawing to a close. Now is the ideal time to consider more serious matters like how students will plan for their next year of education, according to NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company.

Prepared Parents Pave the Way for College Success

Many parents dream of the day when their children have attained a well-rounded education, a top-paying job, and are equipped with the character to succeed in the working world. Students spend hours of their lives laboring to achieve their college degree; and parents invest years of hard work to ensure that their children have what it takes to get there.

NextStudent’s Fixed-Rate Consolidation Loan Helps Students Manage Debt

Most college students have left finals long behind and are considering their options for summer school, a fun job or other pursuits to occupy their time this summer. According to NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company, this is the perfect time of year for students and their parents to consider consolidating their federal student loans, especially if they have a variable rate Stafford Loan or PLUS Loan.