How to Allocate Funds for School While Paying for Everyday Life

 
Are you planning to go back to school but do not know how you will pay for your program? The great news is that with an income, you can strategize and find ways you can save for your education, and at the same time, meet other basic needs. This review will teach you ways you can effectively budget your finances and study without accumulating debts.

Set Realistic Financial Goals

Having a realistic financial goal allows you the opportunity of creating a weekly, monthly, or annual budget. A budget gives you the motivation to save, which helps meet all your financial needs without struggling. 

Financial goals can be either long-term or short-term, and you should ensure that your goals are realistic. Some of the short-term financial goals when it comes to your education might include saving for your next semester’s books or pay outstanding student loans each month. 

A long-term financial plan might consist of clearing off your student loans within five or ten years.

Create a Budget

Once you have successfully set realistic financial goals, you should look into creating a budget. You can create this budget on a spreadsheet, or you can download a budgeting software program. 

Depending on your preferences, you can decide to make a monthly or annual budget. To create a budget, you should write down your monthly income and the source of the funds. This income can be from jobs, scholarships, grants, or money offered to you by friends or family. 

If you are working, the total income will be the money that is left after tax deductions. Remember, when you create a budget, you should be honest with yourself to understand your expenses.

Apply for Medical Assistant Programs

If you are interested in medicine, you can apply for your local college’s preferred medical assistant programs. These colleges also offer scholarships, grants, or student loans, which you can use to pay for your course. Some of the things you will learn from this program include Pharmacology, Anatomy Room Procedures, Treatment Room Procedures, and Laboratory Techniques.

These courses will only take a maximum of 16 months, and you can quickly land employment after graduation. Due to guaranteed work, you can pay your student loans on time.

Purchase Your Textbooks off Campus

Most colleges will not include the cost of textbooks in the tuition fees, and you will have to purchase your books. However, it would be wise to buy these books off-campus because most schools will increase books’ prices to generate school profits. Also, you can choose to rent textbooks at certain stores instead of purchasing them.

It would be best if you never let the expenses that come with college expenses hinder you from pursuing the curse of your dreams. If you follow the advice mentioned above, you can successfully plan and save for your education and manage other personal expenses.

Learn for Less: 4 Creative Education Options for Frugal Families

Schooling is very important. For the youth to succeed as adults, they must receive a quality education. However, education can sometimes be extremely expensive. College Data reports that the average cost for a year of school at a private college in 2017 was $33,480. 

Unfortunately, it’s not just college that can be expensive. Costs incurred during elementary school and high school can also be a significant financial burden on a family. 

Thankfully, there are ways to save. Below are four creative education options for frugal families you should consider.

Be Strategic about School Supplies

One of the biggest school related expenses, especially for students in high school and elementary school, is the cost of school supplies. An article by neaToday reports that the cost of school supplies on average can be as high as $200 for elementary school students and as high as $375 for high school students. 

However, these costs can be brought down significantly if parents use some strategy while shopping for school supplies. First, try to buy early. If you buy school supplies for the next year well into the current school year when those supplies go on sale, you could slash the cost spent by a very large percentage. 

Also be careful about the stores you choose to shop at. Dollar stores may have better deals than larger retailers. It also doesn’t hurt to save left over school supplies for the next year.

Online Schools

The advent of the internet has completely transformed society. This is no different for the education system. The internet has in fact allowed education to reach far more students than what was previously possible. 

As you should well know, the cost of a child’s college education can be one of the largest expenses a family has to pay for. However, attending an online school can bring down that expense significantly. 

Not only is tuition generally much lower, the student will also save on expenses related to commuting or living on campus. While online school is usually thought of as something implemented by college students, elementary and high school students that are homeschooled can attend online schools as well. This may create significant cost savings compared to attending a private or even a public school.

Be Your Children’s Tutor

Some children struggle with school. While you would assume the school day would be enough to make sure they are up to speed on math, English, science and other subjects, that is not always the case. 

Often, tutoring is required to make up the difference for many struggling students. Unfortunately, tutoring services can also be exorbitantly expensive. According to Angie's List, a tutor can charge as much as $85 an hour. One obvious solution is to tutor your children on your own. 

This will of course require more work on your part, but it’s also extra time to bond with your kids. Make sure, however, you are actually helping them to learn. Completing their work for them or providing them with the answers is not the same thing as tutoring.

Prepaid College Tuition

One cost saving measure you may have not heard of is prepaid college tuition. US News reported that college tuition grew by 80 percent between 2003 and 2013. 

Prepaid college tuition allows you to lock in current rates now so you don’t have to pay for the eventual increase in the future. Investigate whether or not prepaid tuition is available in your state.

Education for children can certainly be expensive. However, it’s an absolute necessity for a person’s long term future. Try to find ways to lower the costs to help ensure that your children receive the quality education they deserve.

Is Getting an MBA at 50 a Good Idea?

If you’re over 50 and still feel like you have a way to go before you’re ready to retire, going back to college in order to further your career might be something worth considering. 

More and more mature students in their 50’s and even older individuals are returning to education in order to learn more about the things that they are passionate about and give their career a huge boost in the last decade or so before retirement. 

But, is it a wise idea to get an MBA at 50?

Relaxed Entry Requirements

One of the best things about pursuing an MBA when you’re over the age of 50 is that the entry requirements are likely going to be relaxed for you. 

This is because whilst many colleges demand that applicants have already achieved an undergraduate college degree when applying for an MBA program, many will also take life experience into account for mature students. 

So, if you’ve never been to college but have worked in management, or even owned your own small business, you may be accepted onto an MBA course because of that. 

Flexible Study

With quality MBA courses in high demand from students as the qualification becomes more desirable in the corporate world, one of the biggest advantages of studying for an MBA today is that it can be done entirely online. 

Studying for a masters in business administration online can be done either full- or part-time, with a flexible and self-led approach that often suits mature students who have work and family commitments to fulfil along with their education. 

Online MBA programs are available from a range of business schools, some of which are amongst the most respected in the U.S. 

Learn Valuable Skills

Whether you’re hoping to be promoted in your workplace in order to be able to put more money towards your retirement or are planning to start a business in order to earn a passive income to fund it, taking an MBA after 50 can be a great way of achieving this. 

When you study for an MBA, you’ll learn valuable skills and knowledge, which can help you to achieve almost any business or related career goal that you have in mind. 

Networking

If you’re over 50 and are considering taking an MBA as an entrepreneur or in the hope of starting your own business, this course can be an excellent source of networking opportunities. 

Even if you decide to study online, your college will provide you with information about networking events that you can attend, and you may be able to network electronically with people such as tutors and speakers from your college. 

Good networking is essential to running a business and this course will give you the opportunity to meet with people who could influence and help your business ideas to grow.

No matter what age you are, an MBA is still one of the most respected and sought after qualifications in the business world. 

Studying for an MBA can definitely be a great step towards a comfortable retirement.

Examples of When to and Not to Get a Loan

A loan can be a good tool to help people make a purchase when they do not have the necessary funds available. While a loan is great for some reasons, no loan, including credit cards, should be obtained hastily. It is important to remember that when you take out a loan, you are still responsible for repaying the loan, plus any additional amount for interest. It is vital that you carefully consider any loan that you may want to take out to determine if it is the right solution for you or not.

Below is a look at three great reasons for taking out a loan, as well as, three reasons not to take out a loan. Lying in between these two choices are non-loan options which can include alternative money help. Below are some examples of when and when not to take out a loan. 

Reasons to Take Out a Loan

1. Home. The majority of homeowners cannot afford to purchase their home with cash. Instead, they take out a mortgage to cover the cost and then repay the mortgage over the course of ten, twenty or thirty years. This is a good reason to take out a loan because purchasing a home is a sound investment. Just be sure to shop around to find the best mortgage options for you.

2. Education. You may also need to take out a loan to complete your education. Unfortunately, you may not make enough money right now to cover the costs of higher education, but without a proper education, you cannot get a higher paying job. Before taking out a loan for your education be sure to apply for all the governmental benefits available to you because this may reduce the loan amount you have to take out. Also, look for low-interest loans that are specifically designed for students.

3. Car. Whenever possible, it is best to pay for a car with cash instead of taking out an auto loan. However, there are times when you may not have an option and you must take out a car loan in order to purchase a vehicle. This is true if you live in a rural area where public transportation is not available, or you need a vehicle to get back and forth to work. Be sure to keep your car loan payments within your budget limits.

Reasons Not to Take Out a Loan

1. Holiday. A holiday is not a good reason to take out a loan because it is not something you need, but rather something you want. If you want to take a special holiday, create a short-term financial goal for yourself and readjust your budget to help you put some money aside each week or month to go towards you holiday. Before you know it, you will have enough money saved and you will not have to pay any additional money for interest.

2. Gifts. A lot of people make the mistake of pulling out their credit cards or taking out a loan to cover the costs of purchasing gifts especially at Christmas time. Many times they do not even realize how much they spent until the bills start coming in. You should set a budget for purchasing gifts and make a commitment to not go over budget. Try making homemade gifts or only shop when things are on sale.

3. New Furniture. Many furniture dealers offer their customers loans in order to buy the furniture they want. This is not a good enough reason to take out a loan, even if they claim to offer an interest-free loan for a set period of time. Instead, save up your money and only purchase new furniture when you have enough saved.

This list of good and bad reasons to take out a loan, may help you determine when it is a good time to take out a loan of your own or not. Remember that taking out a loan requires a long-term commitment and you will have to make the payments on a regular basis until the loan is paid off. Make sure that you take everything into consideration before making this vital decision.

Try looking at borrowing through an advantage and disadvantage point of view. Reasons for borrowing that are positive include purchasing assets or items that will benefit you in a positive way – education, vehicle to get to and from work or as part of a business, etc.. Examples of a disadvantage is purchasing items/services which will lose value and do not provide any real benefit outside of short-term gain.

How Do the PLUS Loans Help in Higher Education!

The financial support through federal loans makes the higher education possible for students who find it difficult to meet the education expenses. There are different types of loans exclusively for supporting the education and these loans help the students to pursue their education without undue stress. The features of each of the student loans differ although the purpose of the loan is similar. PLUS loans are offered to the graduates who are in for professional courses. The loans can also be obtained by the parents of the undergraduates to meet the education costs.

How are the loans processed?

PLUS loans are granted by the government through the education institutions which participate in this particular program. The lender of this loan is the U.S. Department of Education which requires the borrowers to possess good credit record. The borrowers of these loans for bad credit should be enrolled at least half time in the school which takes part in this loan program. The students who need to obtain the loans should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, shortly known as FAFSA. The financial aid department of the school in which the students pursue their education will help the students with detailed instructions related to the loan.

Credit history is the considered while approving the application for PLUS loans. If the applicant has poor credit history, the loan could be obtained with the support of an endorser with good credit history. While the loan application is approved, you need to sign a Master Promissory Note. The interest rates are fixed and there is origination fee for the loan which is deducted from the loan. The loan servicer will keep you updated with the loan status. The loan amount is mostly limited to the financial requirements required to meet the deficiency of funds after getting the grants and awards to support the education.

The loan repayment starts after the full loan amount is disbursed. You can opt for postponing the repayments if your financial condition is not favorable for repayments. However, the interest for the loan keeps accumulating even as the repayments are deferred. The interest accumulated can be cleared gradually or you can prefer to capitalize the interest on the cash loans no credit check. The loan servicer will notify you of your first due towards payment. You can get to know about the available options of repayment and choose the option that is convenient for your financial situation.

If the borrowers of PLUS loans are parents, the loan commitment cannot be transferred to the students for whose sake the loans were obtained. The most impressive feature of the loan is that there is the forgiveness option which enables the borrowers to cancel a part of the loan or the entire loan within a specified period. The loan servicer can be approached to change the repayment plan which can be better for your situation. Though there are various loan offers for students from conventional banks and financial institutions and from private lenders, the federal loans are highly supportive and beneficial with highly favorable features.

Teaching Kids the Basics of Selling

Understanding the importance of hard work is a crucial lesson to teach our children. Although the point of working for a living and understanding the value of a dollar may both seem obvious to us as adults, it’s only because we’ve probably forgotten what it’s like to be a carefree kid without a career to worry about, or a mortgage bill that needs to get paid.

One of the best ways to teach lessons on money, work, and business is to teach kids the basics of selling. They’ll learn valuable skills they can carry with them, and they’ll also learn about how finances work in the real world. These are great concepts to start absorbing early on, as teaching kids about selling and how businesses operate will provide a healthy respect for money and how it is earned: through hard work.

Consider these ideas for teaching kids the basics of selling:

The best way to learn is to learn by doing. Enable your kids to enter a sales situation. Allow them to price and pitch old toys at your next yard sale. Be old fashioned and supervise as they set up a neighborhood lemonade stand. Encourage them to set big goals for the next school fundraiser, and give them the steps to a successful sales trip around the block (have a pitch targeted at your demographic and show what your product has to offer).

If your kids fail, don’t berate them for it. Failure teaches us many important and vital lessons about our sales techniques and our products. Help them analyze why they failed and work with them to evaluate how they could improve next time.

And don’t forget that you can teach your children about entrepreneurship, too. If they have an independent, creative, and thoughtful side, don’t ignore that. Inspire them to brainstorm new ideas, consider how they can solve problems for other people (and then market that problem), and help them understand how to determine if there is a demand for a particular product or service.

Here are some ideas to encourage your children to learn about selling through an entrepreneurial lens:

· Encourage them to set goals (and then help them define a plan of action to reach those goals).

· Give them a chance to earn their own money via a “business” like mowing the neighbors’ lawns. You might also take this opportunity to “tax” them just like the government eventually will.

All of this begs the question: why? Why teach kids the basics of selling, business, and entrepreneurship? Well, having a grasp of the fundamentals will set them up for more complex learning down the road, and the earlier they understand how the grown-up world works – in other words, the importance of a career, an income, and understanding business and money – the earlier they can adapt to it and start creating good habits that will lead to success as they grow older.

The importance of a good work ethic in children cannot be overstated. When they understand that money is made through hard work and that they can have some control over their future incomes if they dedicate themselves to an idea, they are more likely to strive for excellence instead of relying on their parents to foot the bill throughout their life. When you instill proper work ethic, you avoid raising entitled children.

Additionally, giving kids a certain type ofsales training will come in handy in other aspects outside of a boardroom or a meeting where they need to seal the deal. In the real world, you have to sell everyone. No one will take your word for it that you’re good at something or you possess a certain skill. You have to convince others that you have what it takes. In other words, you have to be able to sell your own personal brand time and time again, in various situations, in order to be successful.

You're Never Too Old to Earn!

Incredibly, there are still adults careening around financial aspects of their lives armed with only a debit card and crossed fingers. Our 90 day boot camp offers the entry into basic finance, leaving debt behind and entering the saving world. This application can save those users slower in financial maturity and provide easy financial basic education to begin pursuit of solvency. Just as incredibly, there are young capitalists of the future already watching their pennies and investing their quarters, well aware of current market trends. For both human ends of the financial totem, this app provides strong informative education and the resources to use it both now and tomorrow.

Professor Savings is the app for the century, able to equip anyone and everyone with financial skills and the ability to use them through their mobile phone. Even children are learning about their money needs and expenses with this application on their phone apps list.

The application is interactive and armed with fun tutorials. Customers can learn on the run as they enter their financial data throughout their busy days, submit questions and receive fast answers from their trusted mobile. Moving up the financial chain is easy through this app's mobile applications, and it is also entirely painless education for the user. From simple "I have/I want" agendas to the more categorized investment strategies and results, Professor Savings takes users smoothly through all steps of financial acumen. Moreover, this accumulated information and data remain private, confidential, secure and For Your Eyes Only!

This is the missing link of our education system which has never received the attention deserved. Students are busily conjugating verbs in ancient languages yet have been taught absolutely none of the basics in money management. The use of this application can remedy that oversight by educators and teach users how to take up their own reins for financial success. No matter the user's age or background in financial matters, this application can remedy any lack of understanding of money matters and enter a user into financial control. From that entrance level, it is rudimentary for the user to grow in financial management abilities by following the tutorials and video programming.

Control of finances is never taught in today's schools, leaving today's youth bare to the winds of poverty or chance. If the user is not in control of his/her funds and how and where they will be invested or spent, it is a certainty that someone in the future will use those funds in a way not wanted by the user. It is also a certainty that the end results will be losing ones for the user. Lessons in this application show users how to control and manage all funds, no matter the size or type. The resources used in this app are information packed tutorials, many keen witted and timely videos, plus interactive functions to hold the user's attention and enthusiasm.

About the Author:

George L. Hawkins, former CEO of one of Fortune 500's top producing fund families, brought his funds from near termination to success in five years of the worst market in history. Hawkins is an advocate of Professor Savings being utilized in early education for all public, parochial and private educational institutions. Hawkins is an advocate of Professor Savings being utilized in early education for all public, parochial and private educational institutions.

Ideas to Keep You Busy After Retirement

Millions of baby boomers are either retiring or reaching retirement age. The majority of them will not be satisfied with simply mowing the lawn or sitting on the front porch. The fact is 74% of these retirees plan to start a second career. Age is not a factor; many individuals in their sixties, seventies, and eighties have started successful second careers. Retires fall into two categories, those that are financially comfortable, and those that have to work to supplement their retirement.

Charity Volunteers

Nonprofit organizations are almost always looking for support, often in the form of volunteers who are willing to put a few hours in to help. Support children's literacy, the arts and sciences, or apply your skills to helping with the recycling efforts in your community. Select an organization that corresponds with your unique interests and passions. Use the skills you’ve developed during the past decades, or branch out and use your time to explore dreams you never had the chance to investigate.

Become a Life-Cycle Celebrant

Thinking of starting a business? Then you may want to consider becoming a life-cycle celebrant. Use your time, your talents, and your experience to help other people document the significant events in their lives. Help craft scrapbooks (virtual or actual) that highlight these occasions: births, weddings, travel, and memoires that reflect the special events in your clients’ lives. Create digital albums, or record experiences in writing. Life-Cycle documentation is an interesting and potentially lucrative new trend.

An Online Business

Setting up an ecommerce website for your Life-Cycle Celebrant, or another online business, requires some time and effort - but the payoff is well worth the effort. If you love crafting, selling antiques, or want to develop a business from a hobby, an ecommerce site may be the perfect solution. As with any business, there are many important factors to consider. An ecommerce site usually requires an SSL certificate. Find out how SSL certificates work and learn about other great tools to help build your ecommerce site. Where can I buy SSL certificates? From Thawte!

Renew your Education

Retirement opens many new doors. This could be the perfect time to return to school. You could finish your Masters at a local college; learn a skill online, volunteer in a neighborhood school, or tutor youth and adults in your community. Don’t rule out learning a new language. Language acquisition is one of the best ways to ward of Alzheimer’s.

Mentor Others

Your retirement years are the perfect time to give back. When you mentor, you are able to volunteer or capitalize on the skills that you have spent a lifetime honing. Many executive consultants and coaches charge anywhere from $150 - $500 USD/hour. An additional bonus is that you can work according to your own schedule, giving you time to spend with your family and travel.

“The limit is not in the sky. The limit is in the mind.” - Cv Pillay

There are countless ideas to keep you busy when you retire: plant a garden, learn to play an instrument, write a book, cook, or sail. You’re the only one who can decide of what is right for you. Chances are you’ve spent most of your life meeting the needs of others. Now is the perfect time to enjoy the rewards and to reap what you have sown!

Is It Time To Go Back To School?

Harkness Tower, situated in the Memorial Quadrangle at Yale (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is a Chinese proverb that says, "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is now." This applies to most other endeavors that have been postponed for one reason or another as we made our way through life. Many of us wish that we could have finished that masters degree, completed that doctorate, or maybe even taken a different course altogether. Being 50 years old and above doesn't mean that these dreams are now out of reach. In fact, it may be the perfect time to go back to school and learn new things in preparation for retirement. 

The Rise of Online Courses 

A lot of older people would love to return to their university but several things get in the way. Their work schedules may not permit them to attend regular sessions unless night or weekend classes are available. Even then the load may prove too much for their health and well-being. Some may be fit enough to work and study at the same time but are not that comfortable with the thought of being the oldest person in class. It's a good thing that technology has evolved to the extent that courses may be offered online and taken at the student's leisure. 

Take a Dip in MOOCs 

Those who crave for knowledge but are not ready to commit to full degree can ease into it via Massive Open Online Courses or MOOCs. These have only been in existence for a few short years but they have already attracted millions of students across the globe. They are typically short courses that last from 4 to 12 weeks dealing with various subjects ranging from arts to engineering. The professors are some of the most brilliant minds at well-known institutions such as Stanford, Yale, Duke and Harvard. Hundreds are available to the public for free. 

Taking these subjects will not result in a formal degree though a few may be accepted for credits at select universities. A lot of them offer certificates of completion as an acknowledgement of the student's efforts. There are several sites to choose from and each has its own methods. Usually, short video lectures are uploaded on a weekly basis and people view or download them from the site. There may be weekly quizzes and assignments. A few only have a final exam at the end of the course. Professors set the weight of each requirement as well as standard for passing the course. Students can interactive on the class forum or on social media. 

Plunge Head On with Online Degrees 

Should the MOOC experience prove successful and the student feels ready to take on a greater challenge, a variety of online degrees can be acquired through universities that have embraced this mode of instruction. The subjects are generally harder and more comprehensive than those found in MOOCs. There is a higher level of expectations when it comes to involvement in discussions and the quality of the academic work. After all, these lead to the conferment of a proper bachelors or masters degree. The time commitment is also more intense but still flexible. Some may be conducted entirely online while others require face time with the professor every now and then. 

In many ways, the age of 50 is the perfect time to return to school. The career is already stable, the finance is in order, and the children are old enough to take care of themselves. Celebrate this milestone by embarking on an endeavor that could lead to fantastic opportunities down the road. It could be the start of an exciting new life. 

Author Bio 

Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he explains a few benefits of online degrees and aims to encourage further study with an online master of education degree.

Can You Afford To Pay For Your Children’s Education?

saving and spending (Photo credit: 401(K) 2013)

University education comes with the cost of thousands of dollars every single year. Though there is funding available for students through the form of traditional loans, more and more parents are creating savings accounts and investment plans to assist their child with the cost of education. 

Can You Afford Your Children's Education?

It's best to start saving as soon as possible to ensure that the children in the family are going to have a university savings account that is going to get them through their education but this isn't always the case.

Consider the costs of the tuition, the supplementary income that the child can contribute while they're going to school and working part time. It's important to assess the budget and determine the monthly amount that can be allocated to the child's university costs. If more than one children are attending university, it's important to consider the costs and how they are going to be divided.

For parents with school aged children and no savings for post-secondary education, consider where you can cut corners now to build the education savings account for future use. Research grants and other types of funding options that can supplement parent savings. 

University Costs -- Not Just Tuition

University education is more than the costs that come with tuition. Additional fees through the university include admission fees, administration fees, fees for books and laboratory time and extracurricular and transportation fees. In addition to the fees that are charged to the student for attending school, students attending university outside of their hometown are charged for room and board while staying on campus and additional living costs if they choose to live off of campus. 

How to Increase Education Savings

Saving early is the best way to get a head start on university costs. For families putting multiple children through university, the costs can add up quickly. Establishing a finance savings program early in life is an effective way for families to assist in the cost of the child's education.

Starting early is easier when a savings program is established and automatic debits are set-up from the account. Choosing the debits at the same time every month and paying yourself first can help to boost these savings.

Take advantage of the grant programs that are available through government programs. These programs contribute a percentage of the amount that has been deposited by the parents into the education savings account. Research the programs to determine the eligibility of the family and determine how to best use the program. Starting early will ensure that you're able to maximize this program as much as possible.

Budget. Find ways to cut the costs of the household finance expenses to find additional room to put away into a monthly savings or education investment account. Something as simple as taking your lunch, or cutting the cable or vacation fund can help to establish and cushion the savings account for post-secondary school.

Ask for help and enlist the students that are going to be attending university to take on part time jobs to help cover the costs of the additional education. In addition to part time income, ask children to research scholarships and grants that are available or determine the loan options available to cover a percentage of the tuition for school.

Finally, consider the options of a local university -- rather than the children attending school in another city or state. Attending a local university can help to save money, as students are able to live at home while attending school, cutting the costs of living expenses and allowing more money to be allocated towards tuition.

Author Bio
Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he offer financial tips to college students and aims to encourage further study through ACU Higher Education Degrees Online. 

5 Ways to Manage Your Finances During Deployment

An impending deployment can lead to tremendous stress and anxiety, and financial hardship is one of the biggest obstacles facing deployed service members and their families. Many active-duty members have spouses and children to support. Others fear losing sight of their educational and career goals while serving a lengthy tour overseas. Although deployment can be fiscally challenging, it does not have to mean a financially unstable future. Mange your finances and use the resources available while on deployment by following these five tips. 

Continue Your Education Online

A major factor in achieving a financially stable future is getting a degree that will land you a high-paying job after military service. Continuing your education online is a great way to pursue your educational goals while you are deployed. Plan carefully when selecting your school and look for institutions that offer military scholarships and grant military credit through the American Counsel of Education (ACE) program. Every college performs ACE reviews to determine how much credit will be granted for the military experience you’ve already gained. Shop around to find the school that offers the most.

The military also offers active-duty soldiers tuition assistance for their online courses. This covers all tuition costs that do not exceed $250 per semester hour or $4,500 per fiscal year. You can apply for this benefit online through GoArmyEd.com and will receive notification when your request has been approved. Each academic year, you and your commander must sign a Tuition Assistance Statement of Understanding to continue receiving this benefit. 

Take Advantage of Deployment Entitlements

Knowing which deployment entitlements you are eligible for is helpful in the financial-planning process. All soldiers who are deployed for more than 30 days are eligible for per diem in the amount of $105 per month, which is provided in addition to your base salary. Family Separation Allowance is also available to soldiers with authorized dependents, which provides an additional $250 per month. Those serving in a hostile fire or imminent danger area receive an additional $7.50 per day, and soldiers who are deployed to areas with extremely low quality of life conditions may be eligible for hardship duty pay. Depending on the specific qualifying location, hardship duty pay offers payments ranging from $50 to $150 per month. Contact your unit’s administrative section to find out the additional pay you will be receiving, and calculate your entitlements ahead of time to assist you with your budgeting goals. 

Use Opportunities to Save Overseas

There are many ways you can save while you are serving on a deployment, and the process of using these opportunities begins before you leave. Simple steps such as cancelling your Netflix account, gym membership and cellphone service can save you a lot of money while you are away. Be sure to unplug appliances, such as your refrigerator, to dramatically reduce your electric bill — or consider renting out your home to earn extra money.

Once you deploy, it is also a great idea to invest in the Savings Deposit Program (SDP), which allows you to deposit up to $10,000 once you have been deployed for 30 days. This program, sponsored by the Department of Defense, offers a 10-percent return and continues to collect interest for up to 120 days after your deployment ends. Additionally, you can keep your SDP going for as long as 36 months, provided you are deployed for at least a day per month. 

Know Your Legal Deployment Rights

Before you deploy, familiarize yourself with your rights under the Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This law protects service members called to active duty from adverse civil action in areas regarding financial management. Under this law, you are protected from eviction if your rent is under $1,200 per month. You can also suspend auto leases as well as car and health-insurance payments. Additionally, you may receive reduced rates on credit card and mortgage payments, and are protected from foreclosure. Even if your debt was accrued prior to your active duty, the SCRA places a six-percent per year interest rate cap on any of your existing debt during your active duty service. To invoke your rights under this law, you may obtain proof of your Title 10 active-duty status through the SCRA website. 

Maintain Open Communication With Family Members

Discussing your bills and creating a sensible budget with your spouse before leaving will give you a better understanding of your family’s financial situation. Before you deploy, it is also a good idea to obtain military legal assistance in the event your spouse will need to make purchases on your behalf while you are away. Keeping an honest and open line of communication about your spending with your spouse will give you both a realistic idea of where you are financially and allow you to plan accordingly.

Deploying overseas can be a stressful time; however, by following these tips, you can eliminate financial hardship from your list of concerns. Those who face an upcoming deployment can have financial peace of mind as they bravely serve their country.

About the Author: Dawn Johnson is a contributing writer and has served two deployments in Afghanistan. 

Image by DVIDSHUB from Flickr’s Creative Commons

Having Trouble Paying for Education? Try These Offbeat Ideas

An organization called Affordable College Online found that by the year 2020, it may cost an average student more than $20,000 to attend a four-year university. It’s also unsettling to realize that the price tag is on the rise, yet an article in the Fremont Tribune says that since 1990, the amount of college debt has ballooned by 511 percent. One of the aims of the Obama administration is to make college more affordable, but until it is, consider trying some of the odd but worthwhile ways of raising money below.
Sell Your Video Game Accounts

In the same way frustrated gamers often purchase “cheats” to help themselves progress past a challenging level, some might be willing to buy established video game accounts, especially if you are very skilled at a rampantly popular game and have accumulated a lot of weapons, points, spare lives or other indicators of success that would mean a lot to a gamer. As reported by Geek.com, one lucky individual was able to sell his Steam.com gaming account and the associated 139 games for $1,000 on eBay.
Be a Liquor Store Auditor

You’ve probably heard of opportunities to be a secret shopper, where you get paid in cash or gifts to do things like eat at restaurants or go to the cinema and then report back about certain elements of your experience. Similar kinds of jobs exist at liquor stores, too. You’ll usually have to get hired by a third-party company, and would later be assigned a task where you attempt to buy liquor at a retailer and see whether or not the cashier asks you for a form of identification. In most cases, there are age limits for this job, meaning you probably won’t be accepted if you already look obviously old enough to drink legally. However, if you’re lucky enough to still look youthful, you might be able to earn as much as thirty dollars for an assignment that could take less than an hour to complete.

Try Competitive Eating

If you’re a dedicated food lover, the curious world of competitive eating might be for you. The Associated Press recently reported about Eric Dahl, a University of Wisconsin computer engineering student who is taking part in eating competitions to finance his studies. Impressively, one instance of winning a challenge earned the student $250 for finishing nine pulled pork barbecue sandwiches in six minutes. If you’re ready to sign up for a competition in your area, bear in mind a fair amount of preparation is probably required. For example, Dahl has carefully altered his diet so he’s able to maintain a slim figure despite his excessive caloric consumption. However, he also stretches his stomach prior to a match by eating ten pounds of cabbage or broccoli along with large quantities of water. Surprisingly, although Dahl walks a few miles a day, lifts weights twice weekly and plays some intramural sports for exercise, he hasn’t had to become the kind of gym enthusiast you might expect to avoid massive weight gain.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways you can earn money to get or stay educated, and they don’t all involve donating plasma or doing something that might get you in trouble, such as selling essays or test cheat sheets. Consider these ideas now no matter which stage you’re at in your education.

Brett Harris is a full-time blogger. You can read his most recent article on the Top 10 colleges for a cheap online degree 2013 here.

Want To Grow In Your Career? 5 Ideas That Will Get You Noticed

Even if you believe you're completely secure at your current job level, know that job promotions and salary increases don't grown on trees. If you want to grow in your career, here are five ideas that will get you noticed and on the road to a higher job title and the higher income that goes with it.

Go Beyond your Current Job Performance

Make sure you know exactly what your particular career description entails in all of its duties and functions. Compare it to what you have been accomplishing on a daily, weekly and quarterly basis. If sales figures or quotas are involved in your job, take that into account as well. Now make an effort to perform those tasks at 110% of your abilities at all times. Management and higher ups will be sure to notice your dedication.

Knowledge is King

Impressing upper management with your increased knowledge and education in your field, can make you a highly sought after team member. Advanced college degrees and certificates in most fields can now be granted by taking courses over the internet. An excellent form of web learning is the system at atrixware.com. Here you will find software tools for excellent e-learning design, delivery and development strategies. Online courses can be customized to meet your needs for best results and understanding.

Take on Additional Duties and Responsibilities

Be proactive in your approach to job requirements and leadership roles. Ask for an additional assignment or chair a committee or meeting without being asked. Volunteer to organize a holiday party, social event or community project.

Learn to Delegate Judiciously

While maintaining a heavier workload for yourself, be sure to learn the fine art of delegating items to fellow employees when necessary. Make sure you are fully bound to the project material so that other workers asked to help carry the burden do not feel exploited or taken advantage of.

Cordiality is the Key

A congenial and cordial tone is crucial to being liked and respected by fellow employees within your office or corporate environment. Show deference to those in management above your ranking, while showing respect to employees below your title or company stature.

An increasingly competitive job market could mean that a fork in the road or a wrong turn on the corporate highway can lead the most experienced employee astray. Especially at a time of corporate downsizing, each individual must make an effort to stand out amongst his or her company comrades.

Brionna Kennedy is native to the Pacific Northwest, growing up in Washington, then moving down to Oregon for college. She enjoys writing on fashion and business, but any subject will do, she loves to learn about new topics. When she isn't writing, she lives for the outdoors. Oregon has been the perfect setting to indulge her love of kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking.

Start Early When Preparing for College Expenses

If you're the grandparent of a recent high school graduate, you're probably filled with many different emotions. Chances are that you feel excited for your grandchild's accomplishment but are also nervous about the future. The cost of college increases each year, and room, board, and rent aren't cheap, either. Add in the cost of textbooks, new clothes, and apartment belongings and the opportunity to go to college may seem slimmer than ever. There are, however, a few ways you can help your grandchild succeed should he decide that college is right for him.

First off, look at scholarships. Help your grandchild fill out his FAFSA to find out what sort of federal scholarships and grants he may qualify for, but also look at local scholarships. For example, many colleges offer private scholarships to students who choose a certain major or students with a certain background. A scholarship will help reduce the cost of attending college and can free up extra money that you would normally have spent on tuition.

It's also important to talk with your grandchild about financial responsibility. If he's ready, consider taking a trip to Lexington Law to meet with a financial adviser. A professional financial adviser will consult with you and your grandchild to talk about how to prepare for the future financially, how to make good financial decisions, how to avoid falling into debt, and how to resolve current debts if this is an issue. Additionally, your lawyer will be able to discuss different investing options for your grandchild to consider even while he is in college.

Finally, make sure you help your grandchild find an inexpensive, yet cheap place to stay. Remind him that it's more important to live within his means than to impress people by showing off how much money he has. It's easy for students to get caught up trying to show off to their friends and do things like buy a brand new car or charge an expensive sofa, but the truth is that these things are unimportant. A secondhand car or a secondhand couch work just as well as brand new items, yet don't mean going into debt to acquire. Remind your grandchild that what matters is his personal education and not making friends who need to be impressed.

Five Ways To Save Money and Learn New Skills at Home

Earning and saving money while learning new skills or a new trade can seem impossible at times, especially with the rising cost of traditional education. If you are looking for ways to save money while also expanding your knowledge, there are a few different methods available that can be completed from just about anywhere, including your own home. 

Read Free EBooks

Reading free eBooks online is one way to save money while learning new information or skills. There are libraries of thousands of free eBooks on everything from survival in the wilderness and canning food to understanding the mind and even neuroscience.

Browse Official Publications

Browsing official publications and documents that have been released online is another way to learn new skills without having to invest any money to gain the knowledge you are seeking. Be sure to verify the publications or documents you are reading are truly official and from a reputable source when learning a new trade or skill.

Learn With Videos

Learning with do it yourself, or "DIY" videos is another way to save money and learn new skills at home. Watching videos online is a way to avoid enrolling in paid classes while learning and picking up new subjects entirely free and from the comfort of your own home. When you want to get working around the home, there are plenty of DIY videos to get you started. With Garage Door instructional videos it has never been easier to get actively involved with DIY projects around the house.

Get Creative

Get creative and begin designing or working with photo-editing, programming and even web design. Working from home and saving money is possible by picking up computer-related skills, especially if you consider yourself to be somewhat inclined to technology. Find your passion and choose a niche to focus on.

Join New Start-Ups

If you truly want to immerse yourself in an environment from home that allows you to learn new skills, join new start-up businesses or online groups for entrepreneurs and self-learners. Becoming a member of online communities, message boards and social networks is a great way to pick up new skills without being required to attend traditional classes.

Knowing how to get resourceful at home when you want to learn anything new is a great way to save money while still enhancing your knowledge. When you put various resources to use online while you are learning new material it is much easier to find the experience enjoyable and more memorable long-term.

AUTHOR BIO: Tommy Mello owns Garage Door Nation, a website specializing in wholesale garage parts and providing helpful DIY videos. 

Dealing With Your Children's University Expenses

Better Now Than Never

One thing that many parents face with tremendous peril is how to help their children with university expenses. Sadly this peril could have been altogether avoided no matter how financially well off the parents are. It's true, parents that begin saving for college funds when their children are still toddlers rarely have issues with college funding. Though many parents are wise and do this, many do not start as early, but it's better late than never when it comes to this financial issue.

When Starting a Bit Too Late

While saving for university costs is best done over the entire course of a child's earlier school years, there is still hope for parents eager to help their children get through higher education learning. One way parents can help is by assisting their child with applying for federal student aid where available. There are many local and nationwide organizations that provide financial support through grants to individuals attending or applying to attend college.

When Federal Aid May Not Be Enough

Though many financial aid programs pay a good portion of tuition costs and aid with book purchases, the help may not be enough to cover all of the finance issues students have. This is when parents can turn to other forms of funding to meet their children's university related financial needs. There are several financial institutions that loan money to cover the costs of higher education. Most of these loans can either be obtained directly in the parents name or under the potential student's name.

The Pros of a Fixed Rate Educational Loan

When mentioning the word loan many people tense up and get ready for an outrageous interest rate. This is not the case with many student loans; in fact many are designed to be set at a steady rate of interest with low monthly payments no matter the period within the loan term. A fixed rate student loan is one of the best to apply for because both the parent and student already know what is in store for them when it comes to repaying the loan.

Other Methods of Affording University Costs

Many parents would love to afford their children the luxury of having nothing more to concentrate on other than course work, but that is not a luxury all parents can offer. Some parents have had to encourage their children to get a part time job outside of school to help pay for extra educational costs such as clothing, supplies and other things that are not covered under student loans and grants. Most parents view this as an opportunity to teach their children to stand on their own two feet and to become a person with high work ethics.

When Loans and Part Time Jobs Are Not Covering the Costs

Unfortunately certain circumstances such as car payments, insurance, and other similar bills can keep parents and children struggling to pay for educational costs. Some parents have even taken on an additional job and stay at home moms have re-entered the work force to help their children with university costs. Other ways of helping college bound children is to buy them an inexpensive vehicle and perhaps open up a small line of credit to be used for gas and emergency purposes.

Credit Cards Can Help Pick Up the Slack

A lot of parents have found that by providing their child with a low interest credit card they monthly payments are far less than the outright costs of necessary things. Sure the cost will eventually have to be paid off, but using credit to help float through tougher times sure helps. The goal should always be to keep the charges down and to pay a little more than the payment requires each month to avoid higher payback costs.

Using Common Sense to Make Dreams Come True

There are numerous other ways parents can assist their children get through college, even ways such as getting roommates, carpooling, going to local universities, and many more. So, no matter when higher education costs become part of the budget, parents can play a significant role in aiding their children to become who they always dreamed to be.


Author Bio
Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. This article offer financial advice for university students and aims to encourage further study with an OU Civil Engineering Masters Online. 

How Much Does a Bachelor Degree Cost Around the World? - Infographic

Here is a great infographic depicting the cost of a bachelor degrees around the world. It’s interesting to see the costs in some countries. Also what you chose as your major will impact for the rest of your career what your income will be. Many parents do not realize the education their children are getting, for an insane cost, will lead to a poor paying job.

Cost of Bachelor’s Degree around the World

Udemy Makes Online Learning Easy

Image via CrunchBase

Udemy, an online education platform, offers a glimpse of the future. I recently spent an entertaining morning exploring this site, and was impressed by the scope of their offerings: over 1000 courses in topics that range from geeky like "Microsoft PowerPoint 2010" to artistic "Karl Taylor's FREE Photography Course" with over 17266 students.

Lets look at the details, the fundamental idea driving Udemy is uncomplicated: the site makes it easy to both take and offer classes (free and paid).

The most introductory courses consist only of video lectures. The more innovative courses mix video lectures with workbooks, samples, and sometimes audio that can be downloaded to your iPod.

All the courses I sampled provide lifetime access (once you buy the course, the material is yours forever) and a 30-day guarantee (a sign of confidence given that 30 days is enough to watch all the material for most courses).

The program is smartly arranged so that you can access your courses from any Internet-connected device, and the user interface is crisp and intuitive.

Summary: As the education model continues to be rewritten, there will be lots of sites trying to match students with teachers. Udemy’s advantage is that they’re taking the time to get the details right.

A few sample courses of the 1000's available, both free and paid.

Be a better photographer.

Learn QuickBooks to manage your business

Take a free photography course

Udemy has so many course that you can use to increase your knowledge. Check one out today.

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