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Fight against credit card rate hikes
by Gerri Willis, CNN finance editor
As expected, credit card issuers are raising fees and rates just before legislative restrictions take place next February. But you don't have to be vulnerable. Here are some alternatives to bank credit cards.
read more...
FIND A CHEAP HOME
Cutting Grocery Costs without Cutting Nutrition
Simple, healthy, and affordable ways to weather the rising price of food
by Karen Collins, R.D., American Institute of Cancer Research
Grocery prices are projected to increase again in 2008 – that’s following 2007’s highest annual increase in 17 years. But surviving these tough economic times doesn’t have to mean sacrificing good nutrition. Some simple strategies can help you cut food costs and eat more healthfully, too.
read more...
83 Percent of Recruiters Look for Digital Dirt
4 Ways to Clean Up Digital Dirt
by Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing
Job seekers, beware! That MySpace photo of you doing a keg stand may get a few chuckles from friends, but it's no laughing matter in the job market.
Employers are increasingly scouring the Internet for "digital dirt" to help them weed through job candidates. In fact, 83.2 percent of recruiters acknowledged to using online search engines in 2007 to uncover information about candidates, according to ExecuNet, an online referral network for executives and recruiters. Of these recruiters, 43 percent acknowledged eliminating candidates based on the negative information they found.
read more...
CDI College of Business, Technology and Health Care
Top 10 Online Job Search Tips
by CareerBuilder.com
While the popularity of online job boards puts millions of jobs at one's fingertips, it has also made the job applicant pool that much bigger. For this reason, national job search sites and the Internet as a whole have gotten a bad rap from some industry professionals as an ineffective job seeker tool; on the contrary, the Internet actually can be a great resource for job seekers -- they just need to know how to use it.
read more...
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Find information on government grants: Teacher Education Assistance, Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant, National SMART Grant, Institutional Grants, Campus Based Aid (FSEOG, FWS, Perkins Loans); Stafford Loans (FEFL, Direct Loan), Plus Loans.
Find information on private foundation funded scholarships, as well as information on income based repayment plan, cancellation/deferment for teachers, and more...
State Financial Aid - Private Financial Aid - Corporate Financial Aid
Grants
Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid. Click the links below to learn
more about grant programs available for eligible students pursuing a
postsecondary education.
read more...
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH
Grant)
Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
Program that provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to
teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students
from low-income families. If, after reading all of the information on this fact
sheet, you are interested in learning more about the TEACH Grant Program, you
should contact the financial aid office at the college where you will be
enrolled.
read more...
Federal Pell Grant
A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are
awarded usually only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's
or a professional degree. (In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a
post-baccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Pell Grant.)
Pell Grants are considered a foundation of federal financial aid, to which aid
from other federal and nonfederal sources might be added. How much can I get?
The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2008-09 award year (July 1, 2008 to June
30, 2009) is $4,731. The maximum can change each award year and depends on
program funding. The amount you get, though, will depend not only on your
financial need, but also on your costs to attend school, your status as a
full-time or part-time student, and your plans to attend school for a full
academic year or less.
read more...
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program is for
undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Pell Grant recipients with the
lowest expected family contributions (EFCs) will be considered first for a FSEOG.
Just like Pell Grants, the FSEOG does not have to be repaid.
How much can I get? You can receive between $100 and $4,000 a year, depending on
when you apply, your financial need, the funding at the school you're attending,
and the policies of the financial aid office at your school.
If I am eligible, how will I get the FSEOG money? If you're eligible, your
school will credit your account, pay you directly (usually by check), or combine
these methods. Your school must pay you at least once per term (semester,
trimester, or quarter). Schools that do not use semesters, trimesters, or
quarters must disburse funds at least twice per academic year.
read more...
Academic Competitiveness Grant
The Academic Competitiveness Grant was made available for the first time for the
2006-2007 school year for first year college students who graduated from high
school after January 1, 2006, and for second year college students who graduated
from high school after January 1, 2005. The Academic Competitiveness Grant award
is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.
How Much Can A Student Receive? An Academic Competitiveness Grant will provide
up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the
second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for a
Federal Pell Grant and who had successfully completed a rigorous high school
program, as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by
the Secretary of Education. Second year students must maintain a cumulative
grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.
read more...
The National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART
Grant)
The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant, also known
as the National Smart Grant is available during the third and fourth years of
undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for the Federal Pell
Grant and who are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics,
technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to
national security. The student must also be enrolled in the courses necessary to
complete the degree program and to fulfill the requirements of the intended
eligible major in addition to maintaining a cumulative grade point average (GPA)
of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major. The National SMART Grant
award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.
read more...
Institutional Grants
There are other grants in addition to ours. Colleges provide institutional
grants to help make up the difference between college costs and what a family
can be expected to contribute through income, savings, loans, and student
earnings.
Other institutional grants, known as merit awards or merit scholarships, are
awarded on the basis of academic achievement. Some merit awards are offered only
to students whose families demonstrate financial need; others are awarded
without regard to a family's finances. Some grants come with special privileges
or obligations. You'll want to find out about the types of grants awarded by
each college you are considering.
read more...
Federal Aid First
Thinking about attending college? Will you need a loan? If so, think Federal Aid First! Federal loans usually offer borrowers lower interest rates and have more flexible repayment options than loans from banks or other private sources. ...explains the differences between federal and private education loans, the various kinds of federal loans offered and the dollar amounts available. Included are details on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)—your starting point for obtaining financial assistance for college.
read more...
Preparing for Your Education
Education beyond high school can give you choices that may not otherwise be
possible, open doors to better paying positions, and give you the opportunity to
do the things you enjoy most. By advancing your education, you can expand your
possibilities and increase your career choices.
Find out what you need to do to prepare for education beyond high school.
The FAFSA4caster
www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/index.htm provides students with an early estimate
of their eligibility for federal student financial assistance.
read more...
Campus-Based Aid
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal
Work-Study (FWS), and Federal Perkins Loan programs are called campus-based
programs because they're administered directly by the financial aid office at
each participating school. Not all schools participate in all three programs.
Check with your school's financial aid office to find out which programs they
participate in.
How much aid you receive from each of these programs depends on your financial
need, on the amount of other aid you receive, and on the availability of funds
at your college or career school. Unlike the Federal Pell Grant Program, which
provides funds to every eligible student, the campus-based programs provide a
certain amount of funds for each participating school to administer each year.
Each school sets its own deadlines for campus-based funds, and those
deadlines are usually earlier than the Department of Education's deadline for filing a FAFSA.
read more...
Stafford Loans (FFELs and Direct Loans)
U.S. Department of Education administers the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL)
Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. Both
the FFEL and Direct Loan programs consist of what are generally known as
Stafford Loans (for students) and PLUS Loans (for parents).
read more...
PLUS Loans (Parent Loans)
Parents can borrow a PLUS Loan to help pay your education expenses if you are a
dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half time in an eligible
program at an eligible school. PLUS Loans are available through the Federal
Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan
(Direct Loan) Program. Your parents can get either loan, but not both, for you
during the same enrollment period. They also must have an acceptable credit
history.
How do my parents get a loan?
For a Direct PLUS Loan, your parents must complete a Direct PLUS Loan
application and promissory note, contained in a single form that you get from
your school’s financial aid office.
read more...
FAFSA - Free
Application for Federal Student Aid
1. Before Beginning an FAFSA: gather required documents and
other information ahead of time.
2. Fill out the application: steps that ask about you, your
financial information, your school plans, and more.
3. View your results online: check the status of your
application, make corrections to a processed FAFSA.
FAFSA Filing
You may choose any of these three methods to file a Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA):
• Apply online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov (recommended) or
• Complete a PDF FAFSA (Note: PDF FAFSAs must be
mailed for processing) or
• Request a paper FAFSA by calling the Federal
Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243))
or 1-319-337-5665.
read more...
Income Based Repayment Plan
Income Based Repayment (IBR) is a new repayment plan for the major types of federal loans made to students. Under IBR, your required monthly payment is capped at an amount that is intended to be affordable based on your income and family size.
read more...
Cancellation/Deferment Options for Teachers
If you're a teacher serving in a low-income or subject-matter shortage area, it
might be possible for you to cancel or defer your student loans.
•
Canceling a Perkins Loan
If you have a loan from the Federal Perkins Loan Program, you might be eligible
for loan cancellation for full-time teaching at a low-income school or teaching
in certain subject areas. Find out more here. You can also qualify for deferment
for these qualifying teaching services. Check with the school that made your
Perkins Loan for more information.
•
Cancellation for Stafford Loans
If you received a Stafford Loan on or after October 1, 1998, and you teach full
time for five consecutive years in a low-income school, you might be eligible to
have a portion of the loan cancelled. This applies to FFEL Stafford Loans,
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, and in some cases, Consolidation
Loans.
•;
Stafford Loan Deferment/Forbearance Provisions
If you have a FFEL or Direct Stafford Loan and you're teaching full time in a
teacher shortage area, you might be eligible for deferment (postponement of
repayment) if you borrowed before July 1, 1993.
If you borrowed on or after July 1, 1993, you might be eligible for forbearance
(a temporary postponement or reduction).
•
Douglas Scholarship Reduced Service
If you have a Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship, you might be eligible for
reduced service obligations. (Note: These scholarships were last awarded in
1995-96.) Recipients of the Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship may reduce the
years of service they must perform by teaching in a shortage area.
read more...
Loan Forgiveness
Under certain circumstances, the federal government will cancel all or part of
an educational loan.
To qualify, you must:
• perform volunteer work:
AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)
• perform military service: National
Guard
• teach: Perkins Loan, Mississippi
sprecial program
• practice medicine in certain types of
communities: Equal Justice Works, National Health Service Corps, etc.
•
Check eligibility
read
more...
The listing of or omission of an institution, organization or corporation on this Web site does not refer to programmatic capability nor does it confer any official status, approval, or endorsement of the institution, organization or corporation itself. This listing does not purport to be a listing of all organizations & corporations that are providing relief in the affected area. Additionally, there may be organizations providing relief in the affected area that are not accepting donations at this time. It is not the purpose of this Web site to make, or enable to be made, any representation to the public concerning the organizations listed. This listing is for informational purposes only. Any contributions or submissions you choose to make from links on this Web site are at your sole discretion.
• Join the SingleMom.com forums. Share your tips, resources and experience with other single moms
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9 Cash-Saving Tips That Pay Big Bucks
complaintsboard.com
The expression "a penny saved is a penny earned" doesn't cut it these days. But saving a few dollars here and there can add up...
read
more...
Try out these Thanksgiving recipes from tasteofhome
You May Have Too Much Debt But You Also Have Options
How Life Works
If you feel like you're in over your head with personal debt, you're not alone. Millions of Americans have become overextended, many as a result of easy credit and the recessions. Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and raising interest rates do not make a good financial mix.
read more...
Suze Orman's Recession Rescue Plan - helps you survive in times of financial crisis
OPRAH.com
Do you know what your family would do if you lost your job - or worse, your home? Financial expert Suze Orman is ready to help you
devise a recession rescue plan to survive - and possibly thrive - during this deepening financial crisis...
read more...
Could fat babies mean fat toddlers?
A new study from Harvard Medical School found that babies who gained weight quickly had a sharply higher risk of obesity. The study
followed close to 600 babies and found those in the top quarter of weight for their length at 6 months had a 40 percent higher risk of
obesity by age 3 than smaller babies.
read
more...
The 10-Ingredient Shopping Trip
By Tara Parker-Pope and Mark Bittman
... In his latest “How to Cook Everything” segment on the Today Show, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman makes it
surprisingly easy to cook a week’s worth of dinners with just a 10-ingredient shopping trip.
read
more...
Finding last-minute tuition money
There's still time to find funds for this semester's college tuition. But you'll have to move quickly.
By Gerri Willis
It's only a couple of weeks or even days until school begins. And if you don't think you'll be able to get a handle on your college
tuition bill, here with your guide to last minute money.
read more...
Short-term Payday Loans
econ4u.org
...Which are more expensive, late fees or short-term loans?...
A short-term payday loan can be a better option than overdraft fees, reconnect fees, late payment fees or a damaged credit rating when
the loan is repaid promptly. However, these loans are not suited for longer repayment periods...
Being realistic about budgeting can help avoid the need for short-term borrowing.
read more...
Your Just-in-Case Emergency Plan
by RealSimple
Who do you call if you can't make it home in time to meet the kids' bus? Who do
you trust to take in your mail when you're on vacation? Who do you trust with
the extra set of keys to your house?
read
more...
How to save $10,000 in 2009
By Liz Pulliam Weston
If you were hoping for a list of small tweaks you could make in your spending to save $10,000 a year, sorry. The reality is that
$10,000 is a lot of money. And saving big money usually means making big changes in the areas where we spend the most, such as:
Housing, Transportation, Food.
read
more...
The Super, Sexy, Single Mom on a Budget
by Renee Rayles
A quick reference guide designed for the busy, single mom who has
little time to read while running the mom taxi, cooking dinner, helping with homework, and trying to fit in a date night every now and
then.
32 and Counting? Finding Your Happily Ever After Today
by Gi Gi
The author talks about the struggles a single mom goes through and the discovery that you can have HEAT (Happily Ever After Today) just
as you are, being single, taking care of your kids...
read more...
Single Mothers &
Male Role-Models / Mentors
Single mothers carry an enormous load of responsibility, especially those having sole and/or primary custody of minor children. They
nourish, they nurture, they teach, they discipline, they shelter, they protect, and they provide… all without the assistance of another
equally-invested adult.
read more...
Your 5-minute guide to protecting your identity
20 steps to protect yourself from identity theft, and seven ways to clean up things if you become a victim.
read more...
TheOnlineMom.com offers parents and consumers a guide to the top-rated, age-appropriate, kid-tested and parent-approved tech toys and gifts.
read more...
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
by Jeff Kinney
For those wondering why tween boys don’t read very much, the answer is that more books aren’t like this...
read more...
34 Ways to Reduce College Costs
Cooperative education programs allow students to alternate between working full time and studying full time. This type of employment program is not based upon financial need, and students can earn as much as $7,000 per year.
Some colleges give credit for life experiences, thereby reducing the number of credits needed for graduation. Students should check with the college for further information.
read more...
8 Ways to Survive - and Thrive - in a New Job
by Robert Half International
... The initial months on a job can be exciting, but they also are critical to shaping your manager's and co-workers' opinions about your potential in the new role, as well as laying the groundwork for success within the organization...
read more...
Answer Key Interview Questions Like a Pro
by Robin Ryan, Author of "60 Seconds and You're Hired"
"We would like you to come in for an interview" are the wonderful words every job hunter longs to hear. All that stands in the way of your new job is acing the interview and handling the questions like a pro. Long, babbling answers or monosyllabic replies aren't effective.
read more...
Take surveys and earn free music, headphones and more. Join ZoomPanel today.
FIND A CHEAP HOME
Factors to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer
by Robert Half International
Searching for a job is hard work. Scanning help-wanted listings, researching companies, sending out customized cover letters and résumés and attending interviews can be tiring and time-consuming. If you're like most job seekers, you're excited -- or at least relieved -- when your efforts result in an employment offer.
read more...
How to Identify Your Transferable Skills
by Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer
This "finding a career" thing is tricky business.
You go to college and major in one thing -- but find yourself in a job opposite from what you spent four years studying. Or, you land a job that's exactly in line with your college major -- but discover it's not what you had in mind.
read more
The Directory of Financial Aid for Women
by Gail A. Schlachter
ISBN 1588411672, 560 pages
If you are looking for financial aid for women, or know women who are, then this
is the directory for you. Here, in one place, are detailed descriptions of more
than 1,500 funding programs--representing billions of dollars in financial aid
set aside specifically for women.
read more...
Four Ways to Get Hired Faster
by Mark Krajnik, CEO, Next Level Solutions
The difference between being proactive and reactive is time. Reactive people wait for things to happen to them, while proactive people go out and make things happen. Timing is key in any career move, so it is up to you to make things happen.
read more...
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