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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.
Search the top online schools 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. 
Brandon is Kid of the Month 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.
Guaranteed Credit Line
Stop these bad work habits now by CNN and CareerBuilder.com
...Try going on a diet and I guarantee that a freshly baked pizza will break your willpower whether you're on the second or the forty-fifth day... Research careers by industry. Learn about programs by area of interest and find today's fastest growing and most lucrative careers.
Six Job Hunting Myths Debunked by Robert Half International Everyone wants to give job seekers advice, and while much of it is useful, some guidance may miss the mark. Because the employment market is constantly changing, ideas that once worked well may no longer be effective. This doesn't mean you have to second-guess everything you hear, but do be aware of common job-hunting myths, like the following:
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Financial Aid and Scholarships for Single Moms
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.
Federal Student Aid Programs
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.
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. 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.) 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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).
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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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. Financial Aid for the California Community Colleges Network
Everything you want to know about financial aid is available in the financial aid office at your local California Community College campus.
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.
Health insurance costs may be on the rise... But you can't afford to go without it! Request a free quote for your family and loved ones, and protect them today with health insurance.
Additional Information
NoteThe 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.
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Your 15-point tax-return checklist by By Jeff Schnepper It's time to start thinking about getting those taxes done. Maybe you're in a panic. Not to worry. Just follow Schnepper's 15 steps to getting your taxes done, and you'll be much happier. Ready? 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.
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... 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. 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. 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. Short-term Payday Loans econ4u.org
...Which are more expensive, late fees or short-term loans?...
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?
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. 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...
Single Mothers & 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.
20 steps to protect yourself from identity theft, and seven ways to clean up things if you become a victim. TheOnlineMom.com offers parents and consumers a guide to the top-rated, age-appropriate, kid-tested and parent-approved tech toys and gifts.  
by Jeff Kinney For those wondering why tween boys don’t read very much, the answer is that more books aren’t like this...
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. 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... 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. Don't get stuck with a huge medical bill! Get a Health Insurance Quote today:
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.
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. 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. |
