College
The Gallup organization has reported that 86% of Americans believe that a college education will soon be beyond the reach of most families. This needn't be the case. These resources can help you put together a plan that includes saving and investing as well as shopping for grants and scholarships.
Many parents and young people assume a four-year college degree is the key to launching a successful career, and is therefore a wise investment of time and money. But that assumption is increasingly being called into question — both by the exploding costs (and related debt) associated with getting a Bachelor's degree, and an economy that's offering fewer attractive new jobs for college grads. Is four years at college really the best approach to a post high-school education?
Plenty of parents have made these common mistakes. There's no reason for you to make them too.
Guest columnist and father-of-five Scott Houser has been through the college search-and-selection process five times. If your family is in the college-search mode, Scott's insights may be a real education.
The government's new Income-Based Repayment program gives low-income borrowers extra time to pay off their loans.
A college education — for many, this will be the largest single purchase they make, aside from their home. The tools available to deal with this daunting savings challenge have changed dramatically over the past decade. New tools, like Section 529 plans and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, are huge upgrades over past college savings vehicles. But the rules governing these new options continue to shift. Here's our latest analysis to help you design a solid blueprint for meeting your college saving goals.
Paying for college is a lot harder for most people than selecting one. Since 1980, as measured by the consumer price index, college costs have grown two to two and one-half times faster than inflation. Estimates of $150,000-$200,000 are tossed out as the total cost package for getting one child through a good school. Some people may pay that amount, but I can't and you don't have to, either. What follows are some practical tips on tackling what can easily be the single largest expense item of your life.
Survey after survey seems to indicate that today's youth are woefully unprepared to handle their finances as adults. This lack of preparation can have a devastating impact on a young person. Thankfully, your kids don't have to be part of this trend. After all, they have you! Here, then, are 10 suggestions for teaching your children the value of money.
