As a student you are expected to ‘live within your means’ and it can be difficult to keep yourself on a strict budget. Finding ways to ensure your current financial resources cover all of your needs and not relying on credit cards is an ongoing challenge for most students. Therefore, it is important to maximize your financial knowledge.
MONEY MANAGEMENT
Cash Course
CashCourse - was created to help students understand the basics of financial literacy. You can explore an array of topics including budgeting, credit management and student loans. Additional sections provide information about employment and the decisions you make when securing a job. It is never too late to start building a healthy financial future! Here are some worksheets to help you with managing your money.
Education Cents
Education Cents - Understanding finances earlier in life is important both now and down the road. Education Cents will help you set goals to build the life you want.
Education Cents: Invest Quest
Invest Quest - Get a glimpse of your future as your investing intelligence is put to the test.
Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
Emergency Financial First Aid Kit - A simple tool designed to assist you and your family in maintaining financial stability in the event of an emergency.
File Your Federal Tax Return for Free
File Your Federal Tax Return For Free - If your adjusted gross income for 2010 is less than $58,000 you may be eligible for free tax preparation and electronic filing. Visit www.irs.gov to learn more about eligibility requirements and providers. Any questions regarding this free service should be directed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Providers may offer to file your state tax return for a fee. Information about filing an electronic State of Colorado tax return can be found here.
FinAid!
FinAid! - is a comprehensive website for all types of financial aid related issues. Up-to-date information about federal legislative changes, loan calculators and general financial aid information are among the various topics covered.
Financial Aid Scams and ID Theft
Financial Aid Scams and ID Theft - Don't Pay for Help to Find Money for College! Beware of financial aid scams.
Financial Avenue
Financial Avenue - Put your finances on the right path. Financial Avenue offers a range of online courses to help students and adults gain life-long knowledge about the basics of personal money management.
Financial Soccer
Financial Soccer - A fast-paced, multiple-choice question game, testing players’ knowledge of financial management skills as they advance down field, and try to score goals. Use the link to ‘Practical Money Skills for Life’ to help you master the essentials of personal money management.
Don’t let Identity Thieves Steal Your Holiday Spirit! Here are some simple tips to lower your risk of being a victim of Identity Theft or another crime during the Holiday Season.
Love and Money e-Book
Love and Money - Free e-Book: Your Guide to the Coupling of Finance and Romance. When it comes to passion, no two subjects spark up more heat than love and money.
Manage Your Money
Manage Your Money - You can begin your financial education by taking a financial fitness quiz and explore topics you need help with based upon your answers. If you struggle with balancing your checkbook there is an easy step-by-step guide to help you reconcile your account on a monthly basis. Calculators and other helpful links are included as well.
Money Management
Money Management - Do you Tweet? Follow Kim, she offers financial ideas, information and support. With the holidays around the corner she tweets great advice to keep your gifting fun and less stressful.
Money Management Course
Money Management Course - Remember to reevaluate your budget and eliminate unnecessary student loan borrowing by contacting the Financial Aid Office. The Money Management Course sets you free from blame by teaching how to take control of your finances and those internal thoughts and emotions that be prevent you from being in control of your cash.
Money Smart
FDIC Money Smart Podcast Network - covers topics such as the basics of borrowing money wisely, using a spending plan to achieve financial goals, and how to effectively use banking products. Listen to the audio files online or download them to your portable audio player.
My Money
My Money - U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission's MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education. Whether you are planning to buy a home, balancing your checkbook, or investing in your 401k, the resources on MyMoney.gov can help you do it better.
Total Money Makeover
My Total Money Makeover - Dave Ramsey shows you how to pay off your debt and manage your money.
CREDIT MANAGEMENT
Annual Credit Report
Annual Credit Report - When it comes time to borrow money from a bank the determining factor will be your credit history. If you have struggled to pay your bills on time or been through other financial difficulties you should understand what lenders will see in your credit report. You are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three credit agencies every year. One suggestion is to obtain one report from an agency every four months. This is the only website where you can obtain a free report; do not be misguided by other agencies offering to send you the report for a fee or require you to sign up for a trial period.
Control Your Credit
Control Your Credit - Don’t let your credit put you in the Bad Credit Hotel. The U.S. Department of Treasury has sponsored this interactive website to help you learn the basics of maintaining good credit.
Debt Slapped
Debt Slapped - A “Guide To Managing & Surviving Student Loans & Debt”
Knee Deep in Debt
Knee Deep in Debt - The Federal Trade Commissions's tips on managing your debt.
MyFICO
MyFiCO's Credit Education - helps you understand how credit is granted and how bad decisions impact you later in life. Tips are offered to help you boost your score and prepare you for applying for future financing. Avoid being a victim of identity theft by using suggestions on myFiCO. A glossary of credit related terms is included to help you better understand what you are applying for.
Reduce Your Debt
Motley Fool's Reduce Your Debt is a six-step action plan for getting your debt under control.
Understanding and Managing Credit
Understanding and Managing Credit - Credit has many meanings in our lives…credit for classes we take in school, credit for doing a good job at something, credit due on our accounts when we pay too much. Understanding credit and managing credit correctly can make that confidence others have in you a permanent part of your life by starting here!
STUDENT LOAN MANAGEMENT
Are you graduating?
Want more information about student loan repayment? We have several resources to assist you. Use the links below and visit our Financial Literacy Resource page for additional information to help you better understand your repayment options.
FinAid! Loan Calculator
FinAid's Loan Calculator is a simple tool useful for determining and adjusting your monthly loan payment.
Income-based Repayment (IBR)
Income-based Repayment is a new way to make your federal student loan payments more manageable. Ditch your Debt Gremlin explains the program and tells you where to go for more information.
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)
The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) lists the federal student loans (Stafford, Perkins, Parent PLUS, Graduate PLUS) you have borrowed as a student. You can view the type of loan, amount borrowed, accumulated interest, lender, and servicer information. If you also borrowed alternative (private) student loans, contact your lender for information about your loan.
Repaying Student Loans Quick Reference Guide
Repaying Student Loans Quick Reference Guide - includes the student loan interest deduction, consolidation loans, repayment plans, income-based repayment, public service loan forgiveness, dealing with financial difficulty, default, deferments and forbearances, loan rehabilitation, budgeting tips and loan cancellation, as many practical tips.
Student Debt Repayment Assistant
While our Student Debt Repayment Assistant can’t give you advice for your exact situation, we hope it can point you in the right direction and help you learn about some of your options.
Student Loan Borrower Assistance
The National Consumer Law Center’s Student Loan Borrower Assistance is a resource for borrowers, their families, and advocates representing student loan borrowers who already have student loans.
Are you confused about the options and rights as a student loan borrower? You can find answers about repayment, collections, where to seek help and basic information to help you better understand the loans you have already borrowed. The ‘Understanding Student Loans’ section offers information on federal, alternative and consolidation loans. A glossary of loan terminology is available for reference.
The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) has created several tables to illustrate costs borrowers will face when they repay their loans. These tables show:
- The number of monthly payments under various repayment plans
- The amount of those monthly payments
- The total cost of the loan (principal plus interest)
- The total interest borrowers will pay under various repayment plans