Financing Higher Education

It's never too early or too late to start planning for your children's education after high school. The earlier you adopt a savings plan, the more options you have for building that nest egg to pay for college or vocational school. But even if your child is approaching high school graduation, it's not too late to plan how best to use your resources. For example, in addition to savings, there are a number of lower-cost educational loan plans in which the parents or student may participate.

Savings Plans

Savings are a primary source for paying college or vocational school tuition and expenses. Savings plans can take many forms, and they can be started by a parent, child (or prospective student), relatives and friends. Here is an overview of a few of the many savings options, including the potential tax benefits or other benefits each may offer.

Getting the Most for Your Vacation and Travel Dollars

June 2008

These days, every fill-up of the family vehicle brings new sticker shock. The soft economy along with rising fuel prices have many people rethinking their summer travel and vacation plans. Before you decide simply to skip this year’s vacation, consider all the ways you can save money and still enjoy getting away. This month's report discusses ways to get the most for your travel dollars.

Tax Time Tips

March 2008

It's that time again—time to file your income taxes. Nobody enjoys tax time, but being armed with the right information can help you accomplish this chore quickly and safely. This month's review provides information on free e-filing, an update on “quick refund” loans, and tips for finding a reliable tax preparer with expertise to match your needs.

E-file your taxes for free

The number of people who file their taxes electronically has increased each year. In 2007, 80 million people e-filed their taxes. While many people pay a fee to e-file—for example, through software programs or tax preparers—the IRS offers the Free File program. According to the IRS, most taxpayers—70% or 97 million—are eligible to use Free File.

Choosing a Cell Phone Plan to Meet Your Needs and Budget

February 2008

Increasingly, cell phones have become a necessity for modern life. But most cell phone users aren’t happy about their service. In the latest Annual Survey of Cell Phone Service, Consumer Reports found that more than half of cell phone users were not satisfied with their service. Typical consumer complaints include poor coverage, dropped calls, early termination fees, mandatory contract extensions, locked phones, and unexpected fees. When cell phones offer many functions beyond phone calls—from text messaging to surfing the Internet to downloading videos—finding the right plan to meet your needs without breaking your budget can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help you meet that challenge.

CREDIT 101

CREDITWORTHINESS

 Your "creditworthiness" is the single most important factor we look at when deciding whether to grant you a loan on the terms you requested. Your creditworthiness determines how much you can borrow, for how long you can borrow, and your interest rate. Your creditworthiness is derived from many factors such as your income, your credit history, your current debt load, and your repayment history. This information usually comes from your Credit Report.

CREDIT REPORTS AND CREDIT SCORES

A Credit Report is a record of your credit payment history. We use the Credit Report as a tool to help us decide whether to grant you credit on the terms you requested. It is the best tool we have to determine your creditworthiness because it is comprehensive and objective.

Options for Managing Your Student Loans

December 2007

An earlier Remar's Report looked at ways to finance higher education and focused on student loans. According to FinAid.org, the average student loan debt for a new graduate is almost $20,000. Whether you're just starting to repay your loans, you've been paying off your student loans for a while, or you're a parent paying off student loans, my report this month looks at the options you have for managing repayment of your loans.

Your repayment options can vary depending upon the types of the loans you have—Federal or Private—the amount you owe, and your financial situation. Consolidation of your loans isn't your only option.