Dan Brandt still has $32,000 in student loan debt, after earning his bachelor’s degree in marketing, but he’s not worried about paying it back. That’s because Brandt chose a major and a career with that debt in mind. “Money is a big deal for a 17-year-old kid that has nothing,” says Brandt, who graduated from Read more >
“Ask Brianna” is a column from NerdWallet for 20-somethings or anyone else starting out. I’m here to help you manage your money, find a job and pay off student loans — all the real-world stuff no one taught us how to do in college. Send your questions about postgrad life to askbrianna@nerdwallet.com. Forbearance is a Read more >
Q. My daughter owes about $15,000 in student loan debt. She is physically disabled. She works only part-time for a 501c3 organization. How can she best receive counseling for repayment and/or forgiveness on her student loan debt? Dear reader, The best way for your daughter to receive the student loan counseling she needs is to Read more >
Q: I’m currently a graduate student and I am a few months behind on credit card payments and loans. I just signed a contract for a job that will start August 1, but I will not get my first payment until August 31. How could I speak to creditors about this? Dear Reader, Meeting your financial Read more >
Heading into the workforce saddled with student loan debt can make any new graduate panic. But many borrowers have the power to make their loan payments more manageable — and fail to take advantage of it. A new NerdWallet analysis puts the Class of 2018 in retirement at age 72 after years of careful budgeting, debt repayment and Read more >
An education is a great thing—but just because a student has graduated from college doesn’t mean they’ll make all the right decisions when it comes to personal finance. In fact, according to one survey, most recent college grads reported making a credit-damaging mistake within two years of getting their degree. The post-graduation world of Read more >
Expect to pay more for federal student loans this coming school year. All interest rates for student loans in the federal direct loan program are increasing by 0.60 percentage points for the 2018-19 school year compared with loans borrowed for 2017-18. It’s the second consecutive year that rates have gone up for federal student loans. Beginning Read more >
Student loan debt is a common component of earning a college degree for many graduates. In fact, the latest statistics highlight the growing number of college graduates with student loan debt, many of which leave school with nearly $30,000. Regardless of the amount, student loan debt can be a financial burden that lasts for several decades. Read more >
Saving Before Graduation While it’s difficult to focus on the future with a mountain of homework in front of you, there are easy ways to start saving before you graduate. Since a vast majority of college students share housing, many are able to drastically cut electric, utility, cable, and internet bills. Some Ways Student Can Read more >
There are a few different ways that student loan debt affects your taxes, from possible deductions to what you may owe in the future. You can deduct student loan interest from your income. If you paid interest on student loans last year, you can lower your taxable income by up to $2,500. Student loan Read more >
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