tag:www.theramenreport.org,2010://3 2010-03-01T17:46:09Z Hot student loan info,in three minutes or less. Movable Type 3.33 tag:www.theramenreport.org,2010://3.414 2010-03-01T17:03:10Z 2010-03-01T17:46:09Z

As e-textbook options become more available, many campuses are exploring the use of e-books on campus. The big question is: will being tech-savvy save students money in the long-run?...

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org As e-textbook options become more available, many campuses are exploring the use of e-books on campus. The big question is: will being tech-savvy save students money in the long-run? [Some say][link] that e-books will save students money, while others feel they are waste and won’t stand the test of time. What do you think? Are you considering using textbook readers like Kindle or the new iPad? [link]:http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/01/14/ebooks tag:www.theramenreport.org,2010://3.413 2010-02-24T17:00:16Z 2010-02-25T18:11:55Z

For the under-21 crowd at your school, new laws are being put in place to make getting a credit card tougher than it has been in the past. One major change requires the majority of those under 21 to have...

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org For the under-21 crowd at your school, new laws are being put in place to make getting a credit card tougher than it has been in the past. One major change requires the majority of those under 21 to have a cosigner in order to qualify, making the 21st birthday a rite of passage in yet another way. These laws took effect on February 22, 2010. Click [here][link] for more details. [link]:http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/19/news/economy/student_credit_cards/ tag:www.theramenreport.org,2010://3.412 2010-02-12T21:40:32Z 2010-02-12T21:42:03Z

Filling out the FAFSA is no easy task. It requires students (and sometimes parents) to sift through tax forms and look up obscure financial information. But hope has arrived!...

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org Filling out the FAFSA is no easy task. It requires students (and sometimes parents) to sift through tax forms and look up obscure financial information. But hope has arrived! The application for the 2010-11 school year has been given a facelift. It has a [number of changes][link] from the previous form that make it shorter and more user-friendly. That means less hassle for you when you apply for financial aid. Happy filing! [link]:http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-01-06-fafsa06_ST_N.htm tag:www.theramenreport.org,2009://3.409 2010-02-05T21:29:20Z 2010-02-12T22:00:22Z

Gas prices are always a hot topic — after all, where and when you choose to fill up can have a big impact on your wallet....

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org Gas prices are always a hot topic — after all, where and when you choose to fill up can have a big impact on your wallet. However, [this article][link] proves that price-per-gallon is only the tip of the iceberg. [link]:http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveonaCar/10-things-gas-stations-wont-tell-you.aspx tag:www.theramenreport.org,2010://3.411 2010-01-22T21:37:48Z 2010-02-12T21:57:34Z

Credit scores are very tricky to figure out. While some guidance is available, no definitive formula is available for public viewing....

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org Credit scores are very tricky to figure out. While some guidance is available, no definitive formula is available for public viewing. Here’s [some advice][link] to help keep your score moving in the right direction. [link]:http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/YourCreditRating/WeirdStuffThatHurtsYourCredit.aspx?page=all tag:www.theramenreport.org,2010://3.410 2010-01-08T21:27:43Z 2010-02-12T21:58:06Z

Yep, it’s that time of year again – the time of when you can’t find an open treadmill. While everyone else is evaluating their physical fitness, spend some time on your financial fitness....

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org Yep, it’s that time of year again – the time of when you can’t find an open treadmill. While everyone else is evaluating their physical fitness, spend some time on your financial fitness. To get yourself started, check out [these tips][link]. [link]:http://building-personal-savings.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_save_money_in_2010 tag:www.theramenreport.org,2009://3.381 2009-10-12T20:17:40Z 2010-02-16T16:37:25Z

We all like free stuff. Whether it’s a sweet BOGO sale or a hand-me-down from a family member, everything seems just a little bit better when you feel like you got a steal....

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org We all like free stuff. Whether it’s a sweet BOGO sale or a hand-me-down from a family member, everything seems just a little bit better when you feel like you got a steal. Here’s a list of [resources][link] to get you in touch with all the free things you could ever hope for. Okay, some of them at least. [link]:http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/53/how-to-find-free-stuff.html tag:www.theramenreport.org,2009://3.408 2009-07-22T21:26:58Z 2009-07-22T21:28:47Z

There are so many things to think about when choosing your major: Salary, stability, demand … and debt?...

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org There are so many things to think about when choosing your major: Salary, stability, demand … and debt? Yep, that’s right. Even if you think you’ve found a career path that suits your strengths and interests, it’s increasingly important to also consider how your future student loan payments might affect your future paycheck. The recommended monthly loan payment is about 10 percent of your month’s income. But with student debt amounts climbing annually and new graduates facing dreary a job market, even 10 percent can be hard to handle. Click [here][link] for more insight on this topic. [link]:http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/yourmoney/chi-ym-marksjarvis-0531may31,0,956901.column tag:www.theramenreport.org,2009://3.407 2009-07-15T19:49:03Z 2009-07-15T22:35:17Z

Colleges big and small are cutting costs in a variety of ways, from firing faculty to closing buildings....

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org Colleges big and small are cutting costs in a variety of ways, from firing faculty to closing buildings. How would you suggest your school slash spending? See how these students, recent graduates, and higher education experts answered [that very question][link]. [link]:http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/what-colleges-can-cut/ tag:www.theramenreport.org,2009://3.406 2009-07-08T19:46:03Z 2009-07-08T19:48:45Z

Fresh out of college? Then you might also be fresh out of health insurance. Most group policies have age limitations for dependent college graduates, and major time gaps in coverage can lead to insurance snags down the road....

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org Fresh out of college? Then you might also be fresh out of health insurance. Most group policies have age limitations for dependent college graduates, and major time gaps in coverage can lead to insurance snags down the road. [Find out][link] how to stay HIPAA-eligible, and learn about some of the most common healthcare benefits options. [link]:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/30/BUD817SV57.DTL tag:www.theramenreport.org,2009://3.405 2009-07-01T21:36:08Z 2009-07-01T15:18:35Z

This spring, the U.S. Department of Education asked colleges to help students whose families are struggling due to economic hardship like unemployment and medical bills. Now, schools are dishing out record amounts of aid — and approving more appeals than...

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org This spring, the U.S. Department of Education asked colleges to help students whose families are struggling due to economic hardship like unemployment and medical bills. Now, schools are dishing out record amounts of aid — and approving more appeals than ever. Do you think you have a serious need for extra aid? If so, start with these [Dos and Don'ts][link]. [link]:http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/paying-for-college/2009/06/16/10-tips-for-getting-more-financial-aid.html?PageNr=1 tag:www.theramenreport.org,2009://3.404 2009-07-01T21:34:02Z 2009-07-01T15:17:58Z

Federal authorities estimate that 1.5 million students eligible for Pell grants did not apply because they wanted to avoid the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)....

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org Federal authorities estimate that 1.5 million students eligible for Pell grants did not apply because they wanted to avoid the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). That’s why they are quickly moving to simplify the notoriously complicated form, which currently asks financial aid-seeking students as many as 153 questions. Sources say about 20 percent of the questions will be cut from next year’s form, mainly by eliminating redundancies. To learn more about the administration’s changes to the form, [click here][link]. [link]:http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/education/24fafsa.html?_r=3&ref=global-home tag:www.theramenreport.org,2009://3.403 2009-07-01T21:05:09Z 2009-07-01T15:16:57Z

Do you plan on using the new Income Based Repayment plan?(polling) Starting in July, borrowers can choose a new repayment plan — Income-Based Repayment, or IBR — that calculates payments on federal student loans by income and family size....

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org Starting in July, borrowers can choose a new repayment plan — Income-Based Repayment, or IBR — that calculates payments on federal student loans by income and family size. Under this program, qualified borrowers will never have to spend more than 15% of their discretionary income on student loan payments. ]]> Sometimes that first job (or two) out of college might not [produce a paycheck][link1] that can cover the standard monthly payment, or, in today’s job market, [you might not even find a job][link2] right after graduation. This new repayment plan may solve your student loan payment dilemma. The plan does have downsides: more interest will accrue, and it will take you longer to pay off your loan. And of course, you must meet certain requirements in order to follow an [IBR plan][link3]. For more information, contact your lender or visit [www.ibrinfo.org][link4]. [link1]:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124553912948134661.html [link2]:http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/block/2009-05-18-student-loans-repayment-options_N.htm [link3]:http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/16/student-loans-income-personal-finance-ask-money-builder.html [link4]:http://www.ibrinfo.org/ tag:www.theramenreport.org,2009://3.402 2009-06-22T16:27:55Z 2009-06-22T17:34:19Z

With so many slumps and crises going on ― credit, housing, and beyond ― concepts like “counseling” and “literacy” have become buzzwords. Is this a fad, or could consumer under-education really have been a factor in creating the economy’s current...

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org With so many slumps and crises going on ― credit, housing, and beyond ― concepts like “counseling” and “literacy” have become buzzwords. Is this a fad, or could consumer under-education really have been a factor in creating the economy’s current state? A recent survey by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling found nearly 30 percent of adults say their mortgage was different than what they expected. Susan Keating, president of the NFCC, thinks first-time home buyers, or anyone taking on a non-traditional mortgage, should be required to take a financial counseling class. [What do you think?][link] [link]:http://www.usnews.com/blogs/alpha-consumer/2009/05/26/should-first-time-home-buyers-get-counseling.html tag:www.theramenreport.org,2009://3.401 2009-06-15T16:26:21Z 2009-06-16T07:30:33Z

As if the anxiety that comes with having those first “real” interviews isn’t enough, new graduates have another hurdle to overcome: a historically grim job market....

Ramen Report http://www.theloanprogram.org As if the anxiety that comes with having those first “real” interviews isn’t enough, new graduates have another hurdle to overcome: a historically grim job market. Click [here][link] to see what other students are facing, and find out about the one place that plans to hire more employees straight out of college. [link]:http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/18/eveningnews/main4954222.shtml