millennial – Student Debt Diaries

Keeping Track of Your Credit Score

March 1, 2021March 1, 2021 Jordan RothmanRepayment Strategies

As most people know, a credit score is a measure of how credit-worthy credit bureaus deem you to be based on your income, debt, financial accounts, and other metrics. Individuals with student loans are often very curious to see how their credit score is performing because student loans can have an impact on your credit. I am old enough to remember when it was relatively difficult to ascertain your credit score, and it typically cost… Continue Reading Keeping Track of Your Credit Score

Financial Aid Should Increase over Time

January 25, 2021 Jordan RothmanChoosing Schools

When I attended college, I was thrilled to obtain need-based financial aid. This assistance made it much easier for me to pay for my educational costs and reduced the amount of student debt I needed to borrow. However, financial aid should increase over time, and students should not be provided the same level of aid each year they attend school. In college, my financial aid stayed constant throughout my four years as an undergraduate. One… Continue Reading Financial Aid Should Increase over Time

Reserving On-Campus Jobs for Needy Students

January 18, 2021January 18, 2021 Jordan RothmanEarning Extra Money

Most colleges have on-campus jobs available for students wishing to make extra money while they are in school. Depending on the university, such jobs may include working in the cafeteria, the mailroom, student events, or a number of other positions. Although some jobs are explicitly designated for students who qualify for the federal work-study program, other jobs are available to all students who may apply. However, reserving on-campus jobs for needy students is an important… Continue Reading Reserving On-Campus Jobs for Needy Students

When You Should Pay Student Loans Every Month

December 7, 2020December 7, 2020 Jordan RothmanRepayment Strategies

This website has previously discussed some of the practicalities of paying off student loans. Indeed, prior articles have considered methods that can be used to keep track of student loans, and other articles have discussed how methods can help you psychologically while you repay debt. One question that is commonly asked by student debt borrowers is when you should pay student loans every month, since many lenders allow borrowers to designate a given date when… Continue Reading When You Should Pay Student Loans Every Month

Getting Advice About Student Loans

October 5, 2020October 5, 2020 Jordan RothmanAdvice for Parents, Repayment Strategies

Paying off student loans can be a lonely process. People often do not discuss student loans with their peers, so it is difficult to get advice and support from friends. In addition, the student loan challenges faced by this generation are different than the struggles faced by people who went to school decades ago. However, getting advice about student loans can be easy if you keep a few things in mind. Siblings Siblings can be… Continue Reading Getting Advice About Student Loans

Deciding If You Should Finish Graduate School

September 14, 2020 Jordan RothmanChoosing Schools, Saving Money

Individuals attend graduate school for all types of reasons. Some people obtain a graduate degree in order to pursue their calling, and other people attend graduate school to ride out bad economic times in academia so they do not have to compete in a bad job market. Many students may seriously consider dropping out of a graduate program at some point or another, and there are many things to consider when deciding if you should… Continue Reading Deciding If You Should Finish Graduate School

Pay it Forward After Repaying Student Loans

July 6, 2020 Jordan RothmanRepayment Strategies

When student debt borrowers are repaying student loans, it may be difficult to think about what it will be like when all of your debt is paid off. Indeed, paying off student loans may seem like an impossible task that requires years of dedication in order to accomplish. However, if you stay focused and follow the advice on this website, you should be able to pay off your student loans within a reasonable amount of… Continue Reading Pay it Forward After Repaying Student Loans

How Much You Should Save in a 529 Plan

June 29, 2020 Jordan RothmanAdvice for Parents

This website has previously discussed how parents can save money in a tax-advantaged 529 account for their kids’ educational expenses. Indeed, a previous article noted how anyone can make a contribution to a 529 account, and this could be a good substitute for giving gifts to a child. Although there are many opinions on the internet about saving goals for 529s, there are a few things you should keep in mind when evaluating how much… Continue Reading How Much You Should Save in a 529 Plan

Dealing With Depression from Student Loans

March 9, 2020March 9, 2020 Jordan RothmanRepayment Strategies

As many student debt borrowers can attest to from personal experience, student loans can dampen your mood. Indeed, student debt is like a shackle for many student loan borrowers that keeps them from achieving their goals, and may keep some individuals from reaching happiness in their lives. Nevertheless, there are some things you can keep in mind when dealing with depression from student loans. Let me first say at the onset, that I do not… Continue Reading Dealing With Depression from Student Loans

Crowdfunding Student Debt Repayment

February 24, 2020 Jordan RothmanRepayment Strategies

I have heard of some nontraditional ways of paying off student loans since I began Student Debt Diaries over two and a half years ago. Some have paid off student loans by winning the lottery, and others have seemingly paid off student loans through bankruptcy. Recently, I was perusing my social media, and I discovered someone who had set up a crowdfunding page aimed at paying off his student loans. Although crowdfunding student debt repayment… Continue Reading Crowdfunding Student Debt Repayment