| Students are increasingly worried about | | | | apartment. Each of these things requires a |
| credit and credit scores - and for good | | | | good credit standing, but too large student |
| reason. Student debts are rising and the | | | | loans not only require larger monthly |
| numbers of students who leave school with | | | | repayments but also may affect credit scores |
| ruined credit scores is rising as well. Many | | | | by overextending credit. As tuition fees |
| experts blame larger credit card debts and | | | | rise, larger student loans are becoming the |
| rising tuition costs (that lead to larger | | | | norm, leading to financial hardship - and in |
| student loans). Despite the pressures, it is | | | | many cases disaster. To avoid this, you |
| possible to leave school financially sound | | | | should try to live within your means and rely |
| and in fact, to develop good financial habits | | | | on such resources as jobs, savings, |
| that can lead to a lifetime of financial | | | | scholarships, bursaries, and other forms of |
| success. Here are a few tips that can make | | | | financial aid to pay for your tuition and |
| the college years a credit-booster instead of | | | | living expenses. |
| a credit disaster: | | | | |
| | | | Another thing that students can do is save |
| If you are a student, you have a great secret | | | | money by taking advantage of student |
| weapon for credit repair and free credit | | | | discounts on student life. One of the |
| repair advice - your school's financial aid | | | | advantages of student life is that it is |
| office. If you are a college student, your | | | | inexpensive. Student housing or rooms rented |
| school's financial aid office should be one | | | | with roommates create inexpensive living, |
| of your first stops at the campus. Few | | | | on-campus facilities offer great services at |
| students visit this office regularly while | | | | discount rates, and many businesses offer |
| they are in school, and this is a mistake. | | | | student-only deals.Try to take advantage of |
| The financial aid office at most universities | | | | these offers to make your student money |
| and colleges can offer students free credit | | | | stretch further. |
| repair advice to help you keep your credit | | | | |
| score in tip-top shape. | | | | Look around to find the best student-deal |
| | | | offers, ranging from travel deals to free tax |
| Additionally, the financial aid office offers | | | | filing services, available from your campus |
| one-on-one financial counseling, information | | | | and from surrounding businesses. Make use of |
| about scholarships, tips on budgeting, books | | | | the free services on campus - such as renting |
| on money, and many more resources. The | | | | movies for free from the film department or |
| officers at your university or college | | | | working out in the school gym - rather than |
| financial aid office can offer you help on | | | | paying for these same services outside the |
| almost any aspect of financial help - | | | | campus. |
| including helping you figure out a financial | | | | |
| plan that can keep you out of debt. | | | | Many students fall in love with their credit |
| | | | cards. Credit card companies know this, too, |
| Plus, many financial aid offices have | | | | and routinely heavily advertise on college |
| workshops that can teach you about dealing | | | | campuses, even offering students free food or |
| with money and credit, and even offer free | | | | gifts to fill out a credit application. While |
| tax filing services - services that are | | | | the convenience of credit cards is tempting, |
| extremely useful. In fact, the financial aid | | | | it is a good idea to stay away from credit |
| offices at most colleges and universities are | | | | cards altogether. This is because studies |
| so useful that you may want to call the | | | | have repeatedly shown that those who pay cash |
| school you attended in the past to ask | | | | for items routinely spend less than those |
| whether alumni are eligible for any services | | | | charging or using credit cards to pay. |
| at the financial aid office. The free credit | | | | |
| repair advice and other resources that you a | | | | An alternative to using a credit card is a |
| get from these offices, are simply too good | | | | prepaid debit card. Prepaid debit cards are a |
| to miss. | | | | great asset to students because it can teach |
| | | | students great financial management skills. |
| Another thing that students can do to protect | | | | Using a prepaid debit card for entertainment |
| their credit is to try to pay for education | | | | and other small needs ensures you won't spend |
| through means other than loans. Student loans | | | | more than you have to and also ensures that |
| are becoming a problem for more and more | | | | you won't end up paying for months for |
| students. Many parents and students are now | | | | something that is long gone. |
| waking up to the fact that huge student loans | | | | |
| can be a terrible financial burden after | | | | Following the free credit repair advice give |
| graduation. While it is true that most | | | | in this article can help you with credit |
| college and student loans do not have to be | | | | repair before it becomes a necessity. More |
| repaid until after graduation, the time after | | | | importantly, this information can help you to |
| graduation usually carries some large | | | | establish good credit habits early and will |
| financial responsibilities. | | | | help ensure that you have a long (and good) |
| | | | credit history by the time you graduate from |
| Many college graduates want or need a car, a | | | | college. |
| good job, and possibly their own home or | | | | |