Student Loan Consolidation Hot Topics

A few of us at the Student Loan Network have been throwing around the idea of building a simple budget plan that our audience could use. Given that we’ve all gone through the post-graduation money crisis to some extent, we know what it’s like to get thrown into the real world with empty pockets. So, we built the Personal Finance First-Aid Kit – a simple to use guide that outlines how to build a simple monthly budget. We also added a page of tips and suggestions to help save extra cash. Each month we will be adding more tips to the guide – some of which will be from user feedback.

So check it out and send your feedback in – and if you have any tips of your own, I will be sure to get them on the next installment.

Personal Finance First-Aid Kit

Need some extra cash to help pay for tuition next year? How about 10 g’s? To Celebrate ten years of providing educational resources to over 25 million students, the Student Loan Network is giving away a Scholarship worth $10,000.

• Open to anyone who will be a full time student (undergrad or grad) in 2008
• Get multiple entries for referring friends to help increase your chances of winning
• Quick and simple sign-up

Don’t wait to long – the contest ends February 29th, 2008 – Sign up today!

Hello everyone and Happy New Year – welcome to 2008!

Given the lingering holiday spirit, and the age old tradition of new years resolutions, I thought I would take a minute to share a few methods on how to STICK with your new years resolutions.

1) Choose attainable resolutions. For example, if you aren’t already a seasoned mountain climber, you shouldn’t resolve to climb Mt. Everest this year. Also, don’t keep picking the same resolution that you pick each year and never complete. Sometimes lofty resolutions will only promote long term disappointment.

2) Write them down. The best way to ‘not forget’ your resolutions is to jot them down in several different locations. I know some people that set up email reminders or phone reminders each week to help remind them of their goals.

3) Baby steps – establish some goals. Most resolutions represent a final achievement – give yourself a road map and set up goals to reach each achievement. The small little successes along the way will add to your drive and make the final achievement seem more attainable.

4) Accountability (guilt). Share your resolutions with friends and family – that way you’ll have continued year long reminders of your goals. Who knows, you may find out that your cousin is also trying to save more money or give up fried foods.

5) Misery Loves Company. One of my favorites… Since you found out your cousin has similar resolutions, work together to help reach goals. Sharing the burden of a long term achievement with a friend or family member will help motivate you at times of weakness.

6) Keep your eye on the prize. No one said this was going to be easy. Make sure you remember why you started down this path. For example, if you resolved to save more money, what was the original reason? New car? Vacation? Grad school? To help stay focused, go back to steps 3 and 4 and repeat.

7) Rewards. Each time you reach one of your goals along the way, give yourself a small reward. It’s just like training a dog how to sit…

Happy New Year everyone, and good luck with those resolutions!