Top Tips For 2018: Student Loan Hacks

by

22 October 2018

Finance

Student Loan

Students are always having a tough time when they get into college because they do not have enough funds. In that case, they are left with no options but to take students loans. However, taking loans is not the end of your problems because then you have to worry about repaying them back on time and live comfortably during your student life. There are a few things that you can do to make your student loans repayment a bit easy. Here are some pointers for you.

1. Crowdfunding:

Crowdfunding is getting very popular these days. Whether you are an ambitious businessman or a student wanting to pay your way through the tuition fee of college, crowdfunding is a great way to overcome your financial issues. Raise funds from your inner social circle, including your family and friends, as a kind of graduation present from them to you. GoFundMe and Zerobound are sites that will help you raise such funds towards the student loan debt, and in exchange, you have to volunteer for some community work.

2. Borrow Federal Student Loans:

If you think that the loan debt is unavoidable, you can always consider borrowing federal student loan first. The major reason is that federal student loans are usually not that expensive and are easier to qualify for as well. There are far more repayment options for you in federal students loans as compared to the private student loans.  You will also have protection programs in federal loans also. For example, if you lose your job, the federal loan program will offer you the option to defer payments. Click here to know more about it.

3. Total Student Debt Should Be Less Than Your Income:

There is a set of rules that you must follow. Your expected annual starting salary should be more than your total debt from your student loans at the time of graduation. How else will you be able to repay your loans AND survive through your normal life? Many students take student loans so they can afford college, but it is advised that students should keep not take too many loans. What you should do is not to take out more loan than your salary.  Don’t take out more than your first year’s salary. What you can do is to keep the costs to a minimum and attend the college that you can afford comfortably. If you are able to do it as such, you might be able to repay student loans in less than ten years.

Financial experts advise that if you are out of your federal loan options, you should consider a private student loan. However, if you will qualify for one private loan, you can qualify for more of them. You are the customer, so you should always ask for any benefits the loan provides. If you have any medical issues, you should buy college tuition insurance. The option will protect you from taking on more loans in case you get ill or have to withdraw.

4. Make A Budget:

Most of the kids during their school and college years do not have any source of income, so you just have to keep living like that in college until you have a stable income. Build up an emergency fund for yourself, and start saving money for the things you want to buy. Remember, living modestly right now will help you in the longer run.

When you graduate out of high school, it can be overwhelming, but it is important to remember to see the bigger picture here. These hacks will help you manage your student loans efficiently.

Read Also:

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Personal Loan

3 Factors That Determine Your Personal Loan Interest Rate

Personal loans are collateral-free loans, making them most people’s first choice when seeking finance from an external source. Apart from the ease, you can access a hefty amount to fund a range of personal loan for your personal need. However, being an unsecured loan, personal loan interest rates are relatively higher than those of secured loans. The interest rate on a personal loan depends on various factors. Firstly, it depends on the type of loan you choose, fixed or floating interest personal loan. Further, it alters based on how well you qualify for the loan as per the lender’s personal loan eligibility criteria. Typically, these criteria are based on your age, income, profession and credit score. But first, take a look at the ongoing personal loan interest rates in the country so that you can make a wise borrowing decision. Present Personal Loan Interest Rates in India Interest rates on loans are linked to the repo rate. An increase in the repo rate increases loan interest rates and vice versa. Recently, the RBI cut the repo rate by 25 bps for the third time this year, and currently, it stands at 5.75%. Further, the weighted average interest rate on loans rose from 10.38% in January to 10.42% in April, indicating negligible movement. However, experts opine that you can expect more rate cuts in the coming months as the RBI has moved from a neutral to accommodative monetary policy stance. Now that you know of the broader factors that affect your personal loan interest rate, take a look at 3 important factors that are specific to your financial profile. Your Credit Score Your credit score is a reflection of your creditworthiness and past repayment behavior. A good score of 750 and above implies that you have repaid all your past debts on time. Thus, lenders categorize you as a low-risk applicant and offer competitive interest rates on a personal loan. Conversely, a score lower than 750 shows that you carry some amount of risk. He ce, you may have to pay a higher interest rate or settle for a low loan amount. Your Income A high income means that you are capable of repaying the personal loan on time, and this reduces the lender’s risk. As a result, they are likely to charge you a lower personal loan interest rate. In contrast, if your income seems insufficient, you are more likely to default and may not have the resources to repay the loan in full. As this poses a high risk to the lender and it has no collateral to fall back on, you have to pay a greater amount as interest. Your Relationship With The Lender If you have an existing business relationship with your lender and have displayed responsible credit behavior, in the interest of retaining you as a customer, the lender may offer you a competitive interest rate. Now that you know the factors that determine your personal loan interest rate, work towards securing the loan on competitive terms. To ensure this, compare lenders and their offerings before applying for a personal loan in order to bag the best deal. For instance, genuine lenders like Bajaj Finance have simple personal loan eligibility criteria and minimum documentation so you can qualify for a loan easily. Once approved, you can access up to Rs.25 lakh personal loan at a nominal interest rate and repay it over a flexible tenor spanning 12 to 60 months. Further, you can avail this loan on a Flexi facility that lets you withdraw on the go and pay interest only on the amount utilized. Additionally, you can pay interest-only EMIs throughout the tenor and repay the principal only when the tenor is up. This way, you can manage your finances and save up to 45% on EMIs. To view tailor-made deals and avail an online personal loan in a single step, check your pre-approved personal loan offer from Bajaj Finserv right away. Read Also: Why Personal Lenders Like SkyCap Financial Provide A Better Lending Experience Lining Up For A Loan – How To Secure A Good Loan

READ MOREDetails
Startup Revenue

Want your Startup Revenue to Skyrocket? Here is what You Should Do 

As a small business, you’ll want to make it your priority to begin creating revenue immediately when starting up.   This can be difficult, but it will set your company in good stead for what the future brings. Ultimately, you cannot rely on funding.  Plus, whatever you have in your pocket to get to where you not only want to be but also need to be. If you’re a small start-up, continue reading to find out four ways you can improve your Startup Revenue.  Try to Have Immediate Cash Flow Whilst it is useful having funding to create and attempt to grow your start-up, this money can be over rather quickly. Especially when you work out what you intend to do with it.  That said, it is impossible to continue as a small business without attracting immediate cash flow into the company.  Pumping money into the business earlier on will provide you with a great immediate start-up. However, it is essential that you make sure this money is spent on the right things and not useless items. It is possible to invest, too, but your investments are not wholly reliable.  Therefore, experts recommend that you attempt to sell and provide your goods and services. This is from the get-go to have some form of cash flow arriving promptly. Have Business Insurance Another practice that will improve your revenue as a small business start-up is investing in business insurance. For some sectors, it is a legal requirement to have business insurance.   Even experts generally recommend that business owners invest in it anyway.  Your certificate of insurance It is a great form of protection for your business and employees.   This insurance could improve your startup revenue as it could take care of your business. It could also act as a safety net if something was to go wrong.  For example, if your premises were broken into two weeks into the operation, the insurance would provide financial compensation. Recruit within Your Means Recruiting and hiring staff as a small business can be a daunting task, especially if it’s the first time you’ve tried it.   It is important that you don’t attempt to run the entire business yourself. This is because you’ll soon realize that your products and services suffer as a result.  Hiring and retaining staff within your means is a reasonable way to improve startup revenue.  Use Social Media The growth of social media has been an excellent tool for all businesses. It has even been a lifeline for smaller businesses.  This is because these businesses essentially don’t have the funding to invest in digital marketing. Therefore, we need to rely on free forms of advertising. Social media being the greatest of all!  As a start-up, you’ll save money by marketing yourself, and you’ll also increase revenue by connecting with a large audience online. This way, you’ll gain rapport with customers and clients as well as make money.  Consider these tips to improve your startup revenue from the get-go.  How to Improve your Cash Flow as A Startup  Starting a business is all good, but if you don’t have cash flow — a steady flow of incoming cash — your business will go belly up.   No matter how great the business idea or product is.  Just Start Selling!  It will never be the perfect time to finally launch that product or service and begin selling!  You will have to just bite it and do it for once!  You won't be able to start generating revenues if you just keep thinking about how to bring the money!  The key to immediate cash flow is to start selling your products or services as soon as possible. You don’t have to wait until everything’s perfect before you begin making sales.   Whether it’s pre-orders, minimum viable products, or service contracts, find a way to get money coming in right away.   Not only will this help you generate revenue faster, but it will also validate your business concept with real paying customers.  Watch Your Expenses  Every dollar a startup spends should be spent in expectation of ROI. Spend to grow and spend as late as possible, never earlier.   Don’t spend money on anything that doesn’t have a direct impact on your growth – especially when you are just starting.  Keep a Close Eye on Your Financials  Review your cash flow statement regularly so you know who is paying you and where your money is going.   Then, use that information to help you make better decisions about your spending, pricing, and growth strategy.   Not keeping an eye on this will cause unexpected shortages of cash flow but, more importantly, can put you in a financial bind.  To Wrap it Up! To be a successful startup entrepreneur, you must constantly improve your cash flow.   This means selling as early as possible, possibly before you are ready, managing your expenses against sales, offering the right payment terms to customers, and paying close attention to accounts receivable.  Read Also: 7 Growth Hacking Ideas that will Boost your Startup Best Server Management Tips for Startups Useful Marketing Tips for Startups

READ MOREDetails
Investing In Gold Coins

What To Consider When Investing In Gold Coins

Gold has an aesthetic allure that has captivated the human heart since its discovery. It has long been used in coinage, symbolizing wealth and power for the most prestigious rulers. Gold inspires the imagination and ignites the entrepreneurial spirit in many. It is a safe and profitable investment that provides a hedge against inflation and other environmental or socio-economic disasters that threaten to drain the value of other investments. Investing in gold coins is a wise choice when the right strategy is employed. However, it isn’t as simple as just ordering coins from the first website that pops up. Investing in gold coins is about minimizing risk to make a profit by investing in precious metal through an authorized dealer and storing it in a way that preserves its value. It’s also important to understand the difference between gold bullion coins and certified gold coins, along with the best way to diversify your personal portfolio to achieve your financial goals. Careful Consideration Factors Whether you are choosing to invest in gold bullion coins or certified gold coins, there are a few factors that will always be important. To minimize risk and maximize the value of your investment, you should consider a few factors before purchasing any coin. Gold Purity In order to inspect the purity of gold, metrics like fineness or karats are considered. The gold coin having the highest gold content is the purest. Although, it is worth mentioning that while higher purity might sound better, they can be loftier and prone to damage.  Size and Weight Options Coins such as the American Gold Eagle are the most famous one-ounce coins. However, small denominations exist when you are searching for more affordable solutions in gold coin investment.  Coin Scarcity Previously, rare gold coins used to hold numismatic value more than the gold content. But, additional common coins, such as bullion coins, are easier to sell as they are widely recognized.  Overall Condition When it comes to investing in gold coins, their overall condition matters tremendously. Their condition in mint or near mint can fetch a greater price than those on the verge of getting damaged. Each of these factors directly affects the value of any coin, especially those purchased for investment purposes.  Consider these factors carefully before making a purchase. Gold Bullion Coins Gold bullion coins are great for novice buyers and beginning investors because they are easy to buy and sell. Bullion coins are a little easier to understand for those who are just getting started, and they are easily accessible. They come in a variety of weights ranging from one-tenth of an ounce to one full ounce and are usually produced with a standard matte finish. Gold bullion coins are struck only once, with the design being pressed into the front and back of the coin. The price of gold bullion coins typically follows the spot price of gold in the market, making them fantastic for a short-term holding strategy. One of the most popular gold bullion coins is the gold American Eagle coins which are sought after globally. Bullion coins continue to exist in multiple forms and have served as a key type of currency in the history of investment. Investors opt for bullion coins as a protection against inflation. Such investors often show their concern that this fiat currency system is adequate in preventing unauthorized government practices.  Certified Gold Coins Certified gold coins are evaluated and graded by a third-party service such as the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), which considers the coins’ condition and scarcity. The higher the grade a coin is given, the better condition it is in and the pricier it is. A certified coin’s rarity also contributes to its value in the marketplace. Many certified gold coins are proof coins meaning they have been struck multiple times. Most certified gold coins have been through a specific minting process which lends to their richly detailed design and mirror finish. They are sealed in tamper-resistant cases to protect their condition, which is closely related to their value. Certified gold coins are insulated from spot price volatility in the market, making them a fantastic long-term investment. Their rarity and grading process allows them to achieve a higher value over time than their bullion counterparts. It is important to note that collectors are sometimes willing to pay a premium for specific coins they wish to have to complete a collection. While this is sometimes true of investors, it is not as common. Certified coins often fetch a premium in the marketplace due to their rarity and physical condition. That premium tends to outpace the face value of the coin as well as the spot price of gold in the market. Best Investment Strategy Investing in gold coins is a wise choice if you diversify properly and purchase from a reputable trustworthy precious metals dealer. The best strategy is to diversify your investment portfolio with a combination of gold bullion coins and certified gold coins that position your portfolio to provide stable returns over time. Balancing your portfolio with stable investments that can withstand market volatility will give you the peace of mind and security you crave. A healthy combination of gold bullion coins and certified gold coins is the best option to ensure your investment provides a thriving return. Contact a reputable dealer today to purchase your gold bullion and certified coins to begin balanced investing in gold coins. Final Words Gold coins are a worthy form of investment, and they are easily available in both offline and online stores. If you are willing to buy a gold coin, make sure you consider the aforementioned factors. Check whether the rate of the gold coin is justified as per its size and availability.  If you follow these steps, nothing can stop you from getting the most valuable gold coins. With this, we bring an end to this comprehensive guide. But don’t forget to bring home premium gold coins and start investing now! Read Also: Is Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service A Good Career Path In 2021? 5 Reasons Why Bitcoins Are Considered Reliable Investments 5 New Assets To Diversify Your Investments In 2021  

READ MOREDetails